Creating a work look book has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. Being a 9-5 blogger, I feel it’s an easy way to connect with other working women who have to juggle between work and other activities.
Before now, I have the time to plan my week’s outfit every Sunday, but these days, I have lesser time for myself that I only remember it’s Monday when it’s time to get dressed for work. Hence, I begin to bring out all my outfits every morning, trying to find which one suit that day of the week. It’s a strenuous activity and I think one can avoid such when properly planned.
Which is why I have collaborated with two other beautiful fashion blogger, Chioma of Yhitschioma and Sandra of StylesbyIye. You remember I once did an Ankara Work look book with Chioma here. We decided to create a Monday to Friday look book to guide you when creating yours and how easy it can be coming from 3 ladies with different body sizes.
For today, I’m restricting it to our Tuesday look and in subsequent posts, you’d see more look from other days.
How I Jumped Into The Collaboration
Certainly, Chioma and Sandra had planned this collaboration weeks or days before. I walked in on them having a conversation about it and my creative ginger won’t let me be calm. Hence, I told them I was going to join, and this was just two days before. I had no idea what outfit I was going to wear or how it was going to be like, talk about ineffective planning.
I only prepared for it on the morning of the shoot. It was the same morning I selected all the outfits I was going to wear and how I am going to style it. I thought for a Tuesday, you’d never know where you’d end up. So I paired this striped blazer with a black pant. Wearing a black shoe would have been perfect but won’t that be too boring? Hence, the choice of a blue shoe to add a bit of color. What do you think?
Blazer and Pant from Balogun Market in Lagos
Shoes from
Ineffective Planning
Need I say my plans prior to the collaboration was ineffective. I forgot a lot of accessories, my make up was done in a rush, I had a pant with a bad zipper (you’d never notice though), and I forgot some shoes.
When a proper plan isn’t put in place, success is not easily achieved. For every good movies we watch, inspiring blog post, impacting books, life changing events, a lot of plan has been put in place to make it all work.
Ineffective Planning will only bring chaos and failure, which we should endeavor to avoid at all times.
The Importance of Effective Planning
Planning is the process of goal setting, developing the approach to achieve these goals, outlining activities, prioritizing them and creating a schedule that brings us closer to the goals we set.
I once said in a previous post about traveling, that before I embark on any journey I always create a packing list. Impromptu activities is never the way I work. I always ensure I start planning for anything I intend to do weeks ahead. This has always worked for me as I always create a list and tick off once I achieve.
Effective Planning helps you to achieve your goals effortlessly. Vivek Bindra states, “If you know where you are going, you are much more likely to get there. Others working with you will be much more effective and interested.”
Steps to Achieving Effective Planning
1. Create A Realistic Goal
In all honesty, when I heard a full week look book, I doubted the possibility of it happening. I felt it was going to be a stressful shoot and then I worry about how we were even going to post it. When making any plan, it is important to make sure it is one that can be achieved. Imagine you having a plan that you want to build a castle in the air in 2 weeks?
2. List out Your Resources
If I had listed all I need to wear for the shoot, I wouldn’t have had to worry about even packing my outfit 10 minutes before the shoot. Simply because all I needed to do was just to pick off these items off the rack and fill in a bag. Same with when you have a bigger project, it is important to itemize how you intend to achieve and this will help you worry less about missing out any important aspect.
3. Consider Alternatives
Having list out your resources, it is important to always have a backup plan in case there’s a set back. I had no time to pick an extra piece of item because I was in so much hurry and I did not try out any of the outfits before leaving home. Imagine if I got there and my shoes had a cut or even any of the outfits, that would have been a disaster.
Photo Credit:
4. Work out Your Plans
The next important thing is to start working on the plans you have set out. How realistic and achievable are they? Is there any area you need to work extra hard on? What do you need to fix to make them happen before your set deadline? Is the deadline still going to be possible or you need to extend it?
5. Keep Your Team Updated
Should you have a team you are working with, never fail to keep them updated. A day before we had this shoot, Chioma called me to remind me about it. I also received a message from her in the morning, to ask me how I intend to get to the location. As we were on our way, we kept calling Sandra at intervals to keep her updated. For an effective planning process, it is very important not to work in isolation as that can create chaos within your team.
6. Measure Your Results
At the end of the day, measure your results to determine if the plan was a success or there is room for improvement. There are various yardstick for measuring success. Stick to the one that best works for your plan and decide if it was worth the effort you have put into it, if not, start again. Ours was a success as the pictures came out just amazing.
Check out Sandra and Chioma’s blog for their take on this. Thank you for your patience in taking these pictures.
What’s your planning mantra? How do you ensure you achieve success before you embark on any activity? What do you think about our outfit for work on a Tuesday? Is it too much colors or just perfect? Join the discussion.
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Planning is a lifestyle. Writing out my goals in a journal is always a way for me to stay on track. I love your outfits and Sandra’s outfits, Chioma’s outfit is not what I would pull off. All the same, you ladies nailed the work look.
Author
Nothing beats proper planning and writing it down is an effective way to achieve this.
Thanks for the kind words, T ❤️
You all look gorgeous.
Author
Thank you, Oma ❤️
I’ve gained so much from this, than you can ever tell..and how you twostwe the whole plot!
Author
Awwwn, thanks darling. Glad you could relate withbit
Proper planning is everything and as the popular saying goes “failure to plan is planning to fail”
Classic boss ladies! You all look amazing.
Author
You are so right! Thanks beautiful ❤️
I forgot to add…I love your shoes, you know you can just send it down here🙈.
http://www.laraoseni.com.ng
Author
And it could just be yours provided we wear same size.
A daily and weekly to-do list helps me stay on track with all my activities, thank God for my cassiedaves blog planner, planning has been made easier.
There’s so much class, poise and beauty in these pictures, you girls did an amazing job! I can’t wait to see pictures from the rest of the lookbook.
I would definitely adopt your outfits on a Tuesday as well.
Welldone!
http://www.theportablehub.com
Author
I try to create a daily to-do list on my phone and I ensure I add a timing so it can prompt me when it’s time to do it. That way, I don’t get to compile so much things I need to do and forget in the process.
Thanks b, glad you love the outfits.
I loveeeeeeee this and it’s because am a chief planner.I do serious mental check of what to wear when I have any outing no matter how urgent.Like you rightly said ,if you are going on a long trip ,Do not rush it..if possible ,start to park weeks before.It saves you a whole lot of stress.Nice one debs
Author
You couldn’t have even said it better. Planning makes life super easy. Thanks for your kind words, darling ❤️
You all look really classy and beautiful, I didn’t even recognize you quickly, I thought it was one of those bosslady photos.
I love the way you styled your outfit, the blue shoe gave it a pop of colour.
Planning helps us to achieve so much more and also reduces stress caused by rush. Thanks for the tips Debs, I sure learnt a lot.
nessytalks.com
Author
Thank you, Nessy. My head has risen far above its regular size 😅😅😅 Glad you could learn from this ❤️
Akingboye Deborah, thanks a lot for the post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
Author
Most welcome.
Debs o, e maka😍 .I really love how this collaboration post doesn’t seem like a collaboration post. You implemented something really helpul into it and took it to a new level. Thanks for sharing, I learnt alot.
Author
😀😀😀 I’m glad you do, Chika. Sometimes, we just have to try something different
From Gwagwalada to our own Balogun… Part of the planning right? Continue
Author
Hahahahaha, that is where you can get it cheaper.
Again Debs, thanks for this tips; hopefully I will be an effective planner by consciously infusing this tips into my everyday life. Let’s take a moment to compliment your outfits, you ladies look good for the tuesday lookbook. And here is to more collaborations with other amazing bloggers.
Author
Amen 😀😀😀 I hope you do, Funke ❤️
These pictures are lit! #girlPower! Shalla to the photographer! Thanks again Debs for tips that make life seamless
Author
Thanks Sola, your comment be giving me extra vibes ❤️❤️
Y’all look so fineeee! Great tips also.
Life of Dammy
Author
Thanks b
I agree Proper planning is very important to achieve anything. Proper planning is so crucial to me.I love your blog
Author
Thanks Abiodun, you are right. Hope to see more of you around 🖤