Planning is key. Whether you’re managing your finances or writing a book, it is the most significant building block that will help you reach your goal.
Just recently I sat myself down and decided to write a book. I’d always wanted to be an author, but of what?
In the past, I had given fiction a few attempts, but it was clear to everyone (including me) that I was lacking in talent when it came to imaginative storytelling.
Over the years, I’ve met a lot of people who were settling for less than what they really desired out of life, simply because they didn’t have a blueprint for their financial future, and so More Than Money was born.
I did what I knew best to kick myself off – and that was piles and piles of practical planning. I even found myself looking through books similar in length to what I thought was ‘right’ and counted the words.
I had to start writing eventually, though, and in the beginning this was somewhat overwhelming. How could I make it different to other ‘money’ books and reflect my own experiences?
Ideas began to take shape and evolve in my mind before finally spilling out, page after page, onto my computer.
I realised if I was ever going to finish the book, I had to approach the task the same way I approach financial planning. I needed to make small, positive steps towards my target.
Then came my first roadblock. The words were just not coming to me anymore.
I realised if I was ever going to finish the book, I had to approach the task the same way I approach financial planning. I needed to make small, positive steps towards my target. The cumulative result would be the book.
I broke it down into chapter headings and subjects. I set a word count to achieve each day, and for the next six months I sat down first thing every morning to reach that target.
Not once did I get up until I had written those 500 words. At night I would plan what I was going to write for the next day to make it easier on myself, and a lot of the time I left my computer on with the document open.
I didn’t make excuses, and I didn’t procrastinate. I just got up and started writing.
After six months I had written more than 60,000 words, which far exceeded what I actually needed for the book.
I set achievable daily targets and pushed myself to meet them. It’s a simple but effective method that anyone can use to reach their goals.
I’m thrilled to announce that my first book, More Than Money, will be released on June 6 – and it’s all thanks to planning!