As I prepared to write this post, a few things came to mind. I realized that taking an online course is a mission that I must undertake to achieve a specific desired goal. And since it's a mission, I have to plan it. Therefore, for the purposes of this course, I will consider a few strategies as they relate to achieving the mission of successfully completing an online degree. And for this I will look at planning, time management and effective communication. The reason I need to plan, of course, is because with proper planning I avoid poor performance. This doesn't necessarily mean I will achieve my goal, but it simply gives me the flexibility to explore other avenues or alternative courses of action if the need arises. With any planning you have to be very specific and systematic. Therefore, to start planning, I need to establish my mission statement. This will give me my goals, establish lateral limits, provide me with limiting factors and give me my flexibility to maneuver during the execution phase. Another product of planning is the recognition of my center of gravity in relation to my mission. For example, if my computer breaks or I lose connectivity, I won't be able to complete my work at home. So connectivity and computing are my center of gravity. Therefore, recognizing my center of gravity would also help me review my resources and logistics needed to achieve my goals, which include computers, modems, required software, and in some cases, my printer. All of this constitutes technology. To use them effectively, you must first be familiar with them, know how they work, and be familiar with corrective actions if they break. The next phase would be to establish my operation or job… mid-paper. .....nalism is rule number one. Additionally, I need to understand and know what I can and cannot write to convey my message effectively without my audience being distracted by my tone or ignorance. My ability to communicate appropriately and effectively will also influence the type of feedback I receive, including my grade for work posted online. Bottom line, to be a successful student in an online program, I first had to realize that it starts with and is up to me. This is why I need to know how to properly plan my studies or my mission to obtain a degree; know my equipment and learn the technology to use it effectively; manage my time well by knowing how to manage myself first and foremost; and finally use effective communication to provide input and feedback on your work online. Ultimately it is my goal or my degree that I am pursuing it