Plain Talk Plan and Succeed By Rob Buksar Writing for the ERE has generated tons of comments and opinions which I’ve been blessed to receive. This feed- back has been totally rewarding, edu- cational, and incredibly insightful for me. It’s all been very, very good! Yet in the last couple of years I’ve noted a very negative and self-defeating spirit in far too many of those whom I chat- ted with. The negative and self-defeating tones I hear are coming from rebuilders who live in mortal fear that they aren’t worthy of the limited and abstract goals they set for themselves. Darn too many of us set limited goals that simply are not worthy of our true ability, potential, and mental ca- pacity. We all have to set higher sights for ourselves but make them clear, spe- cific, decisive, and accountable goals. Then reach those goals and keep rais- ing the bar. This is old stuff. We all know it but for some reason far too many of us don’t follow through. Sit down with a note pad. Clearly state each major business, financial, professional, per- sonal or family goal you have set. Then under each goal, write down the exact steps, numbers, events, processes and actions you have to accomplish to reach those goals. Finally, do a reality check. How well are you really progressing on each goal? Are you regularly evaluating and adjusting your performance and meth- ods to reach the goal? If you’re past your original goal have you established new, higher goals? If you’re behind your timeline or haven’t diligently de- veloped a daily, weekly, transactionby- transaction plan, do it now. Break it down to simple non-threatening steps. This advice is especially for those of us middle-aged and set in our ways, struggling with a changed marketplace many of us no longer even understand. More so now than ever before, with- out a clear destination and precise roadmap for getting where we want to be, we will never maximize our poten- tial income or success. We may not even be able to survive in business. But follow a good, clear map with com- plete, detailed travel instructions and our journey through “reman”’ can still be highly rewarding. Rob Buksar is owner of Hoosier Electric Co., Gary, IN. AUGUST, 2001 Page 1 of 1