Having a plan makes a big difference in how things turn out. One of my hobbies is wood-working and a recent project was converting my daughter’s “baby bed” into a “day bed.” We bought the baby bed as a floor model so we didn’t have all the pieces to convert it…so I decided to build the new rail for the day bed. I sketched out the design, shopped for supplies, and got to work. There were a couple of unexpected challenges but I was able to review the plan, modify as needed, and finish the project.
In hobbies, life, and even in ministry a plan is essential. Taking the time to prepare a plan is really taking time to prepare to “succeed.” And skipping the planning often puts the effectiveness in jeopardy. Whether its a plan for recruiting volunteers, an upcoming fundraiser, evaluating a new curriculum, or planning an event….
Here are 4 Reasons not to skip the planning phase:
- You need to have a successful outcome in mind. It gets things started on a positive note when you consider how you want the project to end. Envision success (in detail) and then work towards making it happen. If you cannot envision a successful outcome, then re-evaluate the project or the situation. There aren’t many ways to arrive at excellence that don’t involve planning.
- Advance planning lets you anticipate potential problems. When you think it through in advance, you can plan to avoid pitfalls or better know how to handle them when they arise.
- Putting plans on paper makes it easier to delegate. Once the supplies, action steps, etc.. are outlined, you are able to clearly communicate and delegate tasks to others who are involved.
- Changing a plan is easier than coming up with one on the fly. When things go wrong, it is always easier to go back to the drawing board for modifications than to come up with a whole new gameplan on the spur of the moment.
The ministry the Lord has given us to steward is important enough to give our best efforts, so I hope this inspires you and challenges you to commit the time to plan for success!