My oldest son Dylan is a wealth advisor here in our hometown of Ann Arbor. Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about marketing strategy for his business and how he creates real value for his clients.
As part of that conversation, we started talking about the ups and downs of the financial markets and the role planning plays in an unpredictable environment. At one point, he said something simple but incredibly sharp.
“Planning isn’t designed for just one day.”
He explained that if you make decisions based on one unusually good day or one really bad day, your long-term plan is almost guaranteed to fail. Good financial plans assume volatility. They don’t panic when things get uncomfortable.
That idea stuck with me because I see the same thing happening inside organizations all the time.
I facilitate strategic planning sessions with leaders across the country, and one of the most common patterns I see is this.
Teams create thoughtful long-term strategies, align on values, and define clear priorities, only to abandon them the moment things get hard.
A tough week.
A missed number.
A challenging quarter.
And suddenly the plan is broken.
Rigidity isn’t the goal. A good plan should allow for flexibility. But there’s a big difference between adjusting the plan and abandoning the plan.
Too often, leaders toss out sound strategy, forget their guiding principles, and chase the shiny new idea because it feels like movement. In reality, they’re reacting, not leading.
If leaders stayed the course and made a few small, intentional adjustments, they would reach their intended outcomes faster, with far less stress and confusion.
Planning isn’t about predicting the future perfectly. It’s about creating stability when the future gets messy.
This week ask yourself:
What long-term goal am I tempted to abandon because of short-term discomfort?
Where might a small adjustment be more effective than a big change?
What decision would I make today if I trusted the plan a little more?
Because strong plans aren’t judged by one good day or one bad one.
They’re proven over time especially when things get uncomfortable.
Until Next Time
Cheers to You and Your Continues Success
One Quarter Turn at a Time
Quotes about Planning
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it.” – Alan Lakein
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln
“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Looking forward to our next connection
Coach Tim
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