20 Years of Writing Action Plans Taught Me 4 Things

Tom Dheere
Sep 3
4 min read

What did you actually accomplish last month?

If you’re like many freelancers, that question can send a jolt of anxiety through your system. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day grind—the auditions, the edits, the emails—and pop up a month later with no real sense of progress. You were busy, sure, but were you building anything?

For the past 20 years, I’ve started every single month the exact same way: by writing a Monthly Action Plan. That’s 240 consecutive plans.

This simple, one-page document has been the single biggest reason for my success as a voice actor. It’s my North Star, my accountability partner, and my defense against chaos.

If you want to see what my Monthly Action Plan looks like, click this link and download the template so you can follow along.

Over two decades, the process has taught me a few things. Here are the four biggest lessons.

The 4 Pillars of an Action Plan That Actually Works

Lesson 1: It's Not a To-Do List, It's a Mission Statement

The very first thing on my plan isn’t a task; it’s my personal mission statement: "...get closer to becoming the human I know I can be by exorcizing my demons, making self-loving choices, and working as hard as everyone thinks I do."

A simple to-do list is about tasks. An Action Plan is about purpose.

By starting with my "why," every task below it gains context. "Follow up on overdue invoices" isn't just a chore; it's a step toward financial stability that allows me to make self-loving choices. This mindset turns the mundane into the meaningful.

Lesson 2: You Must Balance Working "IN" vs. "ON" Your Business

This is the classic freelancer's trap. It's easy to spend all your time working "IN" your business—invoicing, recording, editing. That’s the work that pays today’s bills.

But if you don't spend time working "ON" your business—marketing, networking, finding new partners—you won’t have bills to pay tomorrow.

My plan forces me to do both.

Tasks under Cash Flow like "Follow up on overdue invoices" are me working IN my business.

Tasks under Marketing like "Connect with new clients on LinkedIn" are me working ON my business.

Your plan must have a healthy mix of both to ensure you are not only surviving but thriving.

Lesson 3: Your Health is a Business Expense. Schedule It.

In the "Health" category of my action plan, you'll find pushups, a mental health day, a doctor's appointment, an "Accountabilibuddy Meeting." Why is this on a business plan?

Because as a freelancer, YOU are the business's single most valuable asset.

If you burn out, the business closes. If you're unhealthy, your performance suffers. Scheduling a "Mental Health Day" is as important as scheduling a client session. Tracking your pushups is a leading indicator for your energy levels.

Don't treat your well-being as a luxury to be enjoyed only after the work is done; build it into the plan as a non-negotiable cost of doing business.

Lesson 4: The Perfect Plan is the One You Actually Forgive

In 20 years of monthly action plans, I have never checked off every box in a given month. Not once.

For years, I'd beat myself up if I didn't accomplish everything. It was paralyzing. The real secret to doing this for 20 years is learning to forgive the unchecked box. The plan is a guide, not a merciless tyrant. Life happens. A big project comes in, you get sick, or you just have an off week.

The goal isn't 100% completion. The goal is progress and intention. The act of writing the plan itself focuses your energy. Hitting 70% of a great plan is infinitely better than hitting 100% of no plan at all.

You don't need to wait 20 years to feel the benefits. Start now!

What's one thing you want to accomplish this month for your Cash Flow, your Tools, your Technique, your Marketing, and your Health? Write it down. That's how it begins.

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