In our journey through challenges and uncertainties, we often hear the advice, “Have a Plan B, a backup Plan.” Some even have a backup Plan for another backup Plan. After all, the notion of a Plan B provides comfort and security, as it seems to act as a safety net to fall back on, in case the primary Plan A doesn’t work out.
But what if I told you that, having a Plan B is lethal to the success of your Plan A? What if I told you that many times, NOT having a Plan B can be a strategic advantage to boost the success of Plan A? History is replete with examples of individuals, who focussed solely on Plan A and transformed adversity into achievement.
In this article, we’ll explore how thrashing Plan B becomes the right choice, to unlock your full potential and achieve remarkable success.
Trashing Plan B was Alexander’s renowned Strategy
In the year 334 BC, Alexander the Great made a big decision. He wanted to take over the powerful Persian Empire in Asia. He gathered his soldiers and sailed across the ocean, on a big journey to confront the Persian king, Darius III.
As Alexander’s fleet reached Persian shores, he realized the extent of the enormous challenge. The Persian soldiers stretched out before him, each ready to counterattack.
At that moment, as his soldiers disembarked from their ships, Alexander announced a decision that shocked everyone. He said, “We are here to fight the mightiest Persian empire. There is neither retreat nor turning back. Victory is our sole option.” With resolute determination, Alexander ordered his men – “Set all their ships on fire, leaving behind the unusable, broken ships.” The dazed soldiers forcefully obeyed the order.
This bizarre act sent shockwaves to his army and signalled that there was no Plan B or escape route. It was a self-declaration, for everyone to be fully committed to their mission. They would either conquer the Persian Empire or meet their death on Persian shores.
Alexander’s army fought with unparalleled determination, knowing that their mere path to survival was through victory. The battle was fierce. This unwavering commitment led to a stunning victory against the Persian forces.
The story of Alexander the Great, the king who burnt his ships, remains a powerful testament of strategic brilliance and unwavering commitment, towards a single, sole goal. There was just Plan A and no Plan B.
The greatest advantage of NOT having Plan B
Total Commitment towards the ONLY PLAN (Plan A)
Picture yourself as a new artist, strongly wanting to become famous in the tough world of painting. You have two options: Plan A is to pursue your art full-time, pouring your heart and soul into your work. Plan B is to keep your office job as a fallback.
With Plan B in place, you principally divide your energy, focus and commitment. You find yourself torn between the comfort of a steady paycheck and the dream of becoming a renowned artist. Knowing you have a fallback option will subconsciously reduce your dedication and creativity. Ultimately, your art might never see the potential best version.
However, when you choose to trash Plan B and commit wholeheartedly to Plan A, something remarkable happens. Your passion ignites, and you’re driven to make your art a masterpiece. You pour countless hours into your work, attend art exhibitions, and network with fellow artists. Without the safety net of your office job, you’re all in. This heightened commitment elevates your chances of success in the art world, and your dedication shines through your creations.
By eliminating your backup Plan, you drive yourself to go all-in on Plan A, increasing your chances of success.
Increased Resource Allocation and channelised energy
Imagine you’re a seasoned project manager, currently managing a stable project. Now, you receive an exciting offer- the opportunity to lead a high-stakes, strategically crucial, product launch.
The impact of the novel project is undeniable, but it also comes with high risks. So, you feel tempted to cling to your stable project as a safety net, as your Plan B. The logic is simple: if the new project falters, you can return to your smooth project. However, this dual-focus approach leads to resource allocation problems.
When you have a Plan B, your time, money, effort, and resources are thinly spread across both objectives. Consequently, progress on both projects, will slow down, and the risk of delivering subpar results is clear.
Now, picture an alternative strategy: discarding Plan B and committing wholeheartedly to the new project. You strategically assign your top talents, dedicate necessary resources, and foster a focused, efficient work environment, resulting in unparalleled outcomes.
This channelized focus can generate dedicated energy that becomes impossible when you divide your attention among multiple pursuits. By eliminating Plan B, you free up those resources to be fully committed to your primary goal, giving it the best chance to thrive & succeed.
Creative Problem solving
Not having a Plan B will encourage creative problem-solving. When you remove the safety net of a Plan B, and when failure isn’t an option, you’re left with no choice but to find solutions to the challenges you encounter.
Your mind gets more resourceful, creative, and innovative, leading to unconventional solutions. This leads to creative problem-solving, and unique strategies to overcome difficulties. The urgency of a situation, coupled with the absence of a fallback Plan, can stimulate creativity, and push you to think outside the box.
Resilience and Perseverance
The path to success is rarely smooth. It’s often fraught with distress, challenges, and setbacks. However, these hurdles are essential for robust personal growth and character development.
Perseverance in the face of adversity is another key advantage of not having a Plan B. When you commit to a single Plan A, you are often forced to confront and overcome obstacles head-on. It plays as a catalyst for personal growth & successful life. Trashing Plan B forces you to dig deep and find the resilience to overcome adversity.
Entrepreneurs, Successful managers, Great leaders, and Brave hearts, who plunge into the unknown, are essentially saying NO to Plan B. They frame all the required time, energy, and resources into one single idea and nothing else. Unwavering commitment & clear focus provides them with the resilience and perseverance needed to continue moving forward.
Having a Plan B acts as a safety net dilutes determination and makes you complacent.
Some Exemplary Icons, who chose NOT to have Plan B
History is replete with examples of many iconic figures who achieved greatness, precisely because they didn’t have a Plan B to fall back on. Their unwavering commitment pushed them to achieve what others deemed impossible.
Let’s see some examples of, those who did not have a Plan B, and solely focussed on Plan A.
J.K. Rowling:
Rowling, before becoming one of the world’s best-selling authors, faced humiliation for her Harry Potter manuscript. She faced numerous rejections. She persisted with her writing, even when she didn’t have a backup Plan, and her perseverance eventually led to literary stardom. Had she possessed a Plan B, the world might never have known the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
Amelia Earhart:
Amelia flew solo, across the vast Atlantic Ocean. She didn’t have a backup plan for her daring journey. No safety net, just she and her plane against the endless sea and sky. The weather wasn’t always on her side, and the plane didn’t have all the fancy gadgets we have today. It was like navigating through a stormy sea of uncertainty. But guess what? Amelia had an unbreakable determination. She became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
Jeff Bezos:
Jeff, the founder of Amazon, had the idea of starting an online bookstore. All this when the internet was in its infancy. He believed in this idea and poured all his money, energy & focus into this sole project. There was no backing out, no Plan B. Today, Amazon is one of the biggest online stores in the world. It all started because Jeff had one big idea and wasn’t afraid to chase it.
Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal
In the early 2000s, Sachin & Binny co-founded Flipkart. They faced logistical hurdles, regulatory challenges, fierce competition, and many others. But without a Plan B & their unwavering commitment to transforming India’s retail landscape, kept them going. Today, Flipkart is a testimony of huge success.
ISRO’s Mangalyaan
ISRO embarked on the mission to Mars, which many other space agencies had failed. The absence of a backup Plan meant that ISRO had to address challenges creatively and innovative. They had to innovate cost-effective solutions. The outcome was an accomplishment, that not only touched Mars successfully but also did it with much less money than what other space agencies spent on similar missions.
Similarly, there are so many examples like Infosys, Chandrayaan, OYO, Paytm, Zomato, Ola etc
In the current context, where stability and precaution hold immense importance, these stories of risk-takers and visionaries stand as inspiring examples of the extraordinary potential that can be unlocked by NOT having a Plan B.
Exceptions for this Argument, of not having Plan B
Financial Matters
In financial affairs, having a Plan B, such as savings or investments, is a matter of financial stability. It can provide a safety net & fall-back option during emergencies and cover unexpected expenses.
Thus, in the wealth management, investment & insurance world, one needs to be cautious about not putting all money in one stock or one asset class. It needs careful assessment, strategic diversification of funds and appropriate backup Plans.
Health, Well-being, and Life-critical sectors
Medical emergencies and unexpected health challenges can disrupt even the most well-laid Plans. Personal health issues or medical conditions may require individuals to have a safety net in place. So, this is another situation, which needs a Plan B.
Plan B is often a responsible approach, especially when there are dependents or financial responsibilities involved. It can protect one’s family and loved ones from the adverse consequences of a failed endeavour.
Word of caution:
DO NOT mistake making a Plan B, for not having effective risk management of Plan A. Plan B, should NOT be viewed as a mechanism to substitute risk management in Plan A.
Also, don’t confuse having different pathways/options to achieve Plan A with having Plan B. Options merely mean what are the other ways to move around, and effectively achieve Plan A. However, Plan B is a completely different destination and could be in a different direction altogether than that of Plan A.
Conclusion
In a world of uncertainties, tough competition and challenges, the majority often advise, to have safety nets and fallback options. But remember, it might seem safe, but it’s not effective. Because each of your fall-back Plans demands equal attention & focus.
What is the use of having backout Plans (Plan B, Plan C), that haven’t got enough attention, that haven’t been tested fully, that cannot be relied upon, that cannot be used when it’s required? What’s the use of airbags, if they don’t open during an accident?
So, if Plan B is to be relied upon, it takes equal effort, energy & resources, as that of Plan A. Also, the higher number of fallback Plans signals the lesser confidence you have in each of your Plans.
The path less travelled the one without a Plan B, can lead to extraordinary achievements. Dedicating fully to one goal can give you a strong push to think of new ideas, become tougher and achieve great success. It’s about channelling all your energy, resources, and creativity into your primary goal.
Having one bird secured, is much better than chasing two in the wild. The journey without Plan B is daunting, but it’s a bold step towards realizing your full potential.
So, DARE to trash Plan B and watch your Plan A soaring to new heights, unlocking opportunities, and achieving success.
