Planning And Goals, From Dog Training To Life
“Making plans and calculating their outcome distinguishes rules of progression as a separate definable part of history.”
Andrew Ledford © 2000 –2009
We usually accomplish our goals one step at a time. It’s helpful to plan these steps out in advance. If we have a well defined plan we can execute the steps in the appropriate order. Many times the order in which the plan is put into place is critical. This has to do with timing. From dog training we learn that timing is of utmost importance.
One reason for making plans is so we have a template to work from. Having a template makes it so we can perform the needed steps even when we’re under pressure and occupied by other events. A plan provides us with predetermined behavior to be executed when needed.
We can start making and testing our plans by asking “if – then” questions. If This happens Then What can be expected? We need a plan so that when this happens we do this. After the next step happens we do this.
Planning helps us eliminate bad choices and increase the chance that we’ll perform the appropriate behavior when it’s called for. During the planning process we estimate the likelihood of success for each choice. Our estimations help us eliminate bad choices and increase the number of good choices we make.
This is a two part post the second part is on the dog training website.
Wishing you the best in dogs and I life,
Andrew Ledford