1. Clarify your goal. (Can you get a visual picture of the expected outcome? How can you see if you have reached your destination? What makes your goal measurable? What might be in the way, like the limits on time, money, or other resources?) On a blank piece of paper, clearly state your goal.

2. Write a list of actions. Write down all actions you may need to take to achieve your goal. At this step, focus on generating and writing as many different options and ideas as possible. List them under your goal.

3. Analyze, prioritize, and prune. Look at your list of actions. What are the absolutely necessary and best steps to achieve your goal? Mark them with a check mark. After that, what action items can be dropped from in the plan without significant consequences for the outcome? Cross them out.

4. Organize your list into a plan. Decide on the order of your action steps. Start from looking at your checked key actions. For each action, what other steps should be completed before that action? Rearrange your actions and ideas into a sequence of ordered action steps. Finally, look at your plan once again. Are there any ways to simplify it even more?

5. Monitor the execution of your plan and review the plan regularly. How much have you progressed toward your goal by now? What new information have you got? Use this information to further adjust and optimize your plan.