Guest Post: Having a Plan by Married with Luggage

Today I’m delighted to have a guest post from one of my favourite bloggers Betsy Talbot, who in less than 100 days is leaving, with her husband Warren, on a 3+ year round the world trip;

Take the First Step

Goal setting is pretty common. Anyone can do it, and almost everyone does. What is not so common is actually reaching the goal.

There are a few reasons for this, but the main one is that people don’t plan beyond just listing the goal. We’re a dreamy sort of bunch, aren’t we?

• “I want to lose 20 pounds.”
• “I want a promotion at work.”
• “I want to write a book.”

Just wanting to lose 20 pounds will not make it happen (believe me, I’ve tried). Wanting a promotion and feeling like you deserve a promotion will not actually get you one. And you’ll never write a book just by wishing it.

Making a plan and immediately taking a step in the right direction is the key to actually reaching your goal. It is not one big move, an overnight success, or an unexpected inheritance that will allow you to fulfil your dream. It is the small steps that you take every single day that will get you there.

• “I’m going to stop drinking soda and eating junk food and will walk for 2 miles every day to lose 20 pounds by the end of the year.”
• “I’m going to volunteer to lead a new project at work and let my boss know I’m interested in a promotion within the next year.”
• “I’m going to get up an hour earlier every day to write my novel and plan to write 500 words a day.”

We started planning our trip around the world 2 years ago after a few years of downsizing. This has been a multi-year process, and we are now less than 100 days from our departure date for 3+ year trip. How did that happen? Well, much the same as you read about on this blog. We had a plan, we had an accountability system, and we stuck to it.

• We did the research online to find out how much a trip like this would cost (US$100/day)
• We decided on a departure date (October 1, 2010)
• We set up a budget to fit our timeline (25 months of extreme saving added to our current savings account)
• We planned out how to continue downsizing in stages before our departure (Craigslist, selling the house, etc.)
• Most importantly, we told people (in person and through our blog)

The key to reaching your goal, whether you want to lose weight or move to a foreign country, is to have a plan, make it public, and take the first step.

Do you have a goal without a plan?

BIO:  Betsy Talbot writes about carving the lifestyle you want out of the life you already have. When she’s not writing, she’s paring down, saving up, and getting ready to travel the world with her husband Warren. Read more about their adventures at Married with Luggage

{photo credit: kjpm}