How to create an action plan to achieve any goal you set for yourself

Do you have a goal you want to achieve, but don't know how to start? 

Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of things you have to do to achieve it? Would you like to have a clear and effective action plan that guides you step by step towards your goal?  

How to create an action plan to achieve any goal you set for yourself

If the answer is yes, this article is for you. In it, I'm going to teach you how to create an action plan to achieve any goal you set for yourself, following these seven steps:

1. Define your goal specifically and realistically

It's not enough to say "I want to be happy" or "I want to be successful." You have to specify what that means for you, what exactly you want to achieve, how you are going to measure it and in what time frame you want to achieve it. For example, "I want to increase my income by 20% in the next six months" or "I want to learn English and obtain the B2 level in a year."

2. Identify the benefits of achieving your goal

Why do you want to achieve that goal? What is it going to give you? How will it improve your life? It is important that you are clear about the reasons that motivate you to pursue your goal, as they will help you maintain focus and enthusiasm when difficulties or temptations to give up arise. For example, "by increasing my income, I will be able to save more money, travel more and have greater financial security" or "by learning English, I will be able to access better job opportunities, communicate with more people and enjoy more cultural content."

3. Analyze your current situation and the resources you have available

Where are you now in relation to your goal? What do you have going for you and what are you missing? What skills, knowledge, tools, contacts or support do you need to achieve it? It is essential that you make an honest diagnosis of your starting point and the resources you have, in order to design an action plan appropriate to your reality and your possibilities. 

For example, "I currently earn 1000 euros per month and I want to reach 1200 euros in six months. I have good training, experience and reputation in my sector, but I need to improve my network of contacts and my marketing strategy" or "I currently have "I have an A2 level of English and I want to reach B2 in a year. I have access to the internet, books and applications to learn English, but I need to practice conversation and oral comprehension."

4. Establish the actions you are going to take to achieve your goal

What are you going to do to achieve your goal? What steps do you have to follow? What activities do you have to do? It is time to define the specific actions that you are going to carry out to move towards your goal, taking into account your current situation and the resources you have available. It is recommended that actions be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Temporary (SMART). 

For example, "to increase my income by 20%, I am going to take the following actions: 

• Create a professional website to show my services and my portfolio. 
• Contact at least 10 potential clients each week by email or phone. 
• Attend networking events related to my sector every month. 
• Create a blog and publish valuable content every week to generate traffic and authority" 

Another example: "to learn English and obtain the B2 level in one year, I am going to perform the following actions: 

• Study grammar and vocabulary with an app for 30 minutes a day. 
• Read an article in English every day and make a written or oral summary. - Watch a series or movie in English with subtitles every week. 
• Practice conversation with a native or a linguistic exchange twice a week."

5. Organize your action plan on a calendar or agenda

When are you going to perform each action? How often? During how much time? It is important that you assign a date and time to each action, to avoid procrastination and forgetfulness. This way you will have a calendar or agenda with all the tasks you have to do each day, week or month to achieve your goal. In addition, it will help you monitor your progress and evaluate your results. 

For example, "to increase my income by 20%, I will follow this schedule: 

• Monday: create the professional website. 
• Tuesday: contact 10 potential clients by email or phone. 
• Wednesday: Attend a networking event. 
• Thursday: contact 10 potential clients by email or phone. 
• Friday: create and publish a blog post" 

Or "to learn English and obtain the B2 level in one year, I will follow this agenda: 

• Monday: study grammar and vocabulary with the app for 30 minutes. Read an article in English and make a written summary.
• Tuesday: study grammar and vocabulary with the app for 30 minutes. Practice conversation with a native or a linguistic exchange for an hour.
• Wednesday: study grammar and vocabulary with the app for 30 minutes. Read an article in English and make an oral summary.
• Thursday: study grammar and vocabulary with the application for 30 minutes. Practice conversation with a native or a linguistic exchange for an hour.
• Friday: study grammar and vocabulary with the app for 30 minutes. Watch a series or movie in English with subtitles."
  

6. Execute your action plan with discipline and perseverance

Are you ready to put your action plan into action? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal? Now is the time to take action, to do what you have planned, to stick to your calendar or agenda. 

Don't let laziness, fear, doubt or distraction stop you from doing what you need to do. Be disciplined and constant, do not skip any task, do not give up in the face of obstacles, do not deviate from the path. Remember the benefits of reaching your goal and keep your motivation high.

7. Review your action plan periodically and make necessary adjustments

How are you doing with your action plan? Are you achieving the expected results? Are you closer to your goal? It is advisable that you review your action plan from time to time, to check if you are making adequate progress, if you are fulfilling your actions, if you are obtaining the desired results. If everything goes well, congratulate yourself on your work and keep it up. If something is not going well, analyze the causes and make the necessary changes to improve your action plan. Don't get discouraged or frustrated, learn from your mistakes and move on.

By following these seven steps, you can create an action plan to achieve any goal you set for yourself, whether personal or professional, big or small, short or long term. Remember that success does not only depend on having a goal, but also on having a plan to achieve it. So don't wait any longer, start creating your action plan today and get closer to your dream every day.