Rapid Planning Method: What Do I Want?

Many of us may take action on something; however, that action may be disconnected from the outcomes we actually want. The Rapid Planning Method (RPM) can help you take deliberate action on what you actually want to achieve. RPM prompts you to determine the desired result before figuring out the steps for how to get there. 

Tony Robbins personally developed the Rapid Planning Method to help manage his life and business ventures. This system provides a way of thinking about everything you engage in: every meeting, phone call, deep work session, etc. Accordingly, the RPM will help you maximize what you want out of life and focus on growth and fulfillment.

Three Questions for the Rapid Planning Method

When planning your life or business, there are three critical questions you should ask yourself regarding what, why, and how. Thus, the letters in RPM stand for the following:

• Results-Focused (R): What do I really want? 
• Purpose-Driven (P): Why does it matter to me?
• Massive Action Plan (M): How will I achieve it?

Results-Oriented: What Do I Really Want?

“Always focus on the outcome of a desired act.”

Peter Lowe

First, you should be specific about what you want:

The result (what) is the consequence, effect, or outcome that you want to achieve.

In the Rapid Planning Method, determining your desired result will provide clarity. When you focus on particular outcomes, your brain will find better and more efficient ways to achieve your result. You can use the SMART Goals framework to clearly identify your desired outcome. 

RPM Examples:

When writing down your desired result, you should avoid vague phrasing like “be better,” “lose some weight,” or “make more money.” Instead, be specific and measurable in your outcomes, which are shown in the following examples:

• Make an extra $1,000 per month in revenue from my landscaping side business.
• Lose 15 pounds of fat in the next three months.

Purpose-Driven: Why Does It Matter To Me?

“When what you do is in line with why you do it and how you want to express it, you’ll have passion for what you do; and passion is the fuel that gives you the energy to pursue your dreams.”

Dr. Gary Sanchez

Next, connect your desired outcome with your purpose:

The purpose (why) is the compelling reason for wanting to achieve your desired result.

In the Rapid Planning Method, your purpose will help motivate and fuel you to take action to achieve your desired outcome. When you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unmotivated, remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing.

RPM Examples:

Tony Robbins suggests writing down compelling reasons and highlighting trigger words that activate your emotional rocket fuel to get stuff done. Here are specific examples:

• Make an extra $1,000 per month in revenue from my landscaping side business. For this result, your possible purposes could be:
  • To take that memorable two-week vacation this year to Italy
  • To pay off that student debt in the next two years
• Lose 15 pounds of fat in the next three months. For this result, your possible purposes could be:
  • To fit into your suit to look great for your wedding day
  • To feel better mentally and physically

Massive Action Plan: How Will I Achieve It?

“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.”

Tony Robbins

Finally, turn your idea into reality through a massive action plan:

The action plan (how) is the steps that you will take to achieve your desired result. 

In the Rapid Planning Method, you will decide upon the most significant actions to achieve your desired result. There are many ways to take massive action on your desired outcome, so brainstorm and decide on a path. Then, you can use the 80/20 rule or Pareto Principle to focus on the vital 20 percent of massive actions that will lead to 80 percent of the desired result. For more on creating a massive action plan for a quarter, check out The 12 Week Year (book summary).

RPM Examples:

Less is more, so focus on the small set of massive action steps that will produce extraordinary results. Here are specific examples:

• Make an extra $1,000 per month in revenue from my landscaping side business. For this result, your massive action plan could have these steps:
  • Determine that you will need four clients that pay $250 each per month.
  • Ask your current and former clients for referrals by offering an incentive.
  • Run landscaping ads in the local newspaper.
  • Schedule at least 20 sales calls with potential customers.
• Lose 15 pounds of fat in the next three months. For this result, your massive action plan could have these steps:
  • Consult with a nutritionist to determine a dieting plan.
  • Throw out all the junk food, so you don’t default to eating it.
  • Research recipes that follow your diet plan.
  • Buy organic groceries and cook meals at home to follow your diet. 
  • Bike to and from work every day instead of driving.

Planning With the Rapid Planning Method

Now that we have gone over the three critical Rapid Planning Method questions, it is time to implement RPM in your life. These the steps to creating an RPM plan:

1. Capture Everything Out of Your Head
2. Chuck It Down to Be Manageable
3. Massively Plan with Your Purpose
4. Take Action and Create an Identify
5. Review Using Rapid Planning Method Questions

When planning, you can apply these Rapid Planning Method steps to a time period of your choice, which could be a day, week, year, etc.

Step 1 – Capture Everything Out of Your Head

In his book, Getting Things Done (summary), David Allen urges you to get everything out of your head. Many people are guilty of trying to remember everything they want to do. Instead, move it from your head and write down everything you need or want to accomplish. You can use the Pomodoro Technique to set a 25-minute timer and brainstorm a list of everything you want to do for a given period of time.

Using the Rapid Planning Method, this step will help you focus on outcomes before purpose and planning. You will get clarity over everything that you want to do. Also, it frees up your mental bandwidth to prioritize and execute on your outcomes.

Ask Yourself:

• Did I get everything out of my head?
• What are all the results of what I want to accomplish for the period?

Step 2 – Chuck It Down to Be Manageable

Many people are susceptible to trying to do everything. However, humans have a limited amount of personal resources, including skills, time, energy, attention, and money. Thus, you can manage your tasks by deleting and chunking down to the vital few: 

Chunking – the process of organizing your tasks into a few categories and prioritizing them in order of importance

You should end up with no more than three to five outcomes you want to focus on for your chosen time period. In his book, Live It (summary), Jairek Robbins says that you can classify the tasks to fit into one of seven major life categories: health, emotional intelligence, relationships, family, professional life, finances, and spirituality.

Then, you can use the SMART Goals framework to articulate your desired results clearly. If you are looking for a to-do list tool to get organized and store your tasks, check out our review of ClickUp or Todoist!

Ask Yourself:

• Did I delete and chunk my list of tasks?
• What are the most significant results I want to accomplish for the period?

Step 3 – Massively Plan with Your Purpose

Now, it is time to apply the second two questions of the Rapid Planning Method. You need to connect your desired results to your purpose. Understanding your why with compelling reasons will motivate and fuel you to take action.

After, you need to create a massive action plan to execute on achieving your desired result. You should brainstorm all possible ways to achieve your outcome. Then, use the 80/20 rule to focus on the few significant actions that will have the most outsized impact.

Ask Yourself:

• What is my purpose for why my desired results matter to me?
• What is my massive action plan for how I will achieve my desired results?

Step 4 – Take Action and Create an Identify

In his book, Atomic Habits (book summary), James Clear says that your habits and actions shape your identity:

Identify – what you believe; emerges out of your habits with every action being a vote for the type of person you wish to become

Thus, you can work toward what you wish to accomplish (outcome) by focusing on who you want to be (identify). You can change your identity by deciding the type of person you wish to be and proving it will deliberate action toward your end goal.

Taking deliberate steps on your massive action plan will challenge your beliefs and grow your identity to be a progressively better version of yourself. When you personify an identity, your action steps can change your own perspective while taking massive action.

Ask Yourself:

1. What is the identity of who I want to become?
2. Am I taking steps on my massive action plan to achieve my results?

Step 5 – Review Using the Rapid Planning Method Questions

If you achieved your desired outcome, celebrate the win! After the win or getting to the established end date, you should review your progress.

Ask Yourself:

1. Did I follow the steps in my massive action plan to achieve my desired results?
2. Did my purpose motivate and fuel me to achieve my desired results?
3. Did I achieve my desired results?

If you answered no to any of these questions, then you should focus on the progress you made as the momentum will help you keep going. Also, look for ways to improve your execution of the Rapid Planning Method.

Tony Robbins says that if you can clearly determine your results and purpose, then that is better than 90% of the people around you. Then, you can create a massive action plan for how to accomplish your desired outcome. However, the hardest part is taking action. If you want to achieve your big goals and be successful, you have to take deliberate action. 

Next Steps

When you use the Rapid Planning Method, you will change your way of thinking to focus on the results you want to achieve. Then, you will connect your desired outcomes to a purpose and devise a massive action plan on how to accomplish them.

If you have any further questions or need additional help, feel free to comment below or send me an email. Also, if you want more Process Hacker content, you should subscribe to our weekly newsletter on Productivity, Habits, and Resources.