Fail To Plan, Plan To Fail

 “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” is credited to Benjamin Franklin from the 1700's.  That still holds true today.  Planning is based on visualizing an end goal then listing the steps to get there.  Moltke the Elder said “No plan of operations extends with certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main strength” which turned into "No plan survives contact with the enemy".  Dealing with plans requires flexibility.  Change continues to modify everything, even while you are working towards the goal.  A good plan allows for deviations from the  plan.   Planning is a necessary item if for no other reason than to track your own progress.   

Comments

Post a Comment

You are expected to be responsible for your posts' content. Off topic posts will be deleted. Avoid attacks on individuals and companies. Please use facts instead of vitriol.

Popular posts from this blog

How much longer do I have left?

  How much longer do I have left?   I discovered all too late that I will accomplish nothing noteworthy during my lifetime.  I did not create enough wealth to impress my heirs.  I did not invent anything.  I did not set any records.  I did drink profusely from an early age.  There was a fine line between getting caught and getting away with illegal activities that I straddled all too often in my youth.  I thought everyone was doing what I was doing.  I learned that I was the one that was used as an “example of what can happen”.  I want to encourage you to make something of yourself that your children will be proud of.  Someone that you can be proud of. How you do is on you.  No blame, no excuses, no reasons; only results matter.  Now you are asking me how to achieve this feat?  I can only tell you that a “failure to plan is planning to fail”.  I bet you want to know how long you have to do something honorabl...
Read more

Follow the Money

Like it or not, the exchange of money for goods and services is what makes the world go round. If you want to know what happened, follow the money. Especially in dealing with corporate over sight; the money will tell what budget it came from, who signed the purchase order, what company got paid, what is being paid for and then into fixed assets (for equipment at least) to discover where the equipment is now. The emphasis on accounting is because they want to track every penny, it's their job. You can get reports that keep you abreast of spending under your control. Year over year trends can lead to new insights in managing growth, handling unintended consequences and budgeting for the next year.  Banks have especially powerful accounting departments and can provide a significant amount historical information.
Read more