Part 02: Why Does Planning 1. Why Does Planning Matter? Have you ever heard the saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" The idea is that proper planning can help you achieve your goals, both in business and in life. But all planning is not the same. The best laid plans are those that are a combination of long term (so that you are beginning with the goal in mind), short term (so you have items you can begin tackling now) and operational (plans that put your short term plans into motion so that you can achieve your long term goals). Part 02: Why Does Planning Matter? Let's see what this looks like for a student who is thinking about life after graduation. Jane's goal is to get accepted into a prestigious MBA program. You can see all of the plans she is considering to help her get there. Identify them as short term, long term or operational to see how by thinking in all of these spheres, she will more effectively achieve her goal! Determine if each of the following plans are short term, long term, or operational. Short Long Term Term Operational Get an A in Introduction to Management class so that I can learn about the discipline and strengthen my GPA Identify and get accepted into the program I want to attend Continue developing my professional network in ways that can connect me with graduate schools, scholarships and career opportunities O Planning is a critical part of achieving your goals. By considering what you need to do both now and in the long term, you will be able to operationalize your plans and put yourself on the path to success