Rapid Planning Method (RPM): A Complete Guide to Smarter Goal Setting

Productivity is often measured by two parameters: how many tasks you accomplish and how long it takes to complete. This is not always a good indicator of the larger image.

This Rapid Planning Method can help you determine the things that matter to you, the reasons they’re important, and what must be done to bring these things about. It’s an excellent method of increasing your productivity by making sure that all your actions are tied to an important goal.

What is the Rapid Planning Method?

The method was developed by American coach, author, and public speaker Tony Robbins. The Rapid Planning Method (RPM) is a way of getting more accomplished to meet the objectives that matter to you. It can help you transform your to-do lists from messy to a clear goal and a detailed strategy, and a better satisfaction with each day.

RPM lets you set even the loftiest goals, the most difficult ones, and discover ways to move towards them regularly, whether weekly, monthly and even daily. Instead of trying to do more by focusing on your routine work, with your larger vision across all areas of your life.

7 Steps of the Rapid Planning Method

Through the Rapid Planning Method, you can go from an initial concept to a strategy for nearly everything in only seven steps.

1. Record everything you must accomplish.

Before you take on any other task, write down every task, project, and responsibility you are currently juggling. Since the rapid planning method isn’t only about your work life and your relationships, and your health, make sure to include all the areas you’re involved in, too.

In this moment you shouldn’t attempt to arrange the items in any order or in a the category. Sit down and ask yourself “What do I need to take care of this week?” and then write everything down.

Also read: Best Time Management Tools for Daily Work and Activities

2. Make a vision clear of what success is for you.

Once you’ve got the picture of the things you’re doing now and you’re ready to think about the future.

As you consider each aspect of life that matters to you (e.g., family, health, and work), define success for that aspect as part of its goals. Yes, being a CEO might be the definition of success in the workplace for certain, however, it may not be the right fit for you. It is certainly possible to use those whom you admire for inspiration in this goal, but only if you believe that their life is more like what you would like to have for yourself.

Here are a few examples of what that vision might entail:

• Health: Be physically fit enough to join any activity without worrying about keeping up with others.
• Cash: Become debt-free and maintain financial stability.
• Relationships: Be in a strong, healthy relationship and have children in multiple families.
• Work: Advance in my career to the point where I can effectively manage both myself and a team. I can also earn enough money to afford an annual family vacation, and learn the necessary skills for pursuing my path if I have to.

3. Define your purpose.

Once you’ve figured out your current responsibilities and what you’d like to do, it is important to understand the reason behind it.

Each time you’ve spotted a vision, think about why this vision is significant. If you’re planning to attempt to transform them into reality, it is important to know the reason.

In this stage, it is possible that the images you were seeing earlier do not make sense to you as you initially believed. Do not hesitate to take them off or alter your vision for each subject area if needed.

Here’s how your vision might take shape across each area of focus.

• Health: To live a longer, healthier life so I can enjoy more meaningful moments with the people who matter most.
• Money: To provide well for my family and take control of my finances, rather than letting money control me.
• Relationships: My family is my motivation; they inspire me to work hard and push through challenges.
• Work: I want to grow as a leader while striking an appropriate work-life balance.

4. Establish specific outcomes

In this phase, you’re stepping beyond the abstract visualisation you’ve created to discover the concrete outcomes that show that you’ve achieved something.

You should make these outcomes quantifiable, which means you’ll be able to assess if they’ve been accomplished. These outcomes could appear like:

• Health: Be capable of doing 15 pull-ups, running 200 yards or more, and swimming for half a mile.
• Money: Eliminate all debt and build an emergency fund that covers six months of living expenses.
• Relationships: Plan to get engaged before the year ends and prepare to welcome our first child by the close of next year.
• Work: Aim to lead a team of five or more, organize and enjoy a family vacation next year, and complete at least three professional development books this year.

5. Turn Your Dreams into Reality with a Massive Action Plan

The Massive Action Plan (MAP) is a listing of the tasks you need to finish to achieve the results you have set for each aspect in your daily life. They must be concrete steps directly linked to your objectives, and with sufficient detail so that you don’t need to think about what the next step will be.

A lot of your work thus far has been focused on what you’re trying to achieve and why you’d like to accomplish it and what you’ll be able to tell when you’ve accomplished it. Your MAP will specify the steps you’ll take to reach your goal.

Below is an example of the MAP that reflects the vision of work that was mentioned above:

• Ask my manager to understand the path to a leadership role.
• Volunteer for a new project that will allow me to develop and demonstrate leadership skills.
• Select and start reading my first professional development book.
• Plan my time off.
• Book a family vacation.

6. Schedule your MAP and make it happen.

Once you have your action plan drawn out, it’s now time to go back to your original list of tasks, projects and responsibilities you created earlier. Consider integrating the things that already fit in your MAP plan. Take the tasks from your MAP and incorporate them in the other tasks you have to complete.

For instance, although you may wish to put a higher priority on the actions associated from your vision of how your professional life ought to be but you shouldn’t be able to halt your thinking in other areas at the same time. It is also important not to ignore other obligations within your daily life that don’t necessarily align with your vision, however are nevertheless essential.

Here’s one way you could schedule the action steps in your MAP to align with your work vision.

• End of today: Ask my boss what I can do for an increase in rank.
• End of the week: Start reading your first book on professional development.
• End of the month: Plan time off and make a reservation for a family getaway.
• Next Month: Begin a fresh project.

Also read: Concept Mapping: What Are Concept Mapping and 7 Uses for A Business

7. Review your work and make adjustments based on your specific needs.

Your goals and purposes have been laid out; now the only challenge lies in reaching them. Once working toward your goal, you must monitor progress regularly to avoid becoming bogged down in obstacles and instead move forward while making small modifications as necessary to your initial plan.

For instance, the manager you currently work for could say that there’s no chance you’ll be promoted, allowing you to head the team. Then, you could change the goal to look for another job where this is possible.

Constant improvement is the mantra of the game and you’ll have to modify your method regularly, either every week or once a month.

Benefits of the Rapid Planning Method

Although the rapid planning method could appear to be an overwhelming amount to do, in reality, it’s a proven method to reach your goals and make sure you’re engaged in something that matters to you. In addition, you’ll reap several benefits from this technique:

• Improved productivity: Slowdowns in productivity are common, and often the reason is that your actions currently do not align with the goal that is crucial to you. When you are aware of what you must do to stay on track towards your goal, you’ll be more efficient over time.
• More achievement: Getting tasks done doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re working toward your bigger objectives. It’s easier to be efficient on the surface; however, deep inside, you realize that your goals are out of reach. With an MAP, you’re always working towards your targets, which means that you’ll accomplish more of them.
• Focus: It’s too easy to get caught up in the numerous tasks that are at hand. With the rapid planning method, you’ll focus on the things that matter to you and ensure that your next action contributes to something important.
• Flexible: No item in your MAP is fixed This flexibility lets you adapt to changes that are outside your control. If it’s changing jobs, the right job to your goals overall or moving closer to family members, RPM allows you to make adjustments to make things better.

Make better plans and do more

At its heart, the rapid planning method is a path towards determining what matters to you most, and the reasons why it is important for you, and staying clear of any influences that aren’t in line with your values. Your plan can get you to your goal while helping to overcome any hurdles on the journey there. Create and adhere to your MAP for lasting change within just months!