Plan Ahead
Mon, August 12, 2019 
The simple things in life we plan ahead, for example going to the grocery store. We plan the meals we are going to make and create a shopping list.
When we get in the car, we have a definite plan. We decide ahead which grocery store to use, and the route we are going to take. If we need to make a detour to get gas or buy something from another store, we decide ahead of time the order in which we a going to do things.
We cannot imagine driving around aimlessly until we just happen upon a grocery store, And yet so often when it comes to the big things in our lives, careers, relationships, our whole future we have no plan, we drive aimlessly around.
I am often guilty of this which is why I am writing this piece, as a reminder. Being aware of a problem is halfway to fixing it.
Even at this point in my life when most people my age would not buy green bananas, I still make short term goals and feel that my best work is still ahead of me.
I find with short term goals it is easier to remain focused. If I always have a plan, and as long as I am moving forward, I don’t need to think about next week’s grocery list at this moment.
What tricks do use to stay focused and on course?
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Reader Comments (3)
I am quite the opposite my best bikes rides are the ones that I just take a different unplanned route. Same with driving a car in England the best trips we have ever taken are when we just took a country lane because it looked interesting same with art and music improvise to see what happens. But that's just me I like to be different I look also for bikes that are a one-off and not like someone else has. Just my thoughts. I often wonder what I would have been like if I had stayed in Birmingham England like all my mates, who ended their lives doing the same job living in the same place? Of course, I should talk, I have lived in this house we built 29 years ago and still drive a car purchased in 2001 Guess I have found MY niche HUH!
Dave - I have found over the years that my ability to stick to along-term plan is very limited. I start off with good intentions and then generally get sidetracked.
So, like you, I'm all about the short-term plans. Things I can get done in a few hours or a day. These things get done relatively quickly.
If there is a larger project to do, I break it up in into small chunks and set these as short-term goals. Then the whole thing gets done over a period of time. If I try to do it all as one large project, nothing gets completed.
Luckily, with today's technology, I can set up my grocery lists over time on my phone. Then my wife buys them all. :)
2019 Tour de France, where plans of most teams flew out the team bus window even before it started. Cycling is close to how life is. Probably why you can enjoy it your entire life.
And I’ve always said, “Prepare for anything, expect anything.” In cycling, in life.
Most times you can see things coming, if you’re perceptive, and not be surprised. Or you can claim “I’m a victim”, because that’s the easiest thing in life to do. You’ll get plenty of sympathy.
But it seems those of us that have led good, productive, happy lives don’t attract attention. And that is the point.