A few weeks ago I posted the following quote, accredited to George Schultz, on Facebook and Twitter:
“The minute you start talking about what you’re going to do if you lose, you have lost.”
While I like the confidence and positive attitude towards winning, something about this quote just doesn’t sit right with me.
Does having a Plan B mean you don’t have confidence in your ability to succeed with Plan A?
I once heard Rosie O’Donnell talk about her lifelong desire to become a comedian. Others urged her to have a backup plan, “just in case.” She refused, because she wanted to give her Plan A her all. She felt if she had a safety net, she would eventually fall into it.
Fortunately, she succeeded with Plan A.
Yet we frequently hear stories of people who put their heart and soul into Plan A, pursuing their dream with gusto and with nary a thought of Plan B, only to find themselves feeling completely lost when life doesn’t quite work out as planned. Think of the athletes who practice their sport more hours than a full-time job requires, for years upon years, setting their sights on a gold medal, then miss qualifying for the Olympic team by a fraction of a second.
Are you a “Plan-A-All-The-Way!” type, believing wholeheartedly in your goal and not even considering the alternative? Or do you create a backup plan, knowing that while you pursue Plan A with heart and soul invested, life experience tells you that sometimes things don’t work out as planned?
Can we have it both ways?
Personally, when I set a goal that’s exciting, authentic, and meaningful, I can charge forward with confidence and positivity like a potential Olympian. When I set out to run a marathon a few years ago, for example, I only had a training plan in hand – no “just in case” alternatives in the event that I got injured or decided I couldn’t do it.
In instances like that, I fear that having a Plan B will cause me to dwell on it – and ultimately make Plan B my reality. So I focus on the desired outcome, playing to win rather than playing not to lose.
BUT, a planner at heart, in many situations I feel irresponsible without a backup plan. While I don’t anticipate my computer crashing, for instance, I still regularly back up my data – and would be willing to bet you do, too. Does that make us Negative Nellies?
What do you think? If you plan for a variety of outcomes, winning and losing, are you well-prepared – or under-confident? Does having a Plan B mean you don’t believe in yourself enough – or that you feel strengthened by having your bases covered?
Does preparing Plan B mean you’ve already lost?
Please share your thoughts below and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!
Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.