“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell

Planning is an important part of leadership.  No organization was ever successful for very long without taking time to plan for its future.  Regardless of size, purpose, location, or time period in history, planning for what’s coming is crucial.

But there’s a problem with planning.  We know it’s important, so we do it.  Then, sometimes, we’re so excited about the fact that we did it, that we hang on to our plans as though they’re the most valuable thing we have.  This is what we planned to do, so, no matter what, this is what we’re doing.

Some of that feeling comes from the fact that we value people who persevere.  Most of the people and organizations that we praise are praised largely for the fact that when times were tough, they kept fighting, kept moving forward, and eventually were successful.  We like stories like that, and we want to be part of one of those stories.

What we forget is that most of those people and organizations persevered, but they didn’t just keep doing the same thing.  They kept trying new things until, finally, they were successful.  They weren’t so enamored with their initial plan that they couldn’t let it go.

We have to be willing to let go of our plans.  I don’t mean that as soon as things get tough we just quit.  I mean that we have to constantly be evaluating whether or not we’re on the right path, and if not, we have to be willing to change paths. 

Changing plans doesn’t mean that the hours or days or weeks we spent planning were a waste.  The opposite is true.  The only way to effectively change mid-stream is to have such a thorough understanding of what’s going on in your business, in your market, with your customers, with your people, etc., that when you hit barriers or see opportunities, you know exactly what to do.

Don’t plan for the future with the idea that the plan itself is the goal.  The planning process is the takeaway, because it prepares you for what’s next.  Be ready for change, and open yourself up to success.