PLANNING RUNS PARALLEL WITH SUCCESS

                                                                - MILAN K SINHA

"Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing". - Thomas Alva Edison.

We all know where there is inadequacy of resources - may it be time, money, energy, goods, minerals, machines or whatever, vis-a-vis its requirement, management of resources comes into play and with management planning runs parallel as an integral component. Planning has been at the core of any big or small projects, particularly in our professional world, where everyone is beset with plethora of assignments to be completed within a time limit and as per the quality specifications. Even in our domestic matters, planning plays an important and comforting role.

Paul "Bear" Bryant, famous football coach asserts this in these words, "Have a plan. Follow the plan, and you'll be surprised how successful you can be. Most people don't have a plan. That's why it's easy to beat most folks".

Interestingly, planning in itself is a unique and thoughtful task which requires lots of inputs as it is regarded as one of the important time and event/task management technique. In fact, it prepares the road map with requisite details for reaching the desired goal. The planning process incorporates various strategies such as organizing, deputizing, supervising, recognizing, rewarding etc. with necessary check and balances to be reviewed periodically in totality.

Moreover, every planning process does have cushion for effecting last minute changes, if at all warranted. It also keeps alternatives ready in case some course correction becomes imperative, because we know absolutely well that every time everything does not go strictly as per the planning due to its dependence on both controllable as well as non-controllable variables.

It is undoubtedly correct to say that perfect planning takes care of unforeseen and unplanned as well, in such a fashion that for onlookers it looks like a very smooth and planned activity. Undoubtedly, planning is basically a proactive and dynamic process full of suspense and certainties, which we all experience and enjoy in our life in varying degrees.

When I thought of writing on this subject, I did plan to share with you two excellent quotes before signing off. Here are those:

"Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true". - Lester Robert Bittel, Author and Management expert.

“Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” - Warren Buffett, American business magnate and investment wizard.

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

          Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published in Patna daily.com

# Do visit my site, milanksinha.com