Enabling Opportunities

"As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Which of the following is more likely to produce the best outcome -- randomness or organized plans?  Or is there something in between that is best?  Let's reflect a bit before arriving at any conclusions...

No matter how small or large, think about the greatest moments, events, accomplishments, and milestones in your life.  Did you follow a "plan" to reach them or did they just "happen?"  Were the best parties you've ever attended, "planned" or did they somehow start spontaneously and turn into something amazing?  Were you looking for your career or did it "present itself" to you?  Are you currently working in the same field for which you studied in college?  What were the circumstances surrounding the first meeting of you and your significant other?  Were you "put together" or was the meeting so random that it almost didn't happen?

The investment advisor and financial planner in me sees the value and importance of plans (i.e. budgets, retirement plans, specific goals); however, the philosopher and dreamer in me feels constrained and limited by "boundaries."

"In the cultivation of the mind, our emphasis should be not on concentration,  but on attention.  Concentration is a process of forcing the mind to narrow down to a point, whereas attention is without frontiers." ~ Krishnamurti

It is quite possible to narrow our attention to the point that we increase the odds of missing those "accidents" in life that are so precious and so few.  I must say that it would be foolish of anyone to expect they will reach a destination, such as a financial goal or a life-long dream, without taking at least some organized steps to get there.  But, since we all must find our own unique path and life is much more "art" than it is "science," it may be equally foolish to follow an organized "plan," especially for long-term goals -- the most important ones in life -- and expect to reach that destination accordingly.  Furthermore, it is quite possible that your ultimate destination will change...

"Plans are worthless.  Planning is essential." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

While planning is important and has the potential to reveal important truths, plans can be misleading.  In other words, planning represents "the journey:"  It is "dynamic" or changing as we grow; it keeps us moving forward and open to the unknown; and it is "art."  A plan represents "a destination:" However, it is "static" or unchanging; it derives only from information which we already know and leaves little or no room for future unknowns; and it is "science."

As you may imagine, I have assembled many financial plans, including those for retirement, cash management, budgets, and specific investment goals, for clients.  I have found that the final "plan" is not nearly as valuable as the actual "planning" itself.  Just the process of organizing the required data and asking the right questions will often place us on the best path for success while, simultaneously, decreasing the need to refer back to the "written plan" for guidance...

"Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey." ~ Unknown Author

So, what is this place to be found between randomness and organized plans?

I believe in "enabling opportunities..."

Perhaps we should view the act of planning as the enabler of opportunities -- a dynamic journey that we should seek -- not a static plan that represents one "destination," which may not even be our "ultimate destination."

The act of planning has its worth and, since life "happens," we must keep our eyes and minds open to opportunities that often come along without our knowing it in advance.  This way, we "enable" the opportunity simply by the act of planning itself.  Planning, which is followed by some form of implementation, must then be followed by monitoring and changing as life changes with it.  Conversely, we must take care not to mistakenly "disable" an opportunity by focusing too intently on "sticking with the plan" without amendment...

What do you think?

I would love to hear any "stories" you may have where "plans" were not as successful as "randomness..."  Even better, do you have any examples of "enabling opportunities," where you engaged in "planning" but did not specifically follow "an organized plan" to reach an ultimate destination?

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Related Post:  Dying to Live

Comments

[Ron]

This was one of your better posts. Really thought provoking... and inspiring.

[The Financial Philosopher]

I'm glad to hear it Ron. Above all, I hope to provoke thought...

Thanks for reading!

Cheers...

[donna]

In my consulting work, I often find companies just want me to hand them a software development plan. They hate it when I actually make them do the work.....

[The Financial Philosopher]

I can relate, Donna. In my investment advisory work, clients want me to tell them what to do and do it for them. They often ask, "Kent, what would YOU do?" They get a bit confused when I tell them to ask themselves, "What would I do?" I then tell them that, if they don't know the answer to that question, we have more work to do...

[Jeremy Welch]

Last year, in its entirety, was a lesson in randomness and planning.

I planned to build a small website for a college group with another Duke student, and ended up founding a technology company. I planned to build the company and take time off from school and ended up leaving the company to stay in school. I then planned to finish school and now I am taking a semester off to work.

In each case, my plan DID take into account all of the available data. It did not take into account the fact that the data changes very rapidly and randomness often throws a wrench into the machine.

[The Financial Philosopher]

Great point, Jeremy. The instant the "plan" is completed, it no longer represents the present and much less the future.

As long as we are on the right path, its direction is not so meaningful. It appears as if you are on the right path and I would add that the "randomness" you mention was integral to placing you where you are now. We should embrace randomness...

It's not wise to make yourself "a leaf in the wind" but is equally unwise to move completely against it...

Thanks for the thoughts...