There are many great strategic planning models and tools available but I want to suggest a 49 very simple framework to turn your vision into action – six words from a poem by Rudyard Kipling: “I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who

I send them over land and sea, I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me, I give them all a rest.” Now this may seem like a strange basis for making a plan but let me assure you that if we have these same six honest people working for us, it it is amazing what can be achieved.

By turning Kipling’s six “serving-men” into questions we can create an action plan will move our passion and vision from the realm of ‘dream’ toward concrete plans and give us a framework for achievement. To build a successful plan we’re going to consider the questions in this order: Why? What? How? Where? Who? When?

Why? What? How? Where? Who? When?