Whether it’s in our personal or business lives, we often just plain need to change our plans to be successful. The question is, do we alter our course, or do we just keep going according to plan?
I tended to stick to the plan – no matter what.
I was a typical goal-oriented, over-achiever for most of my younger life. When I was first working as a sales rep for computing systems, I was over quota, always. Once I dug in, I wouldn’t let go. No matter what – I met the goals, delivered on my plan and far beyond. No matter what it took.
After a few years as a consultant, I realized that the plan is not always the plan. At any point in time – we may find that plan is hugely wrong. I learned that I have to be consistently open to, and aware of, that option. I had to be willing to step up and change my plan – and so did my clients.
Being too focused on the plan can cost us ultimate success.
Planning is a good thing. Don’t think I’m saying it’s not. We have to plan. The challenge is that human nature, and many of our reward systems, tend to reinforce the plan as the “be-all and end-all”. We forget that the plan is a means to an end. The end is profitability, or however we define success.
The plan in and of itself is not success.
Think back to the last time you were focused on a goal. It can be personal or professional.
- Chances are, you had a plan to reach that goal.
- You promised yourself no matter what happened, you’d meet the deliverables required by that plan.
- You were excited and focused.
Now ask yourself.
- Were you focused on your success, or on successfully completing the plan?
- What if the goal changed, the market shifted, that product wasn’t quite it was cracked up to be?
- Did you change your plan or keep right on executing?
It’s human nature for many of us to be goal oriented. That’s a good thing. We simply need to be sure we’re oriented on the correct goal – and that we’re ready to shift our plan when that goal shifts.
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