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Question: Are You a Planner?
By Patrick Tuttle
closeAuthor: Patrick Tuttle
Name: Patrick Tuttle
Email: ptuttle@gearpatrol.com
Site: http://gearpatrol.com/blog/author/ptuttle/
About: I joined the gang at Gear Patrol because I believe that as men we often settle for less than the very best lifestyle we can attain. It’s been ingrained into our psyches to forgo certain products, services or lifestyles because they don’t fall within some antiquated male paradigm. Bunk.
It’s time as men to stand up and redefine what’s rightfully ours. Much of what I have learned to this end has come through advice from guys who had the experiences and knowledge I was seeking. My only regret was not learning it sooner. Now I feel it’s my obligation to pass along what I know. I’m not saying I have all the answers but I’m happy to share what I’ve learned so far.
On a more personal level, I live an active lifestyle and focus on my health and wellness as a means to sustain the frenetic pace. I also suffer from a case of golf-itis and spend a lot of my free time perusing that passion… ok, obsession. I aim to incorporate relevant fitness and golf content into Gear Patrol’s expanding coverage of all things male. Like the rest of the crew I can’t stand over-hyped, under-performing products. None of that crap will be perpetuated here.See Authors Posts (93) on Tue, May 12, 2009 | Email To A Friend
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“I love it when a plan comes together”. - Col. John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, The A-Team
It’s become a popular self-help topic - planning. From 5-year career plans (I always hated those during interviews), to financial planning, to New Year’s planning, to backwards planning, as men, we love to plan.
Or do we? I am as much the consummate planner as Eric is not. A lot of people seem to dive right into a task without ever stopping to figure out how they are going to proceed. Whether it’s saving for your retirement or dropping that holiday weight, some people just like to wing it (or can they just not plan?). So, here’s our question this week.
Are you a planner? If so, what do you plan for and how? If not, why? Share your tips, tools (links if you’ve got ‘em), and thoughts. Leave your answer after the jump.
I am possibly the craziest planner ever. Everyday I know exactly what I will be doing for every 15 minute interval from 6 am - 11 pm. It is all accounted for, from the gym, to work plans/meetings, to when/where/ and with who I will be having dinner with. I feel planning on the daily level helps me to not "waste" precious commodity like time. Also, I have two monthly calendars. Calendar one is for personal stuff like, venues, events, and things that I want/would like to do or have accomplished. And the other is strictly for work, when projects begin and end, meetings, and travel plans. Anytime something is updated or changed, I make sure the correction is noted. I guess I would have to confess my love for google calendar. It makes changes and updates so easy.
My wife and I have an "annual meeting" once a year to plan out the next year and set goals, adjust budget. Really helps to keep you both on board with your goals.
The one thing that would help us would be to have quarterly meetings…
I highly recommend. If most couples fight over money this should help - if you both are on board!
Patrick. Yes. To the point where I am OCD.
I work as a sales rep and without planning my day, it would be pure chaos. I am constantly running things I need to do and people I need to get back in my mind. Though a lot of my plans dont pan out, its good to have a general idea of what the day will look like.
My company actually offers standby flights for $22 roundtrip for their employees, but being a bit of a control maniac, I could never do it. I've heard of people getting bumped off flights and had to wait for the next flight out the next day! How can people fly this way??
Honestly, deep down inside, I am a bit jealous of easy going souls. Hopefully one day I can let loose and just go whereever the wind blows.
More than I'd like to be most of the time. Being a financial advisor and dealing with financial plans all the time is probably well suited but doesn't alleviate my issues. I don't go as far as to plan every minute, but I do like to have a pretty good idea of what will go on during the day, especially for work. I like to be very punctual.
I do makes personal budgets and financial plans. I don't necessarily obsess to the penny, because I don't think that's realistic and adds unnecessary stress. I also make personal goals (write them down) for each year and check-up on them once a quarter to see how I've progressed and address possible adjustments.
In general, I think it's wise to make and follow plans. It helps add accountability and focus. But I also think it's okay when plans aren't exact and allow flexibility to life's changes.
More than I'd like to be most of the time. Being a financial advisor and dealing with financial plans all the time is probably well suited but doesn't alleviate my issues. I don't go as far as to plan every minute, but I do like to have a pretty good idea of what will go on during the day, especially for work. I like to be very punctual.
I do makes personal budgets and financial plans. I don't necessarily obsess to the penny, because I don't think that's realistic and adds unnecessary stress. I also make personal goals (write them down) for each year and check-up on them once a quarter to see how I've progressed and address possible adjustments.
In general, I think it's wise to make and follow plans. It helps add accountability and focus. But I also think it's okay when plans aren't exact and allow flexibility to life's changes.
I try…but my plans always fail. Mint.com has begun to help me with financial planning, aside from that I just keep so many projects running concurrently that I always have something to do. Or I plan, but then just wing it anyway…with mixed results. I guess the ultimate conclusion is that I suck at planning, or rather I suck at sticking to a rigid set of guidelines, Ihave to break free and bring the chaos.
i like to plan and keep things organized, but i'm quickly willing to let those plans go and live with the moment. i suppose the "thought" of the plan keeps me sane. when it comes down to tasks/work stuff you really can't go wrong with making a simple list and crossing things off as they get done.
Dan has pretty much summed up my perspective as well. I will plan and am a compulsive list maker, but I'm always willing to be flexible. I grew up in a pretty crazy family where plans were really loose outlines haha.
I just wanted to say that the picture for this article is awesome.
Now what was i planning on doing???
If I've learned anything about financial planning w/in a marriage, it's that ignorance is not bliss. Sit down, take a hard look at the numbers, and get everyone (well, both of you) on the same page. It's the only way to avoid trouble.
That, and selling your old gear on eBay to fund new gear purchases. That's the cure for what ails ya.
If I've learned anything about financial planning w/in a marriage, it's that ignorance is not bliss. Sit down, take a hard look at the numbers, and get everyone (well, both of you) on the same page. It's the only way to avoid trouble.
That, and selling your old gear on eBay to fund new gear purchases. That's the cure for what ails ya.
I'm a compulsive list maker, in notebooks, scraps of paper, pretty much anywhere. I try to stick to them, but I over-commit constantly and end up just rolling with it. I think life is more fun when it's not always all planned out. The fact that I grew up in a constantly disorganized family doesn't help.
I'm a compulsive list maker, in notebooks, scraps of paper, pretty much anywhere. I try to stick to them, but I over-commit constantly and end up just rolling with it. I think life is more fun when it's not always all planned out. The fact that I grew up in a constantly disorganized family doesn't help.
I'm a big fan of Mint.com, particularly how easily it groups my spending into categories that I can understand. I think I came to it based on the suggestion of my boy Ramit!
I feel like I am constantly flying by the seat of my pants on most things. Detailed planning is just not my thing. However, my memory is terrible, thus my sanity is directly connected to the quality of my list-making. Now only if I could write legibly…
I certainly envy good planners when their intent is to free themselves from the chaos of life. I do not envy those who become a slave to their planning. You've got to stay loose and live!
totally, 100% agree. you should see my 'to-do' list. i would be lost without it!
i hate planning. it seems that if i make plans, even fun plans, i start to dread them.
Wow Rory, we need someone of your planning caliber helming the GP calendar. You might even give Patrick a run for his money.