What Are You Planning for 2023?
Friday I sent you an email about CANI- the Blackbelt Leadership principle of Constant and Never-ending Improvement.
I shared a few of the ways that we will improve, as an organization at KMMA.
And I also challenged you to decide how you would improve.
If you haven’t read that yet, you can read it here.
Today I want to share a tool we use.
It’s one we teach our Blackbelt Leadership students.
We teach what we do, and we do what we teach.
I really hope this one serves all of you!
Anyway, PARI (Plan, Act, Review and Improve) is a process that ensures that we succeed at CANI.
You see, you don’t just get better…
as my student, friend and Master Instructor William Kremner says, “it ain’t gonna do itself.”
PARI is the process of planning and evaluation.
That later piece is essential and overlooked by most.
Evaluation is the process by which we measure our plans and see how we are doing.
The review step keeps us accountable and helps us understand the results of our actions; so that we can then decide how next to improve.
We may have to just recommit to the plan stronger, as in the case that we just didn’t do what we said we would do.
That ever happen to you?
Or, in the case we were working hard, with Focus and Discipline, and the plan just isn’t working- we may need a new plan.
But the secret is- and in confession I’d been guilty of it for years– we are just guessing, in the absence of real measurement and evaluation.
I could do a whole blog on this subject, and maybe I will, or at least teach more on it in my Blackbelt Leadership program or coaching groups…
I for sure do with my team.
But for today’s purpose I’ll just give a simple high-level reminder that everyone can apply, wherever you are and in whatever you do.
I’ll give some advice on the core level application of the tool, PARI, and then a special variation to help you close 2022 and start 2023 with clarity!
Clarity is power!
So, PARI is easy and can be applied to anything– work, fitness, finance, family…
First, you identify an area you want to affect and make a plan.
For the sake of this exercise, let’s say you want to lose a few pounds; but that’s not a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Really Yours and Time Bound).
So, let’s say it was the beginning of the year and you wanted to lose 40 lbs.
Big goal, I know, but possible. with 52 weeks in a year, it’s just over 3 per month, less than one a week!
Of course, that assumes consistency through Focus and Discipline, but there is no doubt the goal is doable.
After setting the goal, you plan. Keep it simple.
Complexity creates confusion.
So just choose a proper eating and exercise plan- proper being based in truth (do some research to make sure it’s worked for others) and, most importantly that will work for you (any plan will take some discipline but like don’t pick vegan if you know you’re a carnivore and like it that way).
After you have made the plan, all you must do is take consistent action, and then review and make slight adjustments weekly based on your evaluation!
You can apply this simple, not easy, tool to get what you want with anything!
And, oh, by the way, I did this year, and will have lost the 40 lbs before the end of the year!
Thank you, thank you for the applause.
I plan to do the same again this year; and then I’ll be near my target weight. Of course, I’ll evaluate again then and deecide what next to do.
Speaking of plans for 2023…
we’re to the part of today’s message where I want to address the variation to the tool.
One that may be very useful to us today, or at least within the few weeks we have left to prepare for ’23!
Here are a few succinct facts in preparation for the process:
- It is not effective or even useful to randomly pick a “New year resolution” at the New Year. One, you haven’t given any actual thought to what you want to accomplish and, two, it’s a late start- you wanna hit the ground running!
- 2022 is 96% over. Sure, we can keep running to the end if we want but I can say with some degree of certainty that the needle isn’t going to change all that sufficiently in the next 3 weeks- not in a good way anyways! At best, we’ll finish strong and, at worse, you’ll let the holidays derail you. Don’t do that one! Enjoy the break but keep some focus on your focus!
- If you want to really make 2023 your best year yet- it ain’t gonna do itself.
So, here are the action steps I am prescribing:
- Decide.
- Schedule the work (the planning work)
- RIPA!
- Decide that you are serious, and you won’t give yourself lip service, or excuses or listen to negative voices (of others or your own) or allow any other thing to stop you! Decide that you will make the changes that you want to this coming year! You will make it your best year yet!
- Schedule the time you’ll need to plan and prepare. Barb and I are taking December 26 and 27 as our away days to get what I am about to teach you done for our own personal and professional loves, to ensure the best year yet in every area that we care about in 2023! What day(s) will you choose?
- RIPA! You may have figured it out by now, but all I did was rearrange the acronym for where we are right now.
- Review your performance in ’22- in the areas that you say matter to you. You can tell by your actions and progress if they really do.
- Plan. After you have determined the areas where you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, or even the ones that you have been focusing on but wherein you know you can do better, make your 2023 PLAN! Now, I’ll admit this was my area of weakness for years… and I am still working hard at getting better every year! The plan must be specific! What will you do and HOW will you do it? What must you do daily and accomplish weekly, monthly, quarterly to get your goals!
- ACT!!!!! Ok, I’ll also confess, this is the one I’m good at. 🙂 You can’t wish your plans into action. You have to make them happen!
Then, we review and improve daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly too!
We keep our finger on the pulse to see what is working and what isn’t so we can see what next we need to DO!
I’m getting fired up just thinking about it!
I hope you are too!
So, your mission should you choose to accept it:
Go into my Official KMMA Facebook page, or my new one for Fathers, or just reply to this email- though I’d prefer I you’d choose one of the others if either subject matter applies or appeals to you.
I want to start some discussions there!
Answer these two simple questions as step one to making ’22 your best year yet:
- in what areas of your life you decide to improve? career, financial, spiritual, physical, intellectual, family, or social goals are good places to consider. but, remember, you’ll know if you really decide by what you commit to do!
- schedule the time to plan!
YOU CAN take these two simple steps if you’re serious about making a difference this year.
And if you do, I’ll help you take the next ones!
Go to one of the groups and take those steps now!
I’ll respond quickly when you do!
Prepare To Live; empower To Lead!
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Author, MBA & 7th Degree Blackbelt
Founder & Chief Master Instructor,
Krav Maga Martial Arts
p.s. it’s actually 37.3 lbs i’ve lost fo far. just did the math. but i still got 3 weeks to go! 🙂
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About Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo: Grandmaster Del Castillo is the founding Master Instructor of Krav Maga Martial Arts and has been empowering lives in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties since October of 2000. He is a 7th degree Blackbelt, MBA, author, mentor and success coach, a US Army Veteran and a proud father and grandfather. He is married to Ms. Barbara Del Castillo who helps him run the school. Grand Master Del Castillo began his training in the early 80’s and has high level blackbelts in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Premier Martial Arts and Krav Maga Martial Arts as well as experience in kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do and Jiujitsu. He has high level instructor certifications from BBSI, IKMF, and KMG and has been featured in numerous Martial Arts publications and also Success magazine. He was a competitive sport karate and American Kickboxing instructor until he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he won an Army Green to Gold scholarship and proceeded to ROTC and the University of Tampa. He was commissioned in 1992 and went on to serve in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division and then in several other posts in the US until he left military service to pursue his dream of creating KMMA in 2000.
The Krav MagaMartial Arts Headquarters is in Lutz, FL at 1900 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., 33549. Krav Maga Martial Arts serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and surrounding areas.
See stephendelcastillo.com for more information and to order my book, Developing Your Superpower, Meditations on Mastery, Volume 1.
Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com