1 Learn the concept
There is an old saying that every battle is won before it is fought. Preparation decides most outcomes at work and in life. In this lesson you learn to plan before you act: define what success looks like, prepare for obstacles and build routines that make good results likely. The same strategies apply to a job interview, a client project and your everyday work as a marketer.
2 See it in action
- Start with the end: write what a successful result looks like before you begin.
- Anticipate obstacles: list what could go wrong and decide your response in advance.
- Prepare your environment and routines so the right action is the easy one.
- Review: end each week by noting what worked and what to change.
Worked example
Preparing for a client presentation
Success: the client approves the plan and books a follow-up.
Obstacles: they ask about cost, they question the timeline, the screen share fails.
Responses: have a one-page cost summary, a simple timeline, and a PDF backup of the slides.
Rehearsal: present to a friend in under ten minutes and ask for the hardest question.
Result to look for: you stay calm because you have already thought through the problems.
3 Study an example
Example scenario
Before a client presentation, a marketer writes the outcome she wants, lists the three questions the client is most likely to ask and rehearses her answers. When one question arrives unexpectedly she stays calm, because she has already practiced the thinking behind it.
4 Apply it and download
- Pick one important event coming up.
- Write the result you want, three obstacles and your response to each.
Worksheet Success plannerOpen, print or save as PDF