Write it Down
September 14th, 2006 | Michael Pink
“And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon
We are continuing with the “Enter into Work” theme based on the creation of dry land on the third day and its implications to business. I want you to notice from the Scriptures above that when God wanted to write something down, He wrote it on the land - sometimes in rock and sometimes in the dirt. Yesterday, we talked about planning; but if your objective merits a plan, it merits being written down so that it can be reviewed and shared with others.
Writing something down implies importance and we pay attention to what we have deemed important by our previous actions. A written plan is no guarantee that we will follow it any more than a written mission statement posted in the board room means that it will be followed, but it is an important start. Then do what Eric Beck advises and put the action steps of the plan into your day timer. Create a time slot and make a written appointment with yourself to accomplish the tasks. Why? Because most people give the highest priority to appointments and very low priority to “to do” lists.
September 14th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
I agree with what Eric Beck says. I’ve found that calendaring my important tasks, in addition to my appointments and time with the Lord, allows me to accomplish goals, meet deadlines, and keep focused on my strategic vision.
September 15th, 2006 at 6:00 am
Lock-Step Planning.
For many years my team functioned as consultants for firms in many countries. Frustration was the key - in that great Strategic Plans developed for clients usually ended up as simply more unread paper gathering dust. Until we hit upon an idea to put real “action” steps into the plan.
Lock-Step formation we called it, like the old three-legged races at school as kids.
We had every manager, supervisor, leader and key person commit to 3 main targets in their divisions that had to be achieved within 90 days. This was then entered onto large plastic coated wall-charts in strategic places of the firms, for all to see. Peer pressure caused this lock-step planning to be completed.
40 managers committed to 3 goals each in 90 days means 120 targets being completed. Then, the process would repeat, so in one year 480 goals are achieved.
These also formed part of the Strategic Plan, but the key was the 90 days, all managers involved without exception, 3 goals … and big bold wall charts to garner peer pressure, motivation and embarrassement if nearing the 90 days with no completions.
September 22nd, 2006 at 4:05 pm
The written word is a powerful tool. Most can write with freedom allowing them to be honest with themselves and with others. I believe god gave us this tool as a powerful way to put things behind us.
shane