If you’re like most people this week you might still struggling to get back into the groove of things after a good break. All the top result producers I know always have extensive to do lists and are almost fanatical about creating them. It is what can make the difference between a fast start compared to a slow start of a day, a week or a year.

It’s one thing to have a vision of what you want to do your head but it’s another thing to have it as something that you can share with other people and actually help move your business forward.

It’s the same theory behind why movie directors create storyboards before filming their movie. Because time is short, resources are expensive and they have to make sure that all their production staffs are on the same page. They paint out a graphical picture so that way the team that make the sets make them look right, the camera and lighting teams have an idea of what’s expected at what angles.

And it’s not just there, in basketball when they are planning plays or with architects creating blueprints, there is a picture of the future already drawn.

So what is the picture for your business this year? What will your business can look like?

Get started using these simple points but powerful points:

Step One: Move Away From The Computer And Phone. 

Nothing great has ever been created with constant interruption. If you don’t get time to gather your thoughts then you won’t put the real time into your future that you need to.

Step Two: Grab A Piece Of Paper.  And Some Coloured Pens.

Although digital seems to be the rage, analogue works. It makes it easier to avoid the interruptions of emails and messages as well.

Step Three:  List Where You Are Right Now

On the left-hand side, write a list from top to bottom of some simple phrases that describe where you business is at right now. We don’t need the full story but just the most important things. For example it could be “Over Stocked”, “Patchy Quality”, “Inconsistent Sales”, “Over Servicing Clients”. Keep doing this for every one of your areas of improvement.

Step Four: List Where You Want To Be Next Year

Draw an arrow for each of the points on this list across to the right hand side of the page. Then on the right-hand side, add the words that you want to describe this area next year. For example: “Lean Stock”, “High Quality”, “Consistent Sales”, “Efficient Servicing of Clients”.

This can then become the focal point for your projects for the year. Get your team involved to find out how they can help you move from where you are now, to where you are aiming to be. These can be the themes for the year, the focus of projects or different teams.

But the important part is, at least you have a clear picture of where you are coming from and going to.

Article by – Steve Smit – Reality Consulting – www.realityconsulting.com.au