Plans get better when they meet reality

Making plans, especially perfect plans, is boring. But once you are actually forced to execute, the plan often gets better.

The work of making a perfect plan is often closer to self-satisfaction.

A little more research, a little more organization, a little more polish can feel like progress. But a large part of that time may be a refined excuse for postponing execution.

The real plan appears right before execution

When you have to show something to a customer, build it this week, or work with too little money and too little time, the choices suddenly narrow. That is when the core becomes visible.

• You see what to remove before you see what to build.
• You see who to give up before you see who to sell to.
• The next action you can take starts to matter more than a beautiful strategy.

Plans do not get better because we think about them longer. They get better when they meet reality.