Like most things in life, planing ahead is vital for success; so why do we ignore this most important action of our personal development?’
Here’s some advice I recieved on the radio, that gave me a ‘wake-up’ call when it came to planning for my family:
Whether we are stay at home or working mums, we have the same roles to play when it comes to planning. For some bizarre reason, we thought planning was our spouses role!
So why, you may ask, should this be our role to own? We posses a powerful tool – intuition. Some have it stronger than others, but the key is to develop this skill, to enhance our planning with facts and with our feelings. *Shew* Not something you would see on a motivational poster in a conventional boardroom!
We also possess the gift of intricate detail; which enables refining and clarity. Here are 5 basic areas where focus is needed.
- Financial
- Recreational activities, and holidays
- House keeping
- Dietry requirements
- Time: quality and quiet time
The above seems like a “mother load” but I assure you, the key to success is delegation!
Here are some tips to assist you off the starting block.
CLARIFY: What ever your current situation, put it down on paper, this gives a realistic overview of your situation.
DREAM: What is the vision for you and your family? ask each member to have a turn. Your daughter may aspire to be a singer & dancer and you may want to purchase your own estate in the next 3-5 years, so you can create a sanctuary for your family.
BRAINSTORM: There is a lovely book “6 thinking hats‘ by: Edward de Bono, which teaches you to tune in on different ways of thinking. This can help overcome fears or doubt in your plans for your family dream. No matter how big or small your idea is, create a more creative atmosphere, improve communication and train family members to use a clearer way of thinking
KEEP A SCRAP BOOK: Scrap pictures and ideas relating to your dream, when you feel despondent, glance through it, to remind yourself. Over time, you can also reference your scrap book see how you have achieved your dreams. Document it with a note to yourself, on how long vs. ‘how long you thought it would take’ to achieve your family dreams!
Pass on your skills, like an old family recipe to your loved ones, so they too can live out their dreams!