The Power of a Plan (Even When It Fails)

Why most people avoid planning—and why that’s exactly when you need it most.

Let me be blunt:
Failing to plan is planning to fail. I know that. You know that. But sometimes you live it so deeply, it lights a fire in your blood.

Recently, I was visiting family. I had plans—whale watching for Mother’s Day, Disney trip, kayaking in the marina. I’d been thinking about for two weeks.

I shared the plan.
I checked for interest.
I looked up prices, checked times, found discounts, coordinated the toddler’s schedule…
And when the moment came? Crickets.

“We’ll think about it.”
“Maybe later.”

Non of these activities are maybe later activities.

Whale watching on Mother’s day is a be dressed and out the door by 9 AM activity. And by the time “later” came around, it was too late. Everyone shrugged. The day passed. And hours later, those same people said, “Too bad we didn’t do something fun.”

Cue steam rising from my ears.