end, I still have a plan lined up for getting it done. Unicorn planning is about preparing in a way that works for you.
Here’s the thing. That Unicorn is thoughtful—as in, she’s full of thoughts. If she doesn’t plan—and planning includes writing that plan down!—her brain will be so full of strategies that she won’t ever be able to get anything done. One of the best parts about having a plan is that you can then set your mind at ease. There is so much less to worry about when there is a road map in place. Even if things don’t go as expected, even if all or much of that plan ends up being scrapped, that plan will still serve as a jumping-off point for whatever it is that needs to happen or get done.
Virtually every aspect of life and virtually every person in your life can benefit from planning. That Unicorn likes to feel like she’s in control, rather than drifting through the unknown—that requires planning. How detailed the plan ends up is totally up to you and your comfort level. Maybe it’s just a list. Perhaps it’s a spreadsheet. Maybe it’s a whole notebook with every phone number and address and map. And, likely, it’s different depending on what is being planned for.
Plans change. That Unicorn understands that and is always ready to adjust. She isn’t attached to the plan for its own sake. What she is attached to is getting it done, whatever “it” is. So, if things need to shift, so be it. Of course, That Unicorn is not a pushover. Plans also don’t have to be changed just for the sake of changing them.
That Unicorn stands her ground when she’s confident that her plan is the best option. She doesn’t throw blueprints to the wind just because someone else would prefer to take the reins, especially if that person was nowhere to be found during the planning stages. Non-unicorns like to be the boss of things and think they can do it by winging it. Winging it can work. Planning always works.
Because not everyone is focused on being That Unicorn, flexibility is key. Otherwise, you don’t end up being That Unicorn; you end up being that stick-in-the-mud with no ability to change. Planning serves as the foundation. From that springboard, the situation has to be assessed as things progress. Flexibility means being able to work together with unicorns and non-unicorns and get the job, trip, project, event, or whatever done and done well, without losing your mind or sacrificing the integrity of what needs to get done.
No unicorn is an island. I repeat: no unicorn is an island. Just because you are doing all the prep work doesn’t mean you have to do all of the executing as well. Even if you have to do the work or travel or whatever alone, that doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to the people around you to help you execute your plan.
Call your dog-sitter or ask your neighbor or hire a friend. Trade to-dos with someone else who has a plan of their own with which they could use a hand. One of the most significant issues people have with trying to accomplish something is thinking they have to go it alone. One of the best parts of planning ahead is the fact that you can brainstorm who you can bring in to help you to make things work.
Being That Unicorn is about being self-aware enough to know what you are good at and what you are and are not capable of. Being a good planner is based on that kind of self-awareness. There is no shame in calling in the troops. But it would certainly be a shame to have an entire trip or project or whatever go down the drain because you didn’t pose the very straightforward question: can you give me a hand?
Planning is not about hiding in a hole and making things up when you don’t know how to tackle what’s being presented. The best unicorns are the ones who always know someone who they can reach out to get their questions answered. Having the internet is like having every possible expert at the tip of your fingers. Of course, it also means you have every possible person who thinks he’s an expert at the tip of your fingers. So check your sources and use them wisely.
If you’re planning a trip, reach out to a friend who has done a similar trip recently or seek out recent articles in respected publications, online or in print. Looking for a job, going to (or back to) school, baking a cake, crafting, building something, organizing an event: you name it, there’s help out there.
Planning is about researching. Even something as simple as creating a timeline to get something done can benefit from research. Find out how long specific steps generally take, and you’ll have a much better idea of how to plan your time. The quantity of information available to us can be overwhelming. But, if you use it wisely, it can be the key to virtually any kind of planning.
Sometimes you have to be so flexible that you scrap nearly all of your plan, and, if you’re like me, the thought is terrifying. Having an alternate plan means you don’t have to worry if things go a little sideways.
Those back-up plans don’t have to be as exhaustive as Plan A. A secondary strategy can be as simple as an alternate restaurant or hotel, a second available day or time, a replacement companion or emergency contact—anything that will keep things leading to your end game, even if the path there is an alternate one.
That Unicorn finds comfort in planning, so if planning is making you crazy, you’re going too far. Trust me. Excellent planning (including great Plan B planning) can be about little more than lists. But they are lists that keep your mind from spinning and allow you to use your brainpower for fun stuff instead.
They say you can’t plan for the unexpected. I don’t think that’s entirely true. You might not be able to prepare for the specific issue that might arise, but you can plan how you will respond if something comes up. For example, if something dramatically interrupts the plan, I can also call so-and-so, go to (fill-in-the-blank), reschedule, or the like.
The thing you can always count on is something that you didn’t count on happening, especially if kids or animals or weather or travel are involved. Unless the only thing the plan needs is you, you should be prepared to welcome disaster like an old friend.
When you expect something to throw you off course, it will surprise you how much less it actually does disrupt you. Sure, there are disasters from which there is no recovery. Some plans get obliterated. There are situations where nothing is what it was supposed to be, and all is basically lost. But those things are outliers. That Unicorn is ready for anything short of that.
That Unicorn always remembers that the plan is the means and not the end. It’s that attachment thing again. If you are too attached to the plan, you lose sight of the end game, and you have a far better chance of ending up woefully disappointed. But if you remember that the plan is just a plan, you are sure to fare far better.
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