Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
As a young entrepreneur, you’ve got big dreams and even bigger ambitions. But let’s face it, turning those dreams into reality can be tough. That’s where an action plan comes in. It’s your secret weapon for crushing goals—personal and business—and making things happen. In this post, I’ll show you how to create a killer action plan that’ll skyrocket your success. Let’s dive in!
Table of contents
Key Takeaways:
- An action plan is your roadmap to achieving specific goals
- Use the “punch list” method to identify and overcome obstacles
- Focus on “Next Actions” rather than vague tasks
- Mind mapping can help you visualize your plan’s components
- Track progress and celebrate small wins along the way
- Break your plan into 90-day achievement blocks
What is an Action Plan?
Before we jump into the nitty gritty, let’s nail down what an action plan actually is. Simply put, an action plan is a detailed checklist of tasks, resources, and timelines needed to achieve a specific goal. It’s like a GPS for your success—it shows you exactly where you need to go and how to get there.
But here’s the thing: an action plan isn’t just a to-do list on steroids. It’s a strategic document that forces you to think critically about your goals and the steps needed to achieve them. It’s about breaking down big, hairy, audacious goals into manageable chunks that you can tackle one at a time.
Why You Need an Action Plan
Listen up, fellas. An action plan isn’t just some boring business tool. It’s your secret weapon for:
- Clarity: It turns your vague ideas into concrete steps
- Focus: Keeps you on track when distractions try to derail you
- Motivation: Seeing progress is a major confidence booster
- Efficiency: You’ll waste less time figuring out what to do next
- Accountability: It’s harder to slack off when you’ve got a plan staring you in the face
But let’s get real for a second. As young entrepreneurs, we often have more ideas than time. An action plan helps you prioritize what’s truly important and avoid getting caught up in busy work that doesn’t move the needle. It’s about working smarter, not just harder.
How to Create a Badass Action Plan
Alright, let’s roll up our sleeves and create an action plan that’ll make your competition sweat. Here’s your step-by-step guide (make sure you download your action plan template):
1. Define Your Goal
First things first—what do you want to achieve? Be specific. Instead of “grow my business,” try “increase monthly revenue by 50% in the next 90 days.” Remember, clarity is power.
When setting your goal, use the SMART criteria:
- Specific: What exactly do you want to accomplish?
- Measurable: How will you know when you’ve reached it?
- Achievable: Is it realistic given your resources and constraints?
- Relevant: Does it align with your overall business objectives?
- Time-bound: What’s your deadline?
2. Create Your Punch List
Here’s where we get real. List every single obstacle standing between you and your goal. This is your “punch list.” Your mission? Eliminate each item one by one. Once you’ve knocked them all out, you’ll have achieved your goal.
Don’t hold back here. Be brutally honest about what’s standing in your way. Is it a lack of skills? Limited funding? Fear of failure? Write it all down. This process might feel uncomfortable, but it’s crucial. By identifying these obstacles upfront, you’re already halfway to overcoming them.
3. Mind Map Your Plan
Channel your inner Tony Buzan and create a mind map of your action plan. This visual approach helps you see how different components fit together. Plus, it’s a great way to brainstorm ideas and spot potential roadblocks.
Start with your primary goal in the center, then branch out with major steps or categories. From there, add more specific actions and details. The beauty of mind mapping is that it mimics how our brains naturally process information, making it easier to generate ideas and see connections.
4. Define Your Next Actions
Forget about vague “to-dos.” We’re talking about Next Actions, baby. These are specific, physical actions you can take to move forward. Start each one with a verb. For example, “Call Sarah to discuss marketing strategy” is way better than “Marketing stuff.”
This concept, borrowed from David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (GTD) methodology from the book of that name, is a game-changer. By focusing on concrete, actionable steps, you eliminate ambiguity and reduce procrastination. You always know exactly what you need to do next.
5. Consider Contexts
This tip also comes straight from the GTD method. When listing your Next Actions, consider contexts like energy level and location. This helps you choose the right task at the right time. Low energy? Tackle some easy emails. Feeling pumped? Time to make those sales calls!
Contexts might include:
@office: Tasks you can only do at your workspace
@home: Things you need to handle at home
@computer: Online or digital tasks
@calls: Phone calls you need to make
@errands: Tasks that require you to be out and about
@high energy: Tasks that require peak mental or physical performance
@low energy: Tasks you can do when you’re not feeling 100%
By organizing your tasks this way, you can maximize productivity based on your current situation and energy levels.
6. Set Clear Milestones
Break your big goal into smaller, achievable milestones. This gives you frequent wins to celebrate (more on that later) and helps you stay motivated.
Think of milestones as checkpoints on your journey. They help you gauge progress and provide natural points for review and adjustment. For a 90-day plan, you might set milestones every two weeks or at the end of each month.
7. Assign Deadlines
Every action needs a deadline. Be realistic, but don’t give yourself too much wiggle room. A little pressure can be a good thing.
When setting deadlines, consider using Parkinson’s Law to your advantage. This principle states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. By setting slightly ambitious deadlines, you can push yourself to work more efficiently.
8. Identify Resources
What do you need to make this happen? List out all the resources—time, money, skills, tools—required for each action.
Don’t just think about what you have; also consider what you need to gain. This might include:
- Skills you need to learn or improve
- Tools or software you need to purchase or master
- People whose help you need to enlist
- Financial resources you need to secure
By identifying these upfront, you can start gathering what you need before it becomes a bottleneck.
9. Track Progress
Use a simple system to track your progress. This could be as basic as crossing items off a list or as fancy as a project management tool. Whatever works for you.
The key is consistency. Update your progress regularly—daily, if possible. This keeps your plan front and center in your mind and helps you stay accountable.
10. Celebrate Small Wins
Don’t wait until you’ve achieved your big goal to pat yourself on the back. Celebrate those small victories along the way. Completed a tough task? Treat yourself to a coffee or a quick workout break.
Celebrating small wins isn’t just about feeling good (although that’s important too). It’s about building momentum and reinforcing positive habits. Each minor success releases dopamine in your brain, motivating you to keep pushing forward.
11. Review and Adjust
Your action plan isn’t set in stone. Review it regularly and make adjustments as needed. Life happens, priorities shift, and that’s okay.
Set aside time each week to review your progress and update your plan. Are you on track? Do you need to adjust any deadlines? Have new opportunities or challenges emerged? This regular review process keeps your plan relevant and effective.
12. Define “Done”
How will you know when you’ve achieved your goal? Be crystal clear on what “completed” looks like. This gives you a target to aim for and makes it easier to track progress.
Your definition of “done” should be specific and measurable. For example, if your goal is to launch a new product, “done” might look like:
- Product developed and tested
- Marketing materials created
- Sales team trained
- First 100 units sold
By clearly defining what “done” looks like, you avoid the trap of constantly moving goalposts.
The 90-Day Action Plan
Here’s a pro tip: focus your action plan on 90-day achievement blocks. Why? It’s long enough to make significant progress, but short enough to maintain urgency and motivation. Plus, it aligns nicely with quarterly business planning.
The 90-day framework works well because:
- It creates a sense of urgency without being overwhelming
- It allows for meaningful progress on substantial goals
- It provides natural review and reset points throughout the year
- It aligns with how many businesses operate (quarterly planning and reporting)
To implement a 90-day action plan:
- Set one major goal for the 90-day period
- Break that goal down into three 30-day sprints
- Define specific objectives and actions for each sprint
- Review and adjust at the end of each sprint
- At the end of 90 days, celebrate your achievements and plan your next 90-day block
Conclusion
Creating an effective action plan isn’t rocket science and having an action plan template helps, but it requires thought and effort. By following these steps and focusing on Next Actions, contexts, and 90-day blocks, you’ll have a powerful tool for turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Remember, the purpose of an action plan isn’t to restrict you—it’s to liberate you. By having a clear plan, you free up mental energy to focus on execution rather than constant planning and re-planning. It’s about working smarter, not just harder.
Action Steps:
1. Download my free action plan template:
2. Choose one goal to focus on for the next 90 days
3. Follow the steps in this post to create your action plan
4. Start taking action—today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Start with a simple table or spreadsheet. Include columns for action items, deadlines, responsible persons, resources needed, and status. Customize it based on your specific needs and goals.
To use an action plan template effectively, start by clearly defining your goal. Then, break it down into specific, actionable steps. Assign deadlines and resources to each step, and regularly update the status as you make progress.
Divide your template into three 30-day sections. For each section, list key objectives and the specific actions needed to achieve them. Include columns for deadlines, responsibilities, and progress tracking.
Begin with a clear goal at the top of your template. Then, create sections for tasks, deadlines, responsibilities, resources, and progress tracking. Consider adding a section for obstacles and how you’ll overcome them.
Include sections for your business goal, specific objectives, action items, timelines, responsible team members, required resources, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Also, add a section for potential risks and mitigation strategies.
Remember, the best action plan is the one you’ll actually use. Keep it simple, focused, and aligned with your goals. Now go out there and make it happen!