Dream. Ask. Plan. Cast.

How are you starting your year? Do you have a plan? The start of a new year is a built in time for transition. It’s a natural time to reset. Take advantage of that!

Start your year off right by setting goals. To stay organized, follow these 4 phases: Dream. Ask. Plan. Cast.

Phase 1: Dream

In the next 12 months what do you want to see in your team and church? Dream a little bit!  While you’re dreaming, ask your team to dream as well! What do they want to see from the team? From the church? Ask your pastor too! What does your pastor want to see from your ministry? Grab a notebook and write all these ideas down!

Phase 2: Ask

Narrow down these ideas to 3 or 4 that you want to accomplish this year. Maybe one goal a quarter. Don’t feel like you have to do everything you’ve thought of. You can always revisit the other ideas next year. Ask yourself what’s most important! Start there.

Phase 3: Plan

How are you going to reach these goals? Look at your calendar - where can you set aside time? How does that time need to be spent? Who needs to be involved? This may be the most important part of the process. Make a plan!

Phase 4: Cast

Go back to your team and your pastor and tell them about the goals you’ve selected. Cast the vision! Get excited about it! Get other people excited about it! Then put your plan to action!

Those are simple steps, but they can be very helpful. Especially if you’re a dreamer! If you’re like me, you’ll stay in the dream phase forever if you don’t force yourself to ask “What’s most important?” The dream phase is fun. The others require work. But the work is what causes results. It’s the work that will make you look back 12 months from now and think “That was my best year yet!” Don’t get stuck in phase 1. Make this year your best yet. Dream. Ask. Plan. Cast.

What are your goals for the year? We’d love to know!