Plans Win (Even Bad Plans Win)

Ever heard of the Lost Platoon? Picture this: World War II, the thick of the Vosges Mountains in France. A platoon of American soldiers finds themselves hopelessly lost, outnumbered, and with German troops closing in. Their situation is beyond grim. Then, they stumble upon a map. They rally around it, using this newfound guidance to navigate through treacherous terrain. Against all odds, they make it to safety. But here's the kicker: the map they used was of the Pyrenees mountains, hundreds of miles away from their actual location.

How could a wrong map lead to survival? It sounds like a riddle, right? But it perfectly illustrates something I learned early in my career and have seen play out dozens of times since: even a flawed plan is better than no plan.

Think about those soldiers. In the face of imminent danger, that "wrong" map gave them something crucial: direction. It transformed their desperate scramble into a purposeful mission. It gave them a sense of control when everything else felt out of control.

And that's exactly what a plan does. It takes an idea – something intangible, floating around in your head – and makes it real. Without a plan, your brilliant idea is just a notion, a whim. But when you build a plan, you're forced to confront the nitty-gritty. You have to understand your idea inside and out. You can't build a plan to do something you don't truly grasp.

But it's more than just understanding. Plans get people excited. They see where they fit in, how their contributions matter, and how the world might change because of their efforts. A solid plan is a signal flare – it tells everyone you're dead serious about bringing this idea to life. It shows you've gone to the trouble to figure out what will make it fly, who will love it, and why now is the right time to launch it.

But plans can be wrong. Sometimes spectacularly wrong. But even if your assumptions are off, they're probably not all off. And even if they are, a wrong plan is still a starting point. It's a framework you can adjust, learn from, and improve on.

I spend an absurd amount of time developing plans for organizations. I build plans, tear them apart to challenge my own thinking, and then painstakingly refine them until they're clear, concise, and beautifully designed. I know that the big, sexy idea is what gets people hooked, but it's the plan they can hold in their hands, read, re-read, and refer to that makes the difference. It gives them confidence, clarity, and a roadmap to follow.

So, here's the takeaway: Don't be afraid to plan. Don't let the fear of the plan being wrong paralyze you. Embrace the power of planning, even if the result isn't perfect. Because a wrong plan, like that map in the hands of the Lost Platoon, can still lead you to unexpected places and incredible victories.