Planning + Action = Progress

When it comes to making things happen—whether in business, life, or personal growth—planning and action are often seen as two separate steps. But the truth is, they work hand in hand, like our left and right feet. When we walk, the left foot steps forward, then the right. In that motion, we’re constantly balancing our whole body and moving ourselves toward where we want to go.

Without a plan, we can drift. Without action, we stay stuck. We need both to move forward with clarity and confidence.

There are plenty of theories and methods on how to create a plan. But, how often do we write a plan and never take action? We give up before even starting because the plan feels too hard to achieve. Or we start off strong, only to stop later when unexpected challenges arise and shake our confidence.

On the other hand, action is just action. It’s not always logical like a plan. It simply asks us to show up and do the thing we’re thinking about. Some people can take spontaneous action without having a detailed plan—and that’s okay.

What I say is: using both together helps us move forward more smoothly, with fewer unexpected detours.

When we talk about planning, we often assume it has to be complicated or rigid. But we forget there’s such a thing as a soft plan. I often tell my clients: you don’t need to plan every detail to call it a plan. Even planning to be happy is a plan - it requires you to make intentional choices, carry them with you and adjust them throughout your life.

Rigid Plan vs Soft Plan: Finding the Balance

There’s a time and place for both a rigid plan and a soft plan. I’ve worked in environments where everything had to be timed to the minute—product drops, delivery dates, markdowns. In some cases, a rigid plan was essential. Everyone had to follow the structure because the system depended on precision. That precision created the foundation of the data we used to measure and compare performance.

But life—especially personal growth—doesn’t always behave like a logistics schedule. That’s where the soft plan comes in. When we explore something new, we need room for trial and error. A soft plan gives us permission to step outside our comfort zone, reflect along the way, and adjust as needed.

In my own life, I’ve moved between the two. When I’m planning to work with a group, I lean into structured planning because the team relies on me. But when I’m working on personal projects, like writing this blog, I take a softer approach. I have a topic in mind, but I write freely. That gives me inspiration and lets my creativity flow while still keeping my deadline in mind.

The key is knowing which kind of plan you need right now—and being willing to shift when things change.

Planning Isn’t About Perfection

I come from a planning background. I love a rigid plan at work. I love structure, spreadsheets, and colour-coded charts.

But you don’t have to be a planner like me to make your plan work. Everyone is difference. Your plan doesn’t need to be perfectly presented in an Excel spreadsheet to be useful. In fact, soft plans work perfectly for some people. They are more flexible and forgiving. They give you direction while leaving room for learning, adapting, and changing course if needed.

What matters most isn’t whether the plan is flawless, but whether it helps you take action.

I recently started a 16-week training plan for a half marathon race in October. The plan is quite rigid—it tells me exactly what to do in each session: the pace, the distance, the type of training. I set myself a target time that’s slightly faster than my personal best to push me out of my comfort zone. (Wish me luck!)

So far, I’ve shown up and followed the plan, but I haven’t been perfect. My pace isn’t always where it should be. The weather has been too hot for my liking. But I keep telling myself, “This is the plan. Follow it as best as I can.” There’s no punishment if I fall short. What counts is the effort of showing up and being in the process.

Start Now, Start Small

A good plan doesn’t need to be complicated—it just needs to be actionable. By that, I mean turning your big-picture goal into something you can do today. Not next week. Not when everything feels perfect. Today. Start Now.

We often create multiple plans in order to achieve one big goal. For example, starting a business might involve branding, marketing, sales channels, and location strategies—all at once. It’s overwhelming. Some parts of the plan can be rigid and others soft but we still have to take action.

The best thing we can do is prioritise and break it down. Ask yourself: what’s most important and most urgent? Start there and work your way down.

Start small, start now. If it feels too much, start with five minutes a day. Those five minutes  will push you closer to your goal.

A big idea or long-term goal can feel heavy—especially when life is already busy. That’s why I often ask my clients, “What’s the next smallest step you can take?” Start with the smallest action that moves you forward.

The magic is in these micro-moves. They build momentum. They teach you what works. They help you reflect and adjust your next steps along the way.

The Power of a Simple Checklist

One of my favourite techniques is creating an action list: not a never ending to-do list but a short, focused list of 3 to 5 things that move my plan forward, all within a particular week. It is not a rigid plan, but more like a personal homework assignment I have set for myself. 

I have had this habit since school: I used to write all my homework and their deadlines in my diary, and put a tick next to each one when it was done. That simple act of ticking something off still brings me a sense of accomplishment today.

This is just one way I manage my action list. You can create your own method whether give you that satisfying sense of progress and a reason to celebrate each achievement.

Action Builds Confidence

Last month, we talked about how being the real you builds lasting confidence. Taking action is part of building and strengthening belief in your real self. Each small task we complete is a little promise kept. It shows us we can follow through, even when we’re not 100% ready. That promise reminds us that we can show up, even when we’re uncertain or uncomfortable.

I’ve seen this again and again with clients—especially women starting their own businesses. Once they begin taking small, consistent actions, they start seeing results. And with those results come confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

And it’s true: doing creates clarity. Through the doing process, you find yourself and create your own sense of confidence.

Conclusion

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting for the perfect time or the perfect plan—maybe July is your month to begin. Take that big, brilliant idea and break it into bite-sized actions. Write the email you have been meaning to send. Make that phone call you have been planning to make. Book that coaching session to talk it through. Every micro step will push you forward and upward.

It’s easy to get caught up in wanting everything to be just right before you begin. But planning isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. Taking small steps doesn’t mean thinking small. It means trusting the process and letting momentum do its job.

Planning and action are partners. Together, they’ll take you much further than either could on their own.

Planning gives you the structure.
Action gives you the spark.
Together, they create real progress.

Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy this article.

What is one small action you can take this week to bring your plan to life?