“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” – Robert Burns
“No plan survives contact with the enemy.” – Helmuth von Moltke the Elder
The world is chaotic. It’s complex beyond our ability to make predictions. You can’t possibly anticipate what it’ll throw at you.
But if you’ve thought through the possibilities you can think of, you’ll be better prepared to react, even to the unexpected.
“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” – Dwight Eisenhower
“Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” – Winston Churchill
The act of planning puts your mind to work on the problem. You take stock of the situation. You consider possibilities, evaluate strategies, weigh potential outcomes, prioritize.
And when your precious plan meets the enemy and is quickly rendered useless, you still have all those strategies and priorities in mind. You can adapt with confidence.
