As we approach end of Financial Year here in Australia many will be looking at finalising, and implementing, their strategic plans for FY2021.

With this in mind I thought I would share my own base-level planning tool; my go-to starting point for any short, medium and long-term planning activity – I call it my ‘5 x 5 Planning Tool‘, it has served me well and works like this:

• 5 Minutes: Will the decision I make have an affect/effect 5 minutes from now?
• 5 Days: Will the decision I make have an affect/effect 5 days from now?
• 5 Weeks: Will the decision I make have an affect/effect 5 weeks from now?
• 5 Months: Will the decision I make have an affect/effect 5 months from now?
• 5 Years: Will the decision I make have an affect/effect 5 years from now?

It’s rare, but possible, that a decision you make will have an affect/effect on all five plains; but, in my experience, what the above does do is give you clarity. It allows you to compartmentalise thoughts into the short, medium and long-term and gives you the ability to then focus on what is then, in that moment, important to you and your business.

Give it a try.

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