Plan to Enjoy Your Success

Be Careful with your Plans for the Future

Plan to Be Good to Yourself

Sometimes we ask for things without thinking of the ripple effects. It’s always easy to imagine doing more and getting more. Yet we often overlook what more will do to us - physically, mentally, and socially. Over the years, I’ve learned to start the planning process not with the question “What should I do?” but the question:

Who do I want to be?

Let me tell you a story.

You can pour coffee into your nervous system for $5 a day, or you can pour inspiration into your life for $2.50 a week. Join the hundreds of readers who enjoy Always Inspiring Insider Access - the full library, video recordings, and eight live webinars a year - by upgrading today.(Annual plans are on holiday-sale now, too! A great gift!)

A Different Kind of Business Planning

“Oh, I want that too!”

We hear that all the time from clients and friends. They see someone living in a bigger home, driving a fancier car, winning a higher award, or closing a bigger sale and it triggers their impulses ahead of their thinking.

Consider this coaching conversation I had with a salesperson recently:

“Can you help me get to 100 sales next year?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” I answered. “But do you know what you’re asking?”

“Oh, sure. I want to make a lot of money,” she immediately replied.

“What else will doing 100 sales do to you?” I asked.

“I will be number one. I will buy a new car and take a trip,” she said.

“That’s what it might do for you,” I said. “What will it do to you? To your body? To your mind? To your family? To your life?”

There was a long pause.

I think of Dante when I do planning sessions, for he wrote, “Remember this night [this moment], for it is the beginning of always.” Photo © 2019 Matthew Ferrara.

Consider What It Will Make of You

Years ago I heard Jim Rohn say the phrase, “Don’t become a millionaire for what it will give you. Become a millionaire for what it will make of you to achieve it.” It seems like a simple phrase to understand: What it takes to become a “top” producer in any field is commitment, discipline, and a constant striving for improvement.

All laudable goals. But there’s more.

Every attempt to gain more also costs more. Nothing is free, not especially success. So it’s critical to consider what the achievement requires, so you don’t destroy yourself along the way —

And never get the chance to enjoy your success.

The Journey Matters as Much as the Destination

Twenty-five years ago, my stepfather passed away. While he lived a long time, he also lived a difficult life, one in which he rarely enjoyed the fruits of his labors. Even on weekends, he was always working on something.

My stepfather always wanted to be “rich.” The cost of being rich, he thought, required him to be stingy. I remember once we bought four tires for the family car, and he refused to pay the $5 each to mount them on the wheels. We took them home and hammered away all afternoon with a crowbar and mallet, pushing and pulling and twisting them onto the rims.

He saved $20. But he lost an afternoon of enjoyment.

The Richness of Life

Are you sure you just want to “get rich” next year?

Learning how to enjoy your efforts is as important as learning how much they pay. Doing more sounds like a good idea until you consider what “more-ness” might do:

To your nervous system.
To your attitude.
To your relationships.
To your sense of life.

It’s not all bad, to be sure. There are times in life when we must step it up and put in the requisite effort to achieve important goals.

But every year I hear thousands of people say “they want more” during business planning. They put pressure on themselves to produce more everything, and somehow think they’re going to have time to enjoy more rewards at the same time.

When will you have time for a day off when you’re doing more posts online, more prospecting calls, more hours in the office, more hustle?

Doing more could be the opposite of what they really need.

One of my favorite books is ReWork about a company that traded “bigness” for “greatness.” Their philosophy is to add a “little” more to their product, revenue, and output each year, while seriously protecting the rewards of work. They prioritized enjoyment, balance, time spent with colleagues, clients, and family. They have repeatedly rebuffed investors who want them to scale! They stay in their lane, rather than add a hundred ancillary features to compete with larger firms.

They ask clients for a few more dollars but don’t raise prices so aggressively. They choose a different path.

And they continue to enjoy every day.

“I think I need to reconsider my priorities for next year,” said my coaching client.

“I’m sure you can come up with the right combination,” I said. “There’s always the option to do more, once you have decided who you want to be while doing it.”

Happy planning, my friends.

And if you need any help, I’m here for you.

— M

If you liked this post please give it a ❤️. If you want a few of my best tips on how to do business planning that prioritizes happiness, read on!👇