The Planning Process

"Nobody has planned to fail, but many have failed to plan." (old management maxim)

It is important to use plans as a frame of reference; not slavishly adhered to, but rather used as a frame of orientation.

Planning is the process of setting goals and courses of action, developing rules and procedures, and forecasting future outcomes. The creative part of planning is the process itself. Planning is a way of looking ahead without being there, yet making sense of where one desires to go.

I think the intimidating part of planning for me is the (false) impression that once I make a plan I have to stick to it. And if one part of the plan is altered than the whole plan needs to be thrown out. But if a plan is a frame of reference, or a way to make sense of where one desires to go, planning has an entirely different feel to it. Planning: exploring what might happen, thinking about what you would like to have happen. That's not so intimidating. Maybe the trick to effective planning is expecting the plans to change. You plan the best you can with the information you have, then as you get more information you adjust the plan.

Something to think about: Failure may breed success. Failure gives the opportunity to analyze why there was a failure which leads to a different approach and success.