Begin the Planning
Begin at the Beginning
This is the second in a series of posts on using the Six Troop Leading Steps (BAMCIS) in the War of Life.
Get caught up here: Lead Yourself First
The first step in BAMCIS is: Begin the Planning.
It seems simple, but a lot of people never get to this step because they want to wait until they have all the information they need and until the conditions are perfect.
Spoiler alert: You will never have all of the information, nor will the conditions ever be perfect.
In my 7-C Framework, Clarity does come before Commitment, but I am not arguing for perfect clarity, rather clarity of mission.
Where on the map do you want to move to?
There will still be many unknowns (both known and unknown).
Solving for those unknowns and preparing for the future unknowns that will undoubtedly arise from the fog of war is a task, but not one for right now.
If you wait for complete clarity, you will never move.
In the Marine Corps, when you receive a mission, you begin planning immediately. You do not know everything.
You likely begin with a mission statement that answers at least some of the 5 W’s
Who, What, Where, When, Why, and whether your mission is the main or a supporting effort
2nd Squad establishes an ambush in the vicinity of grid 11ST 554967 no later than 2000 28 May 26, in order to disrupt reinforcements from the west. 1st Squad is the main effort; you are in support.
This is one of the most important lessons in the War of Life
You do not need perfect clarity to begin; you need enough to move.
Don't confuse uncertainty with inability.
Begin the planning.
If your mission is to lose weight, begin the planning.
If your mission is to rebuild your fitness, begin the planning.
If your mission is to start or grow your business, begin the planning.
If your mission is to become a better spouse, parent, writer, leader, speaker, or friend, begin the planning.
If your mission is to stop wasting your life and start Walking Point, begin the planning.
To Begin the planning is to stop treating what you want as a wish, and start treating it as an operational problem.
What is my mission? What do I know, and what do I need to know?
What does success look like?
What is my timeline?
What resources do I have? What do I need?
What constraints are already obvious?
What are my likely obstacles?
What is the enemy’s most probable course of action? EMPCOA
(You are the enemy. How will you try to sabotage yourself?)
If you are beginning a campaign of self-improvement, you need to be honest about the enemy. And when you set out to gather intelligence, the best predictor of future actions is past actions.
If you always quit after two weeks, that’s intelligence.
If you eat well until 8 p.m. and then clear out the pantry, or if you spend Sunday prepping, then quit by Wednesday, that’s intelligence.
Begin planning with what you already know. Build your situational awareness as you go.
When you know your mission and the obvious friction points, build a rough initial plan.
For example:
“I will lose twenty pounds in six months by eating the same simple meals most days, training six days per week, walking after dinner, and weighing myself every morning.”
That is not 100%. But it is enough to begin.
“I will become a better writer by publishing one post every week, writing every morning for thirty minutes, and keeping a notebook with a list of ideas.”
There will still be uncertainty. But at least you are oriented.
Winning the War of Life does not begin when you feel ready. It begins when you identify your mission and start fighting.
Today’s tactic:
Write your mission statement in one sentence: Who, What, When, Where, Why. Then identify three known obstacles. That is enough to begin the planning.
Get better at getting better
John
- Your arms dealer for the war of life
If you’ve read my book, Tough Rugged Bastards, thank you for helping make it a bestseller. I would appreciate it if you would leave an honest review on Amazon. Thanks
“To Begin the planning is to stop treating what you want as a wish, and start treating it as an operational problem.”
👏👏