I know that I’m one of the lucky ones. (And when I say lucky, I mean fortunate.)
I have a career I love, one with purpose and meaning and serves God in a way I was created for, people I love working with, and enough income to not stay up late at night worrying about how we are going to pay the bills (most nights, that is).
But let’s be clear… my life was not always this way.
I spent most of my twenties and thirties living paycheck to paycheck, in a job that had no potential, loving some of my coworkers but barely tolerating some of the people I worked with.
Some of that was just finding my place in the world – it’s what a lot of 20 and some 30-year-olds do. But part of it was not really believing I could be successful in what I wanted to do in my life. It was easier (and safer) to just do the day to day and survive instead of having a hope for a better, more successful future.
When did things finally begin to turn around for me? Was it a job promotion or a new opportunity?
No – it was a planner.
It was a simple, paper planner that, for the first time, I actually used to plan what I was going to accomplish instead of using it like a calendar.
I started to write down my dreams and started turning those into goals.
And this is what I’ve noticed with every successful woman I’ve ever worked with:
Most of them have great teams of people.
Most of them get up early to attack their day.
Most of them have supportive family and friends to encourage them.
But all of them take time away from their crazy, busy, jam-packed days to pull back and plan for what they want.
How to Pull Back and Plan
I call it Pull Back Planning because I have to be intentional about pulling back from my regular life and setting that time aside to plan for my day, my week, my month, my year, and yes, my whole life.
Each day, before I end work, I take a look at what is coming tomorrow to see what I need to plan for, pray for and do. I apply the same principle to my week, month and year.
I love what Dave Ramsey says about budgets: “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” It’s the same with a planner – a planner will help you tell your time where it goes instead of wondering where it went.
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) says:
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
I love that verse. But we have to know what we are planning to do in order to pray about it and commit it to God.
I want to give my readers the opportunity to try this out.
My favorite planner this year is Valorie Burton’s The Successful Woman Planner. I love the motivating, clarifying quotes placed throughout the week-at-a-glance page layout, and that Valorie (one of the most successful women I know) has shared her wisdom throughout those pages. It is my go-to planner for 2019.
In order to be entered to win a copy of Valorie’s planner and a $50 gift card to Office Max, simply comment below and tell us the next step to success you want to take.
Offer open to US residents only.
Deadline to enter: January 30, 2019.
A bestselling author and Certified Personal and Executive Coach who has served clients in over 40 states and eight countries, Valorie Burton has written nine books on personal development, including Successful Women Think Differently and Happy Women Live Better. She is the founder of The CaPP Institute, providing tools and training that build resilience, well-being, and productivity for life and work.
She has been a regular contributor on CNN, HLN, and the Today show, where she gives practical career and life advice. She has also been featured in and on The Dr. Oz Show, NPR, Oprah Radio, Ebony, Essence, “O” The Oprah Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, LA Times, and hundreds of others. Valorie’s corporate clientele includes multi-million dollar businesses such as Accenture, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Deloitte, General Mills, McDonalds Corp., and many more.
Join 25,000 subscribers to her weekly e-newsletter at www.valorieburton.com and visit her company site at www.cappinstitute.com.
www.valorieburton.com
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Who won this fabulous prize? 🙂
I know planning is essential and I try to do that but it is had to find a planner that helps me keep tract of what I need and provide some additional input, e.g. thought for the day, etc.
So ecstatic to have stumbled upon your podcast today, I really needed it today. I’ve been struggling with time management and making time for myself as a working mom who likes to do as much as possible to make my family happy including wholesome meals, a clean home, taking care of my parents ….. the struggle is real girlfriends! I hope to remember to get this book! ? I need constant reminders to put my life preserver on first.
Thank you, thank you ladies!
Blessings
? Diane
For years and years I have a reoccurring nightmare: I realize at the end of a semester that I was enrolled in college courses but never attended. It’s too late to drop the classes and I have received an F in every one.
Now, it’s time to put that nightmare to bed. I’m going back to school! I’ve got three kids at home, work full time, but it’s not stopping me!!!!
Good for you, Micayla!! You got this!
It’s been inspiring reading through everyone’s comments! My next step is to commit to following through with the goals I have set for myself. I get stuck in my head too many times, and fail to take the consistent, daily action I need to do. I want to set up daily routines and mini goals to meet weekly, so that I’m moving in the right direction and not just dreaming and wishing these things would come true!
I have been listening to you for several months trying to get motivated! I have hit a wall so far behind on decluttering & cleaning. I had some back issues & now I’m blessed with better health. I feel like I’m try to dig out of a hole & it’s getting filled up fast than I can dig. Between bills from several surgeries & not be able to work. As well as the house chores bills cooking & trying to lose weight.
I used to do crafts now I dream of getting organized so I can enjoy my gift God gave me. But when I look around I am overwhelmed & exaushed before I even start.
In the midst of it all, giving myself the grace to just ‘be’.
I need to better plan meals & grocery shopping so I’m not having to shop as often.
I have found that when I am consistent with my goal setting and planning, I feel so much better and accomplish so much more. The mystery is, why don’t I do this consistently?
I have purchased many planners in the past however I stop using them after a short while.
Looking forward to using my time more wisely and focusing on what God has called me to do. Thank you.
My next step is to take small, doable steps toward facing my fears and conquering them so that I can truly dream big and not settle!
One of my goals this year is to weekly plan out the following week. With a new job, and a long commute, sometimes that is hard: finding the energy after a long day, spending time doing it on the weekends when I want to rest or get other things done. I’m also learning to live in grace, and know that I don’t have to push. But at the same time, I want more than just surviving! I want to thrive. I haven’t found the perfect planner for me (yet), so I’m still trying things out.
My next step to success is to focus on my ministry theme. I know that I love decluttering, organizing, decorating and fashion and helping women be all that God created them to be. I need to fine tune this and then once I get this fine tuned, tighten up my website and start being more focused on that theme on my FB speaker’s page. I also want to get a new photo an audio clip to send to event planners. I love it all and so much I want to do but I need to focus…….and slow down….and do it right.
PS – You rock, Kathi Lipp! 🙂
Looks like you are doing a pretty rockin’ job yourself! 🙂 Great goals!
my next step is to volunteer regularly with children or teens. I’m praying about the specific next step but this is the general area.
My next step for success is to make sure to schedule time for writing (and reading) as well as self care. To often I put my goals and care at the bottom of the list of things that need to be done and take care if others first.
My next step is work on cleaning my house enough so that I can have people in & start working on a much needed remodel. I need to put my work on paper & check off vs keeping in my head & not doing anything.
My next step is to increase the amount of water I drink each day.
I have cleared my dining room! Next step- selecting decor!
My next step is carve out time for my writing (and my reading). I have all of these stories inside me just wanting to get out.
Our next goal is to get our website finished for our creative business! It’s time to move on that!
My next step is to be more selective of what to get involved in and what not. To be more discerning of what has real value and save my limited time and energy for that.
I want to set up goals to plan a new life of retirement with my husband. I need to identify new dreams and goals for a new chapter in my life.
My next step is to figure out what I want in the next stage of my life. My girls are grown and I am in a career I don’t like. I am overwhelmed and exhausted most days. I have been eyeing this planner and think it would be a great start to 2019.
My next plan is to get more sleep so I can think clearly to plan and follow through.
Ready to put a financial budget on paper verses always just having a general idea where the money is spent . Looking forward to tackling debt faster this way .
Love a good planner! The next step I want to take is to continue to get systems in place for work and home management so I can be more proactive vs. reactive.
I am not an planner person. I don’t think I have enough going on to use one. I like the idea but it has never really worked for me. Listening to the podcast however has changed my mind. What I got from ithe was schedule myself then the rest. Mind blown!
So glad we were able to change your mind! 🙂 Welcome to the “planner lover club!”
I start my day looking over my list of 10 dreams and then write down a minimum goal, a target goal and an outrageous goal for the day that would move one of those dreams in the right direction.
AH! I actually put Proverbs 16:3 on the cover of my planner this year! As a children’s author who loves to teach/mentor teachers and writers and do author visits at schools I lose focus fast…SQUIRREL!
So my goal is to focus. Having daily goals is helping…instead of just sitting down to work each day.
My next step is to be more intentional and productive with how I’m spending my time throughout the day.
My next step to success is making a daily commitment to improving my math skills on Kahn academy.
My next step is to pay off my debt, so I can start saving for a 6 month emergency fund.
My next step is to actually check off the things in my to do list/planner! There are a lot of things that I should be getting done when my kids are taking naps, but I tend to veg out and turn the TV on during my break.
My next step to success is to continue with weekly planning to maximize my productivity.
My next step is getting my place ready to sell. It is not as easy as it sounds, as there are several things to do. I’m developing a checklist and a plan, and have started on it.
My next step is to balance my time better by setting clear, reasonable goals for each day/quarter and year. Leaving the leading up to Jesus who will provide the way that’s aligned with His will for me.
My next step is to go back to work full time (currently working part time from home on various project work due to a layoff almost a year ago). I have finally found that what I love to do is actually a job! I never knew that this position existed or that that’s what I loved to do until I pursued Lean Six Sigma certification (which I attained at my last job) and learned I love data, analysis and turning data into beautiful, understandable reports and presentations. The only thing I lack is learning a tool such as Tableau. I’d like to take some of my earnings from a full-time job in a different area to pay for a course so that I can be qualified for my dream job! One step at a time, sometimes the steps seem small but as long as they are going in the right direction – it’s all good!
My goal is to complete my internship for my masters program and find/maintain a balance between three jobs and a full-time course load while also carving out time for self-care. Tall order! I’ve gotten a huge jump start on 2019 by decluttering my basement & completing some small organizational projects that make me feel less weighed down in my home. My home is my haven and it’s important to me to make it as beautiful and comfortable as possible so I can enjoy the small amounts of down time and “me” time in peace.
Happy New Year!
I need to take control of my health. The older I get the more I see how what I eat affects how I feel. I want to get things done but my eating habits take away my energy instead of giving me energy. By creating meal plans that follow certain restrictions and rotating them l know I will feel better.
My next step is to be the best steward God has called me to be of time?
My goal is to enter a season of rest . I left a 22 year career and I am trying to find my next career. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy working in an entirely different industry I didn’t expect to be in. Though this is a step back careerwise I am reframing it as a season of rest.
Thank you. My next step is to consistently be intentional about my planning. To include gifting myself wit “pulling back” time; having mindfulness about my plans; writing my plans (goals) down; regularly referring to them and working to accomplish my top three priorities in 2019.
I have been doing this for years in one form or fashion. My “next step” is to help my very focused 14 year old daughter, with dreams of the Olympics, implement the idea of “it’s more than a calendar.”
I just finished listening to the podcast — it was awesome! May next step is reel it in a bit. I have a tendency to want to do all the things RIGHT NOW, and I can’t. I want real focused change that will last. Thanks for your good work.
My next step is to continue implementing the steps for success that I’ve set for myself.
I finally became tired of wishing and dreaming, and decided to do specific things to change. One thing that I’ve begun doing is reading books about habits and thinking (7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Power of Habit, and The Magic of Thinking Big). I’m also reading Overwhelmed by Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory. All of this reading is helping me to be more intentional and diligent. I’m setting goals, establishing a routine, and following through vs. setting aside the task for another day because I didn’t get it quite right, or didn’t feel like it, or whatever.
I’m excited to see where I’ll be by the end of the year.
Thank you, my next step to be successful is to plan and tell my time where to go. I never thought of it that way but it makes things so much clearer.
My next step to success is to be better organized this year. Part of organization is planning properly. If I don’t have it written down I tend to forget.
Becoming a planner is one of my to do’s this year because I need a way to become fit & healthy, start my blog and work on my spiritual journey with The Lord.
I made a promise to take better care of myself and my family this year. I haven’t seen a doctor in a few years and need to get bloodwork done. PTA appointments I have to keep track of and weekly volleyball sessions with friends also keep me busy. My kids have appointments, preschool, elementary school activities, dance classes, and play dates (hang outs if it’s my son so his little ego isn’t bruised). I do much better when I have these things written out and color coded to keep track.
My next step is to have a more disciplined routine to start my morning in the Word and schedule exercise.
I teach a fitness class twice a week with two other women. We need to meet to plan out what our goals are for building and maintaining our class numbers.
I’ve been a stay at home mom for 18 years, and I’m going back to work next month. I’m excited and nervous.
I would like to be intentionally planning for what I will do when my daughter starts school so that I can still have a flexible schedule and use what God has given me to glorify Him.
So good!
I am dreaming of growing our surviving small business in 2019 into a thriving small business.
My goal is to add to our team and grow enough to achieve some financial freedom so that we can provide a few jobs for our community and bless the socks off of the people and organizations that have been on our heart all of 2018.
No more discouragement, better planning and believing God can do far more than we can on our own.
Dream new dreams and use my planner to make them come true. I will be a late bloomer, but I am going to bloom.
We had a foreign exchange student from Brazil live with us one year and she was astounded when I asked for her school information dates so I could put them on the calendar.
I took her to where it was posted on the refrigerator and pointed out my daughter’s volleyball games, meetings and appointments already listed.
“I need your dates so I can make sure I’m at your choir performances and get you to where you need to go.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. What a great idea!”
I still find that conversation hard to believe.
I make do with a book-type calendar with lots of spots for notes and post-it notes stuck on the pages.
I plan out meals, blog posts and other work-related items a week or a month at a time on a piece of paper. When I’m done I throw away the paper. So, am I a planner or not?
Start taking care of myself…better blood glucose, eating, sleep,etc.
Next step is getting 7 to 8 hours sleep every night so I can wake up and be a healthy, functioning, successful human being.
just spent last week revisiting goals. Somewhere as a mom, I lost track of the fact that i have goals and dreams too, beyond raising my children. And I have my own identity-not just “mom” .So this post was timely – a planner for our goals!!
My next/current step to success is doing a 30 day organizing challenge! I am 5 days in and loving it 🙂
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON SELF CARE SO I CAN BE BETTER ALL AROUND FOR MY FAMILY!
I almost cried when I read this in my email. I actually have made this switch for the first time and bought a planner that has goals in mind rather than just a calendar. I am battling the disappointment, frustration, and fear by forcing myself daily to take the next step. Thanks for reminding us it’s sometimes a long journey.
My next step to success is to get my goals written down and start implementing them.
My next step is good bed and up times, and being realistic about my to-do list. I also want to lay out measurable steps to reach my goals.
My next step is to write down my daily goals instead of making them up in my head thinking I will get to complete them, but by the end of the day, life has gotten in the way and I’m no closer to accomplishing my daily goals than when I first thought of them. (that has got to be one of the longest sentences I have written- without self-editing!)
Next step is scheduling down time for me. Many times I don’t stop till I’m physically hurting, then I’m forced to take care of myself. I’ve just started keeping a journal this year. Would probably do me good to have a schedule so I don’t forget to do it. I could use my phone but it’s so easy to disregard a notice on my phone.
The next step for me is continuting to pray for God to order my steps, writtng them down daily and accomplishing them.
It’s great reading what everyone’s “next step to success” is. I’m learning a lot 🙂 I’m trying to re-program my mind/body to get up earlier so I can have longer quality time w/ Jesus in the AMs daily. That also means going to bed earlier each night so I can get enough sleep. Pls pray for this night owl! Thanks 🙂
My next step for success is developing discipline in every area of my life. My career goal for the near future is to become an assistant principal, to that end I have several books I am going to read in preparation for that role. Physically, I will develop the discipline of exercise…my husband and I joined a gym this weekend. Spiritually, I will continue to seek God through Bible reading, prayer, silence, and solitude. I love music and want to move into songwriting so discipline is key…writing/playing/singing every day. Relationally, I want to be present for all the people in my life; disciplined use of social media is necessary to being present. Financially, budgeting, saving, and paying down debt are the goals for the year. I have a vision of discipline as a tiny, little mustard seed. Intentionality is the water that will cause discipline to grow in every area of my life. When discipline grows my life will bloom into a beautiful, healthy, colorful flower!
My word for this year is action. I’m tired of thinking that I should call this person or send a card or take a meal only to realize 3 weeks later that I never got around to doing what I knew I should. So my next step is actually a series of baby steps to equip me for action–getting a good night’s sleep, making better eating choices, asking the Lord to order my day, and yes, planning ahead. I have to build some margin into my days in order to seize the opportunities He gives me.
My next step is to enjoy the space I’ve created in my home over the past couple of years. As I made my goals for this year (not resolutions), I realized I had no major decluttering projects to tackle. There are areas I would like to clean; there are areas that will need to be maintained; and there are areas that will need to be purged again, but not urgent. My list included mostly things to restore my relationship with God, my body, my mind, and my personal space. I’ve never done a “positive word for the year,” but if I did, I believe this year’s word would be RESToration.
My 2019 plan is to make time for myself–time with God, get my eating back on track, exercise more, find the joy I used to have.
My next step to success is to schedule daily time to reflect, pray, regroup, and plan.
My next step is to take better care of myself (health is a priority – including all health checkups), so that I can better take care of my family.
My next step is to be more proactive in getting enough sleep and getting up earlier every day so that I can attack my day instead of the other way around. I am so tired of my calendar scheduling me instead of me scheduling my calendar. There is such a big difference!
My next step is to set aside prayer time each day to listen and hear God’s direction for my life, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
After retiring from a church volunteer position after 18 years I am feeling kind of lost! I need to set some new goals and see what the Lord has planned for me.
My next step is to start the decluttering process of my home
To stay the course for now and reevaluate in a month.
I have been making a plan to pay off our credit card debt as well as go back to school to finish my degree. It’s never too late! This planner would be so helpful.
My next step: to be more focused and purposeful in all my days. How? Time alone first thing in the morning, drink more water, eat more veggies, create a Haven in my home.
Interesting that I just read this today… It is the first day of my new routine of waking up an hour earlier than normal to start my day off right! Planning for my day is a large part of this!
My 2019 is focused on turning intention into action. Writing things down takes it out of my head and to my hands!
My first step is to be more focused and purposeful with TODAY and the days to come! Thank you for following your calling, Kathy! ?
Pull back planning is the way to go! My next step is clarifying and prioritizing- I need that focus to cut down on guilt and self-shaming.
My first step is writing down all of my goals. Both long and short term, then planning the steps to accomplish them.
Thank you for this post – it was right on time!! I have a goal to start selling bags that I make on Etsy. I am reading Business Boutique right now and trying to get some inventory. I am nervous but excited and I pray that this is within Gods will and that if it isn’t, that he would direct my path!
My next step is to pull back an plan. schedule time to plan my day, week and year.
I want to restart my blog and be consistent with it.
I want to pursue what spiritual gifts that I may have and how best to put them to work.
My next step is a daily quiet time again. Makes my day so much better and need to set a better example for my 12 and 14 year olds. Also need to be praying more diligently for them – middle school is so hard!
My next step is incorporating a daily quiet time again…I have gotten out of the habit and I KNOW my day is better with it, plus I love the example for my 12 and 14 year old – it is something we let slack off.
My next step is to honestly look at our budget and stick with it!
I want to begin a decluttering habit of 10 minutes per day until it’s *done*, then start over where i started to stay on top of the clutter coming in on a daily basis! Having 3 school aged kids and a baby, there’s constant clutter coming in, & it seems to multiply on its own! I need to use my planner to *plan* for this time daily!
My next step is to narrow down my list and choose one thing to work on. I always go all in, trying to do all the things, then burn out fast.
Win this planner,pray and start a plan,looking ahead to open up purpose that fills the blank pages. t.
Finishing my children’s photo albums online—almost there!
My next step is to focus on my health by drinking enough water and adding exercise to my routine.
My next step is to get this house (structurally and aesthetically) fixed. This planner will help me with all the tasks, appointments, contractors and steps of bringing the house to code, and the home to light! Thanks for this opportunity.
Learning to be organized.
Intentional weekly planning! With 4 children and a full time career, I have to get a better grip on our super busy schedule.
The next step is to go to bed earlier so I will get up earlier.