The Natural Planning Model

Slide notes

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- before start: grab pen and paper - follow along examples
- going to talk about something that has helped me a lot, useful for everyone => NPM
- provides clear head space => think creatively => fully engage with what you are doing => right thing
- used by CEOs of F500, devs, students/teachers, sales people, stay-at-home moms, children
- Q to ask yourself: do you always wait last minute before engaging in project? => useful approach

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- test drive: think about something big that’s coming towards you
— a big speech, a new project, an event, hiring someone to fix your kitchen, project trouble finishing
- WRITE: think about what most has your attention and write that down

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- brain not good remember car keys, keep track >4 things
- does well: planning - planning machine
— how to get here
— what to wear
— where to sit
- brain: master planner => planning since 6 months old

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- when you wanted something you didn’t have

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- follow example going forward: dinner with clients to discuss a new business deal

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- 1. Purpose: reason why exist? why worth doing?
— example: in this particular case not about satisfy hunger, socialize, celebrate - but grow your business
— WRITE: take a moment to write a purpose for your project
- 2. Vision: go to end, ideal scenario - wildly successful outcome be?
— example: signed business deal
— WRITE: take a moment describe what success looks like
- 3. Ideas: when destination != current reality => brain generate potential useful ideas - random order, no sequence
— example: what time should we go? is it open? when is client available? book table? alleriges?
— WRITE: take a moment to write what comes into your mind regarding project
- 4. Structure: brain structure into prios, sequences, etc automatically
— WRITE: highlight 1-2 top important things written down
- 5. Next action: very next thing move project forward? send email? make call? research web?
— “setting meeting with client” not specific
— example: Call restaurant X, see if open, make reservation
— WRITE: take moment to write a next action

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- why do this?
- natural model but is this how you
— launched your product?
— planned this offsite?
— planned last marketing campaign?
- Problem: natural model not necessarily the normal way

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- 5. only next actions => busy going from one thing to the next => burned out => that doesn’t work
- 4. start spreadsheets, reports => find fixes => that doesn’t work
- 3. manager gather team: “Who’s got a good idea?” => don't know end goal! => that doesn’t work
- 2. bring in outside help - consultants! => ask “what are you trying to do here?”
- 1. back to square one
- not a matter of doing natural planning, it’s when, and to what cost

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natural planning model is part of the Getting Things Done methodology by David Allen