A week ago I decided that I was tired of staring at the same furniture in the same position in our living room. So, clever as I am, I decided to round up all the resources I could find (Dad and siblings) to move some items around to create the illusion that we bought new furniture. I conveyed the new layout verbally to my ‘reluctant volunteers’ and after many minutes, finally convinced them.

About 15 minutes into ‘the big move’, my siblings and I realised that this new layout was a designer’s nightmare. We (read ‘I’), neglected the very first step of any project: planning.

Instead of designing the room on paper I decided that my head was good enough. Instead of listing all the design dilemmas (project risks) and ways to mitigate them, I decided to deal with them as they came along.

I’m the first to admit that planning isn’t fun, but it is a necessity. And unfortunately, even in business this is the first phase where we attempt to cut corners. If nothing else, just remember this: “Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.” (Tom Landry).

By Jeanne Fredericks