Most plans fail.
When they do, your next few steps are critical.
Here's how to effectively diagnose, course correct, and get back on track after a plan gone wrong.
Thread 👇
When they do, your next few steps are critical.
Here's how to effectively diagnose, course correct, and get back on track after a plan gone wrong.
Thread 👇
The truth is, we fail a lot.
But what sets successful people apart is their ability to figure out what when wrong & how to fix it next time around.
Next time you hit a brick wall, here's what to do.
But what sets successful people apart is their ability to figure out what when wrong & how to fix it next time around.
Next time you hit a brick wall, here's what to do.
0 - Keep moving
"When Plan A fails, remember there are 25 more letters" — Chris Guillebeau
As an entrepreneur, failure is part of the game.
We know this by now.
But no matter how many times we hear "fail fast, fail often" or "fail up," the emotional blow still hurts.
"When Plan A fails, remember there are 25 more letters" — Chris Guillebeau
As an entrepreneur, failure is part of the game.
We know this by now.
But no matter how many times we hear "fail fast, fail often" or "fail up," the emotional blow still hurts.
The truth is, it sucks to fail.
And it's going to hurt.
Take a moment to mourn your losses and then get back to work.
And it's going to hurt.
Take a moment to mourn your losses and then get back to work.
1 - Plan? Or execution?
The first —and most common— mistake is assuming that the flaw lies within your plan.
In the 12 Week Year, Brian Moran says that 60% of the time the breakdown is in our execution of the plan, not the plan itself.
The first —and most common— mistake is assuming that the flaw lies within your plan.
In the 12 Week Year, Brian Moran says that 60% of the time the breakdown is in our execution of the plan, not the plan itself.
“Having a way to measure your execution is critical because it allows you to pinpoint breakdowns...”
Performance tracking is essential.
If you're not measuring how well you are executing your plan, there's no way to know if your plan is even broken.
Step 1 > start tracking.
Performance tracking is essential.
If you're not measuring how well you are executing your plan, there's no way to know if your plan is even broken.
Step 1 > start tracking.
2 - Understand the assumptions
If your execution is solid, then it's time to look at the plan itself.
In The Lean Startup, author Eric Ries points out that all plans are based on a foundation of assumptions.
If your execution is solid, then it's time to look at the plan itself.
In The Lean Startup, author Eric Ries points out that all plans are based on a foundation of assumptions.
When a plan goes wrong, it's likely evidence that one of your assumptions is flawed.
Define the set of assumptions behind your plan explicitly:
"I assume X is true, so I will do Y"
Acknowledging them in their raw form will likely shed light on things you may have overlooked
Define the set of assumptions behind your plan explicitly:
"I assume X is true, so I will do Y"
Acknowledging them in their raw form will likely shed light on things you may have overlooked
3 - Review your results
Even failed plans have results.
These results —and any accompanying data— contain clues that will give you insight into which of your assumptions fell through.
Your job is to uncover those clues and to determine which assumptions need to be revisited.
Even failed plans have results.
These results —and any accompanying data— contain clues that will give you insight into which of your assumptions fell through.
Your job is to uncover those clues and to determine which assumptions need to be revisited.
4 - Don't plan, experiment.
Reframe future plans as experiments.
When we do this, failures hurt less & our likelihood of perseverance goes up.
"Surprisingly, the minute I thought of these as experiments... I felt immediate relief," says Ex-NASA engineer Matthew Cornell.
Reframe future plans as experiments.
When we do this, failures hurt less & our likelihood of perseverance goes up.
"Surprisingly, the minute I thought of these as experiments... I felt immediate relief," says Ex-NASA engineer Matthew Cornell.
Experiments are expected to fail.
It's the basis of the scientific method, after all.
But don't just design 1 experiment —design 10.
Having a backlog will lighten the blow of future failure and create a seamless transition to the next phase.
Maintain your momentum.
It's the basis of the scientific method, after all.
But don't just design 1 experiment —design 10.
Having a backlog will lighten the blow of future failure and create a seamless transition to the next phase.
Maintain your momentum.
Ultimately, failure is part of the game, but it doesn't have to be the end of it.
Make these adjustments to your process now and you will be far more likely to persist through setbacks and ultimately reach your goal.
Make these adjustments to your process now and you will be far more likely to persist through setbacks and ultimately reach your goal.
Working alone is hard.
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For tweets on productivity & achievement frameworks for freelancers, indiehackers, and soloprenuers, follow me:
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