January 2010
The Power of Planning
by Keith Powell
There is something profound about putting pen to paper, or in computer terms, key-stroking your plan into a computer. Once you write something, it begins to take on a life. You now have something to look at that is concrete. Although it is concrete on paper, as you progress, you are encouraged to make path corrections. Life will continue to happen around you. Circumstances of life might temporarily hinder you, but there will also be times when you are catapulted forward because of a great opportunity. This is when you need to allow for path corrections. Tweaking your plan so that you always have correct directions to your ultimate business goal.
Start out with a basic statement. Call it your business purpose statement. State your dream or goal in clear, specific words. Being able to state your dream or goal in clear words helps you make a plan more complete.
When writing your plan, try not to use vague statements like "make more sales," because they are not specific enough. Instead, use words like "close two cruise sales a week." Depending on your market, this might mean one seven-day and one three-day cruise or two seven-day cruises. Being as specific as possible will help you plan how you are going to accomplish your business growth goal.
Do a timeline of when you want it done. Take out your calendar and set your timelines. I like to build my timeline by working backwards from my end goal results. This gives me a timeline of each step that needs to be done to get to the harvest of my plan. A timeline is important and, just like a calendar, gives you an overview as to whether you are on target.
How much do you want to earn this year in your travel business? This number needs to be broken down to how many closed sales per month, per week, etc. If you're doing groups, how many groups and what is the number of passengers in each group required to meet your goal?
It is amazing what can be accomplished when you consistently dedicate time to your plan of action. Even 15, 30, or 45 minutes a day can have a tremendously powerful impact on your business.
Budgeting of your resources includes both time and money. We often think of resources only as dollars, but time is our most precious asset. You need to outline your plan of action to account for these resources. This is where many people fail. They underestimate how much time and money it will take to achieve your business goals. People will often say to me "I just do not have the time," and my reply is "Well, you are not getting any more - time, that is." What is the alternative? You either make time or you look back and have regrets. As for money resources, this also requires a concentrated effort of planning and action.
By planning, you can eliminate some tasks you are now doing to make time for more important tasks. By better using your time each day, you can achieve more. Remember: Being busy does not equate to being successful. It is what you achieve that makes you successful.
Power Tips to Planning
- Have a written plan and make yourself accountable
- Have timelines and make them measurable
- Build in a budget of both money and time
- Review your plan often and allow for corrections
Travel is the best reward that a customer purchases for themselves. Practice what you preach, and don't forget that in your plan you need to have some personal rewards for milestones accomplished. As you review your plan along the way and see that you have kept on target or maybe you landed a nice group, plan a reward. That might mean buying a gift for yourself, going out for a special lunch, or taking a half day off. Whatever the celebration or reward, be sure to acknowledge the reason. You are moving forward because of the power of planning!
Keith Powell is a renowned travel industry speaker and trainer with 25 years of experience in the business. He's crisscrossed the globe from Bangkok to Cannes, from Rio de Janeiro to Vancouver presenting programs both domestically and internationally. Known as "The Business Revivalist," Keith has presented to client groups ranging from associations and airlines to cruise lines and Fortune 500 companies. His Web site is www.keithpowellspeaker.com.
(Credits: Keith Powell)
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