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Article Series: Motivation
What Will It Take To Motivate Me?
Get
Motivated: How To Execute a Plan of Action
You
have a large goal to reach, but it’s lofty and looks impossible
to reach, how do you go about obtaining
that goal? There is a tool that is available to you and that
is called an Action Plan. An Action Plan is different from
a “To Do List” because it deals specifically with reaching
one single goal. To do lists are used for multiple tasks that
are unrelated to each other.
Why
does an Action Plan work? It helps you to concentrate
on each stage of your ultimate goal and helps chart your progress
towards it. Drawing up an Action Plan simply means to list
the tasks that need to be completed to achieve your main goal.
It sounds simple and it is, while also being extremely useful
in charting your progress. An Action Plan will help keep you
on track if you tend to get distracted or discouraged about
reaching your goal. It’s such a joy to be able to mark each
task off your list and see how each step is bringing you closer
to your goal.
Let’s look at an action plan that I developed to have a book
published.
Develop your plot ideas and your characters. You have to start
somewhere and you should know your characters and have a basic
idea of what type of book you want to write. Determine if it
will be fiction or non-fiction, for adults, children, or a
book of poetry. That should be the first item on your Plan
of Action.
Write your book. Take it chapter by chapter and keep plugging
away on your manuscript until it is done. You may only write
a paragraph at a time, but you are still working toward your
main goal of publication.
Revisions and editing is the next step after your book is
completed. It’s a necessary step to the process even if it
isn’t your favorite part of writing. You want to send the very
best to an interested publishing company, agent, or editor.
Research where your manuscript should be sent. You really
don’t want to send your romance novel to a science fiction
publishing house. It’s important to know your market. Research;
find publishing companies that are happy to take a new author
if that’s what you are. Find out what their specialty is before
you send that manuscript.
You have researched, now it’s time to send a query letter.
This letter will give a short synopsis of your story and hope
it will grab the interest of an editor.
Your book has been accepted and is on its way to publication.
Now is the time to do pre-publicity. Talk about your book,
be your own promoter. Unless you are a big name author already,
chances are, you will be the main PR person for your book.
Take a pro-active interest in promoting your book to family,
friends, and businesses in your area. In this area, don’t be
shy, if you don’t let them know about your book, no one else
may.
Success! Your book is published and now nationally and internationally
available. You’ve reached your goal taking small steps and
working your Action Plan. Celebrate and then make a new goal
and start working on that.
Wasn’t it satisfying to mark items off your list as you accomplished
them? If you’re original Action Plan looks too short or has
too many large steps, break them down again. Small steps will
always help you to attain your goal.
A quote from Ralph Marston says: “Your goals, minus your doubts,
equal your reality.”
This can also work when you begin thinking about starting
your own business. In fact, an Action Plan is recommended before
you begin looking for financing for your new venture. An Action
Plan will be slightly different from the one I outlined above,
but will use the same basic principals.
Take each step one at a time and give yourself a pat on the
back when you have marked off each task on your list. An Action
Plan will help you stay organized, chart your progress, and
helps keep your goal in sight. Good luck reaching your goals!
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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