Hi Reader,

Yeah, I know.

You saw the title and thought, oh no, he's not going to talk about Annual Planning, is he? I hate that stuff so much!

Yup. I get it.

Have You Finished Your 2027 Plan?

Should have … could have … might have?

If it isn’t finished, any chance you’re waiting for a clear view of the future?

When will the wars end?

Will the rising cost of living stop growing so fast?

What will the future look like when it does?

For sure, there’s plenty of uncertainty to go around.

You don’t even have to share your portion. Everybody’s got plenty without yours.

Today, as we head toward the holidays over the next several months, I’m going to share several quotations that frame this planning question and highlight a few ways to think about it.

You Know the Name of the Enemy

PERFECTION!

I'll make it easy on you today, sharing a few notable quotations that hit home when it comes to planning — in your organization, your family or your community.

The two quotes that follow are from soldiers … warfighters … who know that scenario planning is essential to success … but that the enemy also gets a chance to turn your plans inside out.

Said another way ...

That’s the first hurdle.

Your 2027 plan doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be good enough to get you moving — and flexible enough to change when reality does.

Planning, NOT the Plan, is the Key to Success

Operation Overlord was the Allied plan for the Normandy Invasion in World War II, commencing on June 6, 1944. It was the largest amphibious invasion in history — and the plan was years in the making.

General Eisenhower understood that the essence of planning is to understand what resources you can deploy, when, and at what cost.

That’s what sets apart successful campaigns and allows organizations to survive and thrive.

Said another way ...

That’s really the point for 2027.

You don’t need a perfect forecast. You need to think through the possibilities, make the best assumptions you can and prepare to adjust when you turn the next corner.

But, You Can Have a Little Fun, Too!

In the next few newsletters, we'll get more serious, and I'll share some tools and strategies to help you through the process.

It can be both fun — kinda — and productive if you apply a few realistic guidelines.

Annual Planning is in the top tier of organizational challenges — but the planning, not the plan, is essential if you want to Become a More Effective Leader and build a successful business.

Don't Stop Leading!