{"id":402,"date":"2020-10-07T21:46:30","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T21:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enlightadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=402"},"modified":"2020-10-07T21:46:30","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T21:46:30","slug":"weve-never-had-a-crystal-ball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enlightadvisors.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/07\/weve-never-had-a-crystal-ball\/","title":{"rendered":"We’ve never had a crystal ball"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Shoes<\/a>I hear lots of noise about planning in times of uncertainty… <\/span><\/p>\n

My first question is:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When were things ever certain?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The moment we convince ourselves that our business, our industry, our life are static and certain, we\u2019re toast. \u00a0 Static plans designed for a dynamic world are bound to crash and burn.\u00a0 And, while current times seem especially dynamic, the truth is: the world is dynamic.\u00a0 Always has been.<\/span><\/p>\n

The real challenge isn\u2019t planning for uncertainty, it\u2019s planning for reality.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One gift of the pandemic is that it has disabused us of the notion of certainty.\u00a0 Uncertainty is now explicit…in our plans, in our business, heck in pretty much all parts of life.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

You may be hearing:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t fill that position…there may be no job in six months.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t budget…we don\u2019t know what next year will be like.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t launch new products…we don\u2019t know if people will buy them.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here\u2019s the truth:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WE\u2019VE NEVER BEEN CERTAIN OF THE FUTURE.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Seriously.\u00a0 Never.\u00a0 But we went around making job offers, approving budgets and launching products anyway.\u00a0 I guess we were ignorant about the inherent uncertainty.\u00a0 And, our ignorance was bliss.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, how DO you plan for reality?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \n
    Start with Strategy.\u00a0 <\/b><\/h5>\n

    Boil it down to its purest form.\u00a0 How can you deliver what your customers value in a way that is financially sustainable for your business?\u00a0 Write it down and make sure your teams are aligned.<\/span><\/li>\n

  2. \n
    Rightsize the Timeframe.<\/b><\/h5>\n

    Plan for a time period where you can see the horizon.\u00a0 Depending on the situation, you may be looking quarterly, monthly, weekly – or even according to certain milestones – COVID opening phases, for example – that don\u2019t match a calendar.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n

  3. \n
    Craft an Operating Plan.<\/b><\/h5>\n

    Translate your strategy into specific actions over your rightsized timeframe. The plan should be simple, consider current events and include all departments\/operating units.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n

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