Continuing on with our Planning Your Adventure series, we have chosen our goals, defined them and now we can start achieving them!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

How true, how very true. One single step is all that it takes to get going. Even better news, a small step is no worse than a large step, and is generally so much easier!

Break it down. What do you have to do to reach your goal? Let’s make it even easier. What three things do you have to do to reach your goals? These will not include every single step, but will get you pointed in the right direction.

Here’s my example:
Live in Ireland for 3 months & visit Europe for a week

1. find transportation
2. find place to stay
3. take care of business at home

Paint 8×11 picture of sunset & trees
1. get materials
2. get images to work from
3. PAINT!

Now that you have a general direction laid out, you can start including some more details. For each of the steps, write up to three more steps that you have to take. These are actually the stepping stones that you have to proceed across to reach your goal.

Live in Ireland for 3 months & visit Europe for a week –
1. find transportation
   1. compare prices of plane tickets between carriers
   2. purchase plane tickets to Ireland
2. find a place to stay
   1. determine city to stay in
   2. look up places on CraigsList/other options
   3. rent apartment
3. take care of business at home
   1. medical requirements (vaccinations, prescriptions, etc)
   2. have necessary paperwork (passport, visa, etc)
   3. sublease apartment/move stuff into storage

Paint 8×11 picture of sunset & trees –
1. get materials
   1. go to store and purchase (paint, canvas & brushes)
      
2. get images to work from
   1. browse internet for suitable images
   2. “chase” sunsets and take own pictures
3. PAINT!
   1. set up equipment
   2. look at inspiring pictures
   3. put paint on canvas

Is your list finished? This is your road map. Each step is laid out before you. Once you put the finishing touches on it, it is time to start stepping…