Plans are useless
There was a time when Americans believed in the supreme value of long-term plans. 5-year plans. 10-year plans. Career plans.
But the world has changed. Drastically. No one has a future that is that predictable.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s battle-hardened lesson is for all of us now…
“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.“
Leaders of fast growth businesses…those growing faster than 20% a year…know this from experience.
Boil this down. Successful entrepreneurs have learned to do two things well:
- Hit a particular profit goal each year (that can ensure, at minimum, sufficient cash-flow for all their obligations and key parties).
- Continually taking steps to prepare their company for the constant fast-paced changes in their market.
They know their company has no future without constant improvement at doing both…at the same time.
What type of focused and flexible planning process can help your team deliver on both…regardless of circumstances? The best planning is not about creating a document that will soon be irrelevant.
Maybe Mike Tyson said it best. “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Circumstances change. Adaptability is required, but not at the cost of your company’s unique culture or strengths.
The best planning process will produce a team…an entire company…that can think on its feet and predictably deliver results regardless of current circumstances. A team like that can also quickly exploit unforeseen opportunities, avoid the distraction of shiny new stuff, and consistently recognize the difference.
What process helps your team create the future?
© 2019 From the Top, LLC
Emerging businesses (20-100 employees) are in the exciting transition from small to mid-size. In some situations, the specific growing pains illustrated here might be similar for smaller or larger fast companies, especially if growing fast.
