The real problem with Planning

 "We operate in a world of infinite possibilities and no plan that we put together can ever anticipate and prepare for every possibility." 

I’m going to come straight out with it:

There’s nothing wrong with the Plan, any Plan for that matter.  The source of any problem is the Planner, that person or persons inside your head that is/are likely to do one or more of the following:

• Believe that the Plan is the final document and the end goal
• Become a slave to the Plan
• Refuse to update or modify, or when necessary, abandon the plan altogether
• Believe that the Plan is the Holy Grail where all solutions will be found and all dreams fulfilled

Now, I am being deliberately extreme in my assertions here.  And I haven’t even told you what I mean by ‘the Plan’.

So, let me back up one step and tell you just what I mean although chances are, you probably know what I’m talking about.

‘The Plan’ is that set of goals, actions and agreements you make with yourself and/or others and that you have decided will achieve a certain outcome for you.  

What outcome?

Well, anything really – a business initiative, your wedding, the web copy for your business, a new business brochure, a house renovation, a new car, dinner…

Some plans are likely to demand a greater investment of your time and thought than others. Planning your house renovation, for example, is going to take much more time and thought than say, planning your dinner.  

But all plans require one significant investment on your part – your BELIEF.

Without BELIEF, no plan, no matter how thoroughly researched and laid out is going to have a real chance of succeeding.

So, what is this BELIEF about?  I’ll make it simple.  It is that

• the outcome you desire is possible
• that you have every right to this outcome
• whilst you may not have complete control over all the people, processes, events and objects that will come into operation in the execution of your plan, you will always have control over how you prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally and respond powerfully, optimistically and freely

Okay, that last one is huge.  It deserves an entire post to itself.  However, let me unpack it just a little here.

We operate in a world of infinite possibilities and no plan that we put together can ever anticipate and prepare for every possibility.  

But we can and absolutely must do whatever we can to ensure that we are equipped with an attitude that

•  is unwaveringly focused on opportunities rather than risks, setbacks and difficulty
•  thrives on optimism rather than give in to the so-called ‘reality’ which is often used as a way of saying “This is how things are and there’s nothing we can do about it”
• delights in flexibility i.e. is opportunistically responsive to unfolding events and situations
• is starry eyed about a ‘compelling future’ ( one of Tony Robbins’ compelling mantras :))

I’m going to leave you with that   But think about it:  

Is your plan your master and you its slave?  

Do you believe that you are powerful and free enough to imagine a ‘compelling future’, one that inspires you insanely?  (You are, but do you believe it?)

And are you confident, bold and flexible enough to move synchronistically in its direction?

Be bold!  Believe, then Plan!