Part 2 – Day 7: The Rapid Planning Method

The Power of a Results-Focused Life

Time

Time is one of the most common areas where we feel trapped. The world we live in demands more of us than in any other time in history and we have higher expectations than ever, so it’s easy to get stressed.

The traditional To-Do lists don’t tend to work for two reasons:

• Because they can make you feel overwhelmed and therefore not do the tasks
• And because even if you do all the tasks in it, you can still not feel fulfilled

But, what is time?

Time is nothing but a feeling. Time can fly, disappear but also feel like an eternity. Time is not stressful, exciting or slow. It’s the feelings we generate that we call time.

Time management systems & focus

Most of today’s time management systems are based the question: “What do I need to do?”

If we focus on all the things we have to do is the easiest way to feel overwhelmed. Instead we should focus on what do we want to do, why do we want it and how are we going to get it.

Whatever we focus on, we’re gonna feel. If we focus on what we’re missing we’re gonna feel like we’re missing, if we focus on what we want, we’re gonna get what we want.

Questions control what we focus on.

So, using the approach of “What do I need to do?” will bring us results that will depend on the state we are when asking the question. If we’re not consistently aligned that will mean either doing the tasks that others want us to do or seeking some short-term pleasure.

The RPM method

Instead, using the Rapid Planning Method (RPM), will allow us to:

• Decide in advance what we want
• Get us every single day to focus on what it will take to get the results we’re after

It’s a common error to mistake movement for achievement. We don’t want to just move if that’s not getting us the results we’re after.

The RPM method is a Results-focused, Purpose-driven Massive action plan.

1. Results: What do I really want? What’s the specific outcome that I’m committed to achieve?
2. Purpose: Why do I want it? What’s my purpose?
3. MAP (Massive Action Plan): What specific actions must I take to make this happen?

By using this method we’re going to be focusing on what we really want, we’re going to have the energy to get there and a plan that makes sense.

Chunking

Along with the RPM we have to put special attention to chunking.

There’re a lot of things we won’t do because of the way we chunk them. If we chunk a task in a million pieces we’re going to feel overwhelmed, but also if we don’t chunk enough, the task will seem impossible.

It’s both a science and an art. The science is knowing that we have to group things together into ideally sized pieces that can be used effectively to produce the result we want without stress or overwhelm, the art is finding what sizes are right for us.

The simplest chunking is 3. Usually beyond 3 we get overwhelmed. With RPM we can chunk our old To-Do list into groups that serve a common result.

If we feel that we have a thousand things to improve, the best practice is to write all of them down, see how they relate (body, relationships, work, health, etc) and realise that there’re just a couple of things that we want. Then we focus on the most important and we address it. By doing that we’ll get momentum and we’ll be able to improve one thing at a time.

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