Hi Reader,
A friend told me recently that she’s planning to get some work done on her house next month. Naturally, the project manager in me asked what she was planning.
“You know… stuff,” she said.
I asked if she was planning to do the work herself or hire someone. She shrugged and said she’d probably have someone do it.
Did she have anyone lined up? Nope. Reached out to contractors? Not yet. Planning to? Maybe.
We all know someone like this. The Non Planner. The person who operates on good intentions and vague timelines, hoping things will somehow fall into place.
And while it’s easy to laugh, this kind of approach doesn’t just lead to unfinished home projects. It shows up in business every single day and prevents things moving forward.
Where's the plan?
If you can’t see a plan, you’re not alone. It’s not just a friend’s home project. It feels like it’s everywhere. Planning has quietly taken a back seat, and reacting has taken over.
I read about a CEO of a large company recently who summed it up perfectly:
“What. Is. The. Plan?”
When things feel scattered, people naturally look for clarity and structure. They want a plan, even if they are not the ones responsible for creating it. Something clear enough to follow is often all people really need.
A plan doesn’t have to be polished or impressive. It just has to exist.
I once attended medical software training in Kansas City, Missouri, where the company proudly shared their very first “strategic plan.” It was sketched out on the back of a couple of restaurant napkins.
Was it fancy? Not even close.
Was it effective? Absolutely.
Because at the end of the day, even a napkin plan beats no plan at all.
How do you recognize a Non Planner?
It’s someone who:
- Is always rushed and still ends up late
- Misses deadlines or appointments
- Pulls things together at the last minute
- Says they are doing a quick trip to the grocery store and comes back two hours later
For those of you who lean more toward the Non Planner side, I often suggest trying a simple 5 step “work backward” approach.
- Start by picturing what success actually looks like
- Brainstorm everything that needs to happen to get you there
- Set yourself a clear deadline
- Map those steps backward so you can see the path to the finish line
- Then, get started!
(Although, just to make things more interesting, some people are actually good at planning but struggle to act on the plan. That’s a whole other topic for another day.)
If planning is not your strength, that’s okay. What matters is recognizing it and bringing in someone who can provide structure, clarity, and direction.
Even better, partner with people who do this every day.
That is how ideas turn into action.
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Barbara Kephart, PMP
Founder and Chief Project Officer
Projects Pivot
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