Plan A, and no Plan B, is the powerful approach to succeed

By John Corban

“I hate Plan B. People perform better, in sports and everything else, if they don’t have a Plan B. I’ve never, ever had a Plan B.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger believes people have a backup plan because they are worried they will fail.

I agree with his beliefs on a Plan A for our major decisions in life and in business. When someone makes a decision to do something that will benefit their business or life, like starting a new income stream, employing a new manager, upgrading their design system or buying a new home, having a Plan A (and No Retreat Plan) will service them.

Here are some reasons to have a Plan A for your big decisions

Many successful business owners choose an option A for their large decisions. It prevents them from having a second option or a way out. And when there is no second option, it means they are totally focused and committed to making it work.
Think of when you have decided to make something work, like when you started your business, you would have decided to totally commit to getting it started and making your business work… and it did.

It’s all about having confidence in your own capabilities and trusting your ability to figure it out as you go, even when you don’t have all the answers and when things get hard.

That would have happened many times in the first 12 – 24 months of starting your business when the times were tough, and you just trusted your skills and constant action to get you through the hard times.

If all of your efforts are concentrated on plan A, then failure is not an option.
If you had a second option, and therefore were not quite as committed to your first option, you could have failed. Total commitment is what is needed to make a big decision work.

Plan A came from the concept of “burning boats”

Plan A was created from an historical event of burning boats in 1519, when a Spanish expedition led by Hernán Cortés (a Spanish Captain) arrived in a foreign land called Mexico. Cortés knew his crew was already exhausted after the long sea journey, but he had to motivate them to succeed in the new land. So, he ordered his crew to burn the ships they arrived in, so there was no turning back. Cortés destroyed the safety net and secured his crew’s motivation, dedication and teamwork, and because they each had a vested interest in succeeding, they achieved their mission.

How does committing to Plan A affect you mentally?

Firstly, you decide that you really want to implement a new idea in your business and you know it is totally aligned with your values. If you commit to it and have no Plan B, you will approach the idea with a much more powerful mindset and that has an impressionable impact on your team. They can see you have done your research, have planned how it will work (or at least have seen it work elsewhere) and know it will enhance your business and not work against it. Such a mindset uplifts you and empowers everyone else.

In the immortal words of Walt Disney, “All our dreams can come true if we dare to pursue them.”

Remember, our intentions hold the key to fulfilment. Follow your Plan A and have the courage to continue to follow it as it evolves.

John Corban
Business Coach for Landscapers, Horticulturists and Nursery owners
Mob: 0433 27 1980
www.landscaperscoach.com.au