The reason why this text is being published now, at the end of February, is that by this moment, the majority of those who have made New Year’s plans have already given up on them – research shows even up to 90%. Some may have been held by enthusiasm during January; they went on a diet for a bit, enrolled in some sport or seminar, started some new business, all in all, they stuck to their ‚‚firmly‚‚ planned plan for a few weeks. And then, that plan got lost in the routine of everyday life. And so it goes round and round – until next December, when we again set exactly the same goals as last year, forge identical plans and make promises to ourselves that we will actually realize them this time.
How long do these ‚‚circles‚‚ last? Statistics say that the same people plan the same goals and begin their realization every year and within 10 years at least! So every year the same plan, every year a new attempt and all this 10 times.
So how to get to the goal?
One of the possible solutions that has proven to be useful in practice is to design a plan B in parallel with plan A (which normally represents our ‚‚main‚‚ goal). That doesn’t mean we’re giving up on plan A; nor to consider it less important. No. Plan B is there to give us security, a wind behind us and confidence in the event that plan A does not come true ‚‚according to the plan‚‚ or if the circumstances have changed (and it happens often). So plan B is something like a reserve, like a parachute or airbag that we can rely on in case it is difficult for us to strictly adhere to plan A.
In order to see the very essence of the plan B concept and its importance, we will look at the most common mistakes in the steps as well as possible solutions:
1. Most people concentrate on executing plan A and only plan A (they have no plan B). In other words, they shift the center of gravity to one and only one point, which at some point simply bursts due to great pressure. The reason for this ‚‚cracking‚‚ is hidden in a multitude of factors: the human factor (stress, fatigue, illness), then family, friends, colleagues and co-workers (some simply ‚‚retaliate‚‚ or abandon the plan / change their goals / they are no longer interested / they don’t do their part of the job etc.) and then the state of the market (crises, etc.) and of course, finances (implementation of plan A is more expensive than we thought, unforeseen costs appeared, it became more expensive – raw materials for example, etc.).
2. Most people rely on their ‚‚willpower‚‚ telling themselves that this time they will strictly stick to plan A and only plan A and thus show all their strength in action. However, social psychology experiments have proven that the influence of the environment is stronger than our will. In other words: surround yourself with the right people – those who have already achieved what you are striving for.
3. Most people want change immediately. Scientifically, sudden changes do not produce results. The body reacts to every attempt to change because it wants to maintain the existing state. As follows, changes should be introduced gradually.
4. Most people set unrealistic goals for themselves and expect themselves to take huge steps to achieve success. And success is woven from small steps – step by step to create good habits.
5. Most people do not give themselves time to realize what they want. They do not allow their body and mind to get used to new situations. It is advisable not to be strict with yourself and reject unrealistic expectations that from January 1st we will be a new person with high concentration, excellent performance and perfect results. Let’s think and plan for the long term.
6. Most people are not innovative, so ask yourself questions! The human brain loves questions and will give you one or even more answers; what can I do to: achieve my goal, lose weight, increase the number of clients, etc., etc. Sometimes the solution is hidden in something else – neither in A nor in B, but maybe in plan C.
7. Most people focus on the goal (on plan A in this case) trying to ‚‚mirror‚‚ some concept of success that they have in their head, overlooking or ignoring other factors that also affect the outcome (family, health, social etc.). As follows, people who progress are those who approach their goals without much expectation, with a cool head, aware that there are other alternatives and aware that a number of other factors also influence our ‚‚concepts‚‚.
And that’s why, on the way to success, it is preferable not to panic and not grasp at straws. That is the essence of plan B: to provide us with an alternative and relieve us of pressure. And whoever has an alternative, he doesn’t even need a straw.
