A Good Plan

I had the opportunity to visit with some in-laws over the weekend. During discussion, we were noting how Walmart is revising their store’s floorplan and gearing up their process to compete with Amazon. My in-law commented how years ago, he was at a Walmart convention in Bentonville, and during a speech one of them commented on a good decision today is better than a perfect decision tomorrow. 

The idea was the importance to make decisions and act upon them. Rather than waiting for the perfect decision, you must keep in motion moving forward. If not, then you will miss opportunities and/or grow behind the other competitors. Intrigued I looked it up and it stems from Patton’s quote.

A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week. This idea has been used by entrepreneurs and companies to propel themselves into action. Patton was a brilliant strategist and it’s easy to gleam some of his quotes, adapting to current needs. 

However, when it comes to business, there are generally three common failings.

1.    Nobody wanting the product or service your creating

2.    Your solution will not scale.

3.    The so-called perfect business model is all wrong.

The reality is, if we wait for the perfect product, service or decision, we will never succeed. Perhaps this is why many never see their ideas come to fruition. I can understand it, because the working world is tough. Our successes are only brought out by our many failures. Too often, our peers, parents, managers and teachers will chastise those failing. This becomes learned behavior to not attempt more than necessary. 

One of my favorite books, The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird welcomes failures and mistakes. They emphasize through mistakes, knowledge is gained.

Regardless of mistakes, failures, Patton reminds us to forge ahead and take action now. Don’t hesitate in finding the perfect path. Rather be willing to move now, and nimble enough to pivot later. 

#infobymattcole #goodplan #GeorgeSPatton #action