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Would you consider yourself a planner?
Many, like Kenji, don’t see themselves as planners. In fact, research has shown that people with Kenji’s personality type actually struggle with planning. The reason is, his personality is a go, go, go-type personality. He’s constantly getting sh*t done, so stopping to plan feels like waste of time.
However, over the last 3-6 months, this has all changed.
Now, instead of labeling himself “I’m not a planner,” he now loves to plan and can’t imagine beginning his day without a plan.
Why the dramatic shift?
He reached a threshold. A threshold is the point at which you get fed up with your current situation and you decide to make a change.
So how did he make the shift?
First thing is, he changed his identity. See, if you label yourself “I’m not a planner,” then you will do whatever it takes to maintain that identity. Once you change your identity to “I’m a planner,” things start to change. All of a sudden, you no longer fiercely hold onto the old identity.
Second, he made time for it each day. It is actually built into his daily schedule.
Third, he started to see positive results from planning, which created a positive reinforcement loop.
See, when you plan effectively, you get better results.
This is one of the keys to planning. It’s not about getting more sh*t done. It’s about focusing on the things you value the most.
For example, you might value having your kids see you as a fun and loving dad. If that’s the outcome you’re seeking, then you have to plan time to create those fun and loving moments with your kids.
This gives each to-do on your list more meaning. It’s not something you check off. Instead, each to-do is important and meaningful to you, so when you accomplish it, you are achieving the results you’re seeking.
Now this episode isn’t just about Kenji’s dramatic shift, Leti also made significant changes to how she plans. She now organizes her planning around the different roles she plays in life for example: mother, wife, CEO, and community.
So if you want better results in your life, consider planning for success!
