Summary: <br> It's true. You don't plan enough, and neither do I. Your most important goals need more detail to move forward, if they are ever to be completed.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://www.jeffsanders.com/seven-strategies-to-stay-healthy-at-work-podcast-114/">← Previous Episode</a><br> <a href="https://www.jeffsanders.com/dave-kirby-explains-why-the-world-needs-the-best-you-podcast-115/">Next Episode →</a><br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://www.jeffsanders.com/you-dont-plan-enough-the-killer-importance-of-a-detailed-action-list/"></a>Photo Credit: <a style="color: #808080;" href="http://publicdomainarchive.com/public-domain-images-business-office-desk-orange-chair-ampersand-ruler-leather-notepad/" target="_blank">Public Domain</a><br> Six months ago I was in the beginning stages of creating the Table of Contents for <a href="https://www.jeffsanders.com/the-5-am-miracle-book/" target="_blank">my new book</a>. As a super Type A, detail-focused guy, I always start every big project by doing anything and everything except the hard work itself.<br> As it turns out, this tendency of mine is actually an asset, but only if I stretch it to its full capacity. Otherwise, I'm left with a series of procrastination techniques that never amount to anything.<br> The Problem with Winging It<br> Big projects are too complex to be left to chance. The tendency for most of us is to make a short list (or no list at all) and then just dive in head first.<br> The problem with this strategy is that we are assuming that the answers will just fall into place. We assume that by winging it we can work on-the-fly, solve problems as they pop up, and make progress without a formal plan in place.<br> This is a great strategy for small, familiar projects or for highly experienced people working in their strength zone who don't mind the inevitable headaches that are certainly coming their way.<br> When you walk into a new project without a plan (or with only scraps of ideas thrown together on a napkin) you wind up with more problems than solutions and more stress than success.<br> What Hyper-Planning Can Do For You<br> It's time to embrace your inner Type A. Think of yourself as a “hyper-planner” and let's see where this takes us.<br> <br> * If the average person makes a list of 5 tasks for a project, the hyper-planner will have a list of 50.<br> <br> * If the average person begins writing the first chapter of their book on day 1, the hyper-planner won't write a single word for a week.<br> <br> * If the average person writes a new task as “Work on my book today,” the hyper-planner will instead use, “Outline paragraph 1 of the Introduction with three specific content ideas.”<br> <br> It Just Feels Wrong<br> Hyper-planning is the simple act of spending what feels like too much time in the “pre-work” stage and not enough in the “doing” stage. It's counterintuitive for high-achievers who just want to get their hands dirty now.<br> Instead, the better solution is to think through the process. Outline every step you can predetermine and brainstorm what obstacles are coming your way.<br> What you will notice is that clarity comes rushing in and stress begins to dissipate. The more you plan the less you fear and the faster you will eventually begin to move.<br> This is especially important on a daily task list that is flooded with vague generalities and tasks that should be labeled as projects because they are way too big for an individual to tackle in a single sitting.<br> You Know Exactly Where You Are<br> During my recent sabbatical I was working on as many as 4 projects at the same time. The only reason I was able to do this without losing my mind was that I had detailed action lists for each active project.<br> At any given moment I knew exactly where I was in the process, what my next action would be,
