I'm writing this on September 11 and today, more than most, I'm reminded of time passing. It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since I stood at the corner of my block, W. 16th and 7th Avenue and watched the world as we knew it erupt in lower Manhattan. In another 2 weeks the 4th and last leg of our journey through 2006 is about to begin. It's difficult to imagine it's been 5 years since 9/11/01 and where my life is today versus then. Am I where I thought I would be? Am I where I want to be? ...all good questions. These are the questions you, as an individual as well as a business person, should be asking yourself on a regular basis. Time is a prescious gift. One of the worst things you can say is "If only..." 

So, it’s time to start thinking about 2007 …but before you do so, I want to ask you about your 2006 plan.  Are you ¾ of the way to achieving the objectives you set out to achieve in January?

Do you even know where you are on your plan?   (You’ve read a hundred and one articles on the importance of documenting your goals and objectives. That’s not what this article is about.  By the way; this is a longer article than most. Stick around a bit longer today. This is some good information and I encourage you to give it a try. Do so and let me know what you think.

Get your plan out.  Even if it’s a SPOTS plan (SPOTS = Strategic Plan On the Top Shelf – which is where most plans end up, rarely seeing the light of day the rest of the year, unfortunately.) Take it down from the Top Shelf, blow the dust off of it and take a look. It’s time for a review. 

Here’s a simple review process you will find helpful and you can incorporate it into any review proces you might already have. It’s called Traffic Light Check and it should become a normal part of your quarterly business routine. 

Traffic Light Check is a simple procedure for checking progress on your goals and identifying what’s next.  It’s important to keep an eye on your plan regularly throughout the year. 

Look at each goal, one at a time and determine that goal’s current status.  Are you on track to making it happen?  I don’t mean that you’ve achieved the goal; but does it look likely that you’ll achieve it by the end of the year?  If your answer is yes, the status of that goal is GREEN. 

If you’re doing pretty good on the goal, but you can’t honestly predict that you’ll achieve the goal by the end of the year, classify this objective as YELLOW.  You can still make this goal happen but you just need to give it more attention than you’ve given it to date.

And then, for many of us there are the goals in the RED zone.  There are major problems with these goals; these are goals we haven't made much, if any progress on.  Perhaps there was more involved in accomplishing this goal than you had planned on - or perhaps that goal was too difficult and you just lost track of the other goal. No matter - these goals are in serious danger of not being realized.

As you go through your goals it’s important to remember, doing the Traffic Light Check is only a review process.  Do NOT get into the blame, self criticism or excuses. All you’re doing now is a progress check where you’re telling yourself (and facing) the truth about where you stand on your priorities for the year.  You have to be able to look at your goals and assess the status without judging and without the emotion. 

I was as guilty as anyone about avoiding this review process.  Deep down I knew I hadn’t stuck to my plan and I didn’t want to see it – as if not facing the fact I had let things get out of control made the reality of it any different.   It was because I didn’t review my progress regularly that I ended up getting so far off track in many areas. 

It’s important to do what you know you need to do.  Force yourself to check in and face what is real.  Be honest with yourself and look at what is going well and what is not.  There’s no other way to do it.  What happened, happened. What didn’t happen, didn’t happen.  That’s it – period.

This is a reflection of your performance.  This is not a reflection of your self-worth, your intelligence or what you have to offer. It’s only about your performance and that can always be improved; especially when you take the time to see how you’re doing on what matters most to you.   

Once you’ve completed your review and categorized your goals as green, yellow or red, go through the goals again, one-at-a-time, and ask yourself this question:  “What is the next step?” What is it you want or need to do in the next month to stay on track – or to get this goal back on track? 

Again, ask this question on each goal – “To make this happen by the end of the year, what is it I need to do in the next 30 days (2 weeks, 7 days, …)?”  List these responses as your monthly goals and you now have a clear action plan for the next month and you know exactly where you stand on your plan. 

Simple?  Yes.   Easy?   Probably not.  But the few  minutes you invest in this review will make a HUGE difference in your success.  Again, it's about committment and accountability. Are you serious about your success ...or just interested? 

And remember - Be BOLD.  Review your plan – Make it Happen. "If only" isn't an option.

The Traffic Light Check process was developed by Jenny Ditzler, creator and CEO of Best Year Yet, LLC in Aspen, Colorado.  Best Year Yet^© is the planning and implementation system that is a component of many Bold Vision programs, including the Ocular Forum, Bold Vision’s peer advisory success group.

You’re invited to Get a BOLD Vision on Tuesday morning, 9/19. Join us from 8:00 until 9:30 a.m. at the Cumberland Club in Portland, Maine.  You’ll meet other business owners of a similar mind, looking to do improve their business or to take their business to the next level, growing more effectively and efficiently.  It all starts with a Bold Vision.  Join us on 9/18 and Get a BOLD Vision!  The event is free but space is limited so please RSVP to 207-221-3492 or send an email.

If you aren't in the Portland area (Maine, that is) and would like information on creating an Ocular Forum in your area or establishing an e-Ocular Forum, I'd love to talk to you.  Please give me a call or send an email through my website www.BoldVisionConsulting.com