Personal Action Plans in Action

How I learned to get things done

By Seth Lutnick

I'm a creative person. I've always had tons of great ideas, projects, business plans, literary creations popping into my brain, only to die a slow, neglected death. Why? Because of one reason. I didn't know how to plan. Instead, I was always overwhelmed with chores, busywork, and other distractions. Meanwhile, the important stuff remained just dying dreams.

But I knew what I needed. I needed to be told, "Do this, then this, then this." Sadly, I didn't have that, and I resigned myself to waiting for some magic trick to rescue me.

Then, my grandfather died. I began thinking about life, about mortality. Suddenly I felt an overwhelming sense of waste, of futility about my life, and that hurt deeply. So I made a fateful decision. I was going to change, to think out of my failing box. I was going to turn my dreams into reality, no matter what. The first thing I needed to know, though, was ... HOW!?

I quickly found three books that have helped me to change my life. The first is Anthony Robbins' "Awaken the Giant Within." He taught me how to grow into the full human being I was meant to be, and how to marshal all my gifts. The second was Steven Covey's "First Things First" He showed me the truth of importance-based time management. The third was called "How to Write Movie in 21 Days," by Viki King.

Yes. I'm serious. A movie. My relationship with that book PROVED to me the power of step-by-step goal oriented planning.

One day, as I was driving home, an idea for a screenplay popped into my head. At first I was really excited, and then I realized that it was "just one more." Shortly after that, I found Ms. King's book in a store. As I leafed through it, I saw that it did exactly what I needed. It told me, "Do this, then this, then this." I resolved on the spot to buy the book and put the whole planning thing to the test. I was going to see this through, because the steps were so clear.

Well, 21 days may have been a bit ambitious for me, but a month and a half later I was the proud writer of a 127 page movie script! And the longest thing I had ever written till then was a 21 page handwritten screenplay from 8th grade!

If you're wondering, MGM has yet to purchase it, but that's not the point. I saw how simple steps leading to a goal got me to achieve something great. It was like a light went on in a dark room revealing beautiful works of art. And, I must add, revealing doors to even more yet-to-be-lit rooms. I became empowered, enthusiastic, and motivated, because I had PROVEN to myself that planning, step-by-step, is the core of great achievements.

Since then, I've been alive with activity, constantly on the move. I've written two cabaret shows, been on a soap opera, built three web sites (including this one!) and am currently recording a CD. And the biggest thing, I've just completed my own original stage musical - book, lyrics and music. I did it step by step. Now it's in revision phase, and this is so very exciting.

So that's my story as of now. Friends, step-by-step goal oriented planning is the only way. I urge you to make great plans, because you need to succeed. We all need each other to succeed in good works. May God bless us all with peace, health, prosperity and accomplishment.