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Whether you are a student pursuing an online degree, an athlete training for a competitive sport, or an author about to commit to that book you’ve always wanted to write, one thing is certain – you’ll need a plan. It takes considerable planning and effort to reach these milestones. I’m no competitive athlete, but I can draw on similarities in my experience writing a book and completing an online MBA.

Each of these endeavors requires a clear focus, just as a business starts with a mission statement, and from that focal point, develops a business plan. It’s one thing to want to pursue a graduate degree, or write a book – just identifying the mission doesn’t get you there. With each goal, it was important for me to think of a value proposition. Why is this mission important? Does that book or degree meet a genuine need? The question of value is most crucial in business decisions; it provides strategic clarity. A personal value proposition does too. In earning another degree you might be able to contribute more to the workplace and increase your chances for a promotion. In writing a book, an author may hope readers will find his work informative and entertaining. Of course there’s no guarantee that a degree will bring the desired promotion, or that a book will be a best seller. The net value of those efforts will be affected by competitive factors.

Each personal or business plan should include a competitive analysis. Ask questions like, “Who else will be competing at each rung on the corporate ladder?”, or “Who is writing similar books?”. Your plan may also include a marketing concept that encompasses your target market and contemplates pricing strategies, whether it’s in searching for a well-paying and top-rated employer or publisher. A financial plan is a must for business. Every online student and author could also use one. How will you pay the bills during the journey? Will the payback period be short or long? Will the return on investment be worth all the money and time? Money is an obvious motivator in any project, but it isn’t the only thing driving us to achieve. There is the personal satisfaction in completing the manuscript or degree, and in making that checkmark off the Bucket List. It is said “Money makes the world go round”, but it is intrinsic motivation that makes us want to make the world turn in the first place.

Online learning  offered me a unique world-wide interaction with people from a vast array of cultural and industry experiences, yet I quickly discovered that – as an online student – sometimes I felt as if I were left standing alone on an island. I wasn’t really stranded. The university would have responded to my S-O-S if I had sent one, but online learning required self-direction, perseverance and independence. These traits are also essential in writing a book. I soon realized that the self-imposed solitude between online classes, and between chapters, stimulated an inward-looking SWOT analysis. Considering strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats can shed light on any business case and also prompts productive personal insight. Knowing strengths and weaknesses enables a person or business to seize opportunities and mitigate threats. The thought process that goes with SWOT analysis is time well spent, and don’t expect the seclusion of author or online student to be the meditative solitude of a Buddhist monk or Tai Chi master. The student or author, frequently buried under the latest tonne of data, is often squeezed into sequester mode – as a survival mechanism. There is little time to spare while you make sense of it all. Then, once the assignment is completed, you can breath again, if only for a while.

Take time to breath! One thing I’ve learned studying online and writing a book is that a flexibility exists that you won’t find in bricks and mortar schools or in regular jobs. The Internet is changing business, education, and the news industry. My book is about the impact of these and other influences on the news business, and hopefully you’ll be reading it early in 2011. Working and studying online is cutting edge, and prepares us for an inevitable if still somewhat unpredictable future. Using collaborative online tools and software I was able to move to Ontario from Nova Scotia a few years ago without missing a minute of my web-based studies. Thanks to online communication through Skype, Facebook, Twitter and email, my book writing continued uninterrupted during a recent move back to New Brunswick. In a border less online environment – where we work doesn’t matter. Online access also gives us the freedom to choose when to work, whether it’s during the day like most people, or burning the midnight oil. It’s our choice – mostly – though achieving work-life balance isn’t always easy. Online study and writing tends to happen after full time job and family obligations.

Mountain climbers take time to recharge at intervals between base station and summit. Competitive athletes heal between strenuous events. Great businesses take time to celebrate at each major milestone too. I recall the great sense of relief after completing my final online course, and after handing my first manuscript to the publisher. Each time, I often found myself wondering what I would do with all that spare time! As you pursue your goals whether it be an online degree, writing a book, or taking on any other big personal project, I hope you also enjoy the sense of fulfilment on its completion. Celebrate, and savour the respite before planning your next venture.

This article was written by Andy Leblanc.

Andy has thirty years experience in news media, as a reporter, assignment editor and news director. He has covered and coordinated coverage of major historical events, from natural disasters to hot political issues. He holds a journalism diploma, a Certificate of Total Quality and Productivity Management, an MBA from Lansbridge University, and a certification as Project Management Professional. Andy taught broadcasting students at Conestoga College School of Media & Design, and serves as Treasurer of RTNDA Canada, the Association of Electronic Journalists. Now he is likely to be found dabbling with websites, thumbing tweets on his iPhone, or writing his next book.