I was seeing a pattern I hadn’t even considered. In speaking with numerous friends, there seemed to be a consensus amongst them that due to so much uncertainty in the world right now, they were putting off making plans or if feeling compelled, being very conservative in any ideas they came up with. I simply let it go as one approach to life, not mine, but one approach.
Then I received a business newsletter from a large organization saying that the days of planning two, three, and five years out were fading due to such rapid shifts taking place in AI and in the marketplace. Those things are taking place, yes and perhaps more things than we can see right now. Yet it seems to me, however, that both short and long-term planning can have several functions and purposes.
The first objective, long-term planning, can force us to have a clear vision of where we want to go as an individual and/or as a company.
In an ideal world, what would life look like in five years? Three years? Two years? In the short-term, what would need to be done to achieve that goal? Am I willing to pay the price? Frequently, money is not the main cost.
Am I willing to make the changes needed? Am I willing to grow as needed to meet that goal? Am I able or willing to let go of what needs to be released? Am I willing to go after what is needed to achieve that goal?
Strategic planning, if done well, forces us to have far greater clarity about where we are going, what we want, what we need, and what it entails. It calls us to make clear plans, intermittent goals, and often, to spread out the cost in terms of time, growth, shifts, and preparations, some we wouldn’t have thought of. It also forces us to explore options, possibilities, and potential obstacles so we can deal with them long before they arise.
No matter what the market says, we can never truly know exactly what the future holds.
Illness? Accidents? Death? A windfall? Outgrowing the original plans or simply changing desires and being offered unexpected opportunities are all possible. Nonetheless, planning gives us something to hope for. It gives us a direction, a vision, a mission, and a purpose. Because nothing is written in stone, things may and will change.
Adaptability, flexibility, and openness to new possibilities are imperative if we are to expand as people and/or organizations. “Pray as if it all depends upon God, and act as if it all depends upon you.” is saying I heard over and over. I agree with it. The adventure of living calls us to always be open to the new. Uncertainty is a given but never an excuse. Always be conscious in your actions but do so passionately and with faith not fear. Uncertainty is a given but dreaming, planning, and going for it, need to be as well!