And…done.

Mia looked proudly from her computer screen to her now clear desk. It had been a few weeks since her dependable intern, Sofia, returned to college for the new term. Mia at the time had a pile of work the equivalent of Mount Everest to file, write, and submit for proofing, before the end of the next month. These tasks added up and she didn’t know if she would be able to meet her deadlines.

Recalling the simple, yet effective strategy of planning ahead and organizing one’s thoughts and actions, she was able to make time each day for all her projects. Keep in mind limiting the stress of each task is not only helpful for a productive work atmosphere, but it also benefits your peace of mind in the long run.

A magazine from Canvas lead readers to a professional understanding of planning and how it contributes to the modern workplace. It may seem simple and lack creativity, but it is believed that goal setting and keeping track of progress step-by-step is the best way to manage any project. Is it best to wing it and sidestep strategy? I don’t think so!

The best way for one to tie their goals to their purpose is to set the goal you ultimately want to reach in the end. Goal setting focuses the purpose behind the task. It is best to have a clear understanding before diving too far deep into a project. Answering these five questions are what planning should be focused around:

1. Vision – What are you creating?
2. Mission – Why are you creating this?
3. Objectives – What will be measured?
4. Mission Strategies – How will this happen?
5. Action – Plan steps to be taken.

In the end, even after a plan is made, it is best to keep track of the progress and set achievable/realistic time goals to have each task completed.

Mia knows that the adjustment didn’t happen overnight, and she was nothing but grateful for the help Sofia provided. She just needed to get back into the swing of doing all of it on her own. Well, nothing a little coffee and some determination couldn’t fix. It could only go up from here in her book.

In the next part of this blog series, we will provide some statistics on just how effective planning is for marketing professionals. For more content similar to this, follow Cutwing Marketing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Until next time!