My 3-step planning and review system

It’s the first of the month for me, and it’s time to ask (and, hopefully, answer) this question.

What are your plans for May?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always found it too easy to go week by week, and let the months slip you by. Even when we plan for a quarter, there’s too much of a gap between a quarter and a week.

So I always take the time to plan each month, as well.

But it’s not just about saying ‘I’m going to x, y, and z.’ At least for me, that’s not enough.

Instead, I follow a 3-step process. Mayb it will help you, too. Maybe it won’t.

In any case, here’s what I do:

1. I review my goals for last month

2. I give myself specific praise and specific redirects where appropriate.

3. I set new goals for the next month

The first step is pretty clear, right? I look at the goals I set for the last month.

Then I look at my actions, behaviour, and choices over the last month. Whenever I find something I did right, or nearly right, I give myself specific praise for that. Whenever I find actions, behaviour, or choices that didn’t reflect who I wanted to be or obstructed my movement towards my goals, I tell myself specifically what I did wrong and why. The I redirect myself to move towards the goals I set.

Finally – and not before the first two steps have been taken – I write down new goals for the new month.

If I’m honest, I haven’t always been as consistent with following this practice as I’d like. but every time I do, I notice I’m happier, more motivated, more effective – and often less stressed and less busy.

Something of a paradox, you say? I know – but that’s what happens every time.

It’s a good practice to adopt, for any part of your life. In fact, I try to do it with every speech I write or give. What was my goal with that speech? What did I do that was good? Where could I have done better?

Food for thought.

Anyway, here’s one of my goals for this month:

Run a 90 minute free training on persuasion power speaking

The idea here is to show where most speakers go wrong -- and how you can get it right every time.
I’m still fine-tuning the details, but here’s a snapshot of what I’m planning to cover:

• The 9-step framework that guarantees stronger speeches every time

• The #1 reason most speeches aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Avoiding this one mistake instantly puts you in a category above most of your competitors

• How to speak directly to your audience's subconscious mind, bypassing their conscious scepticism and making them neurologically compelled to listen to what you're saying

• Never start your speech until you've answered these 3 questions. They cut your writing time in half, and give you Jedi-like instincts about what to say in your speech to have your audience eating out of your hand

• An old-school sales rule that explains why most speeches fall flat -- and how you can use it to make every talk you give stand out every time

• Most audiences aren't hostile. Good news, right? WRONG.

• The Slippery Slide of Simple. How using simple and short words can increase the power and persuasion of every talk you give. WARNING: Forget about this rule until your second draft

• The Call-and-Response game I learnt as a music teacher that you can use to make your talk build momentum from start to finish, so your audience can't help but want to hear more. (Makes organising your thoughts easier too!)

• Why a speech or presentation is the worst way to convey information -- and what to use it for instead

Interested? Keep your eye out for more details later in the month.

In the meantime, if you decide to try out my 3-step review system, I’d love to hear how you find it.

And as always, if you want expert help on your next talk, speech, or presentation – or you want to speak with more authority no matter what the occasion – hit reply or send me an email to [email protected] and let’s talk.

Talk soon,

Alexander