7 useful tips to make your dreams a reality

No matter what your dreams are, they’re unlikely to happen if you don’t have a solid plan to get there. Without a plan, you could end up anywhere as life meanders and swirls around you.

Here are some planning tips to help you really think about what you want and plan how you’re going to get there.

Write down your goals

1. Step 1: Set your medium-term goals first by looking forward about three years from now. These are easier to start off with because you’ve probably dreamt about them for a while. You probably want to be the marketing or finance manager of a company, for instance. This is easier to imagine than being the director, which is a few steps away from where you are now.
2. Step 2: Now dream a little bit further, what’s the next step and the next… These are your long-term plans – five to ten years away.
3. Step 3: And now think of your immediate plans. Where are you and where do you want to be within the next year or so.
   By breaking down your goals into smaller bits, they become easier to achieve. 

7 Useful tips for planning

If you don’t think through the planning process well, it will be as useless as not having created a plan. Worse, it could be worse, it could set you off in the wrong direction.

1. Work backwards: Write down your end-goal and work backwards to where you are now to figure out how to get there. If you know what you want to achieve, you’ll be able to map out a plan, but if you start where you are with no end-goal established, you could end up anywhere.
2. Research: Every plan needs research. Do your research so you can make an informed decision.
3. Identify your resources: Work out what you’re going to need to achieve your goal. Do you need money for a course, advice from your parents or a professional career counsellor?
4. Understand that a plan is a guide. Don’t freak out if something happens that’s not in your plan. Life is unpredictable sometimes and we have to adapt as life changes.
5. For big decisions, have a plan B. In order not to feel completely derailed by any changes, it’s best to think of possible scenarios that could make your plan A obsolete and counter plan for them. Think of it as a chess game, if X happens, you need to do Y, if Z happens, you need to do S.
6. Persevere: Just because you have a plan, it doesn’t mean things will go exactly as per your plan. Use the plan as a working guide and tweak it where necessary, refining your plan as you go. But whatever the obstacle, don’t give up.
7. Review your plan every year. In a year, things can change a lot so review your plan and tweak it where necessary so you can continue to work towards your goals.

Now is the best time to start your planning

Time is constantly moving forward. It’s so easy to be distracted by social media, parties and sleeping late. Small distractions steal valuable time. Every second you waste now will impact your future. So put your plan together and start working towards achieving your goals today.