The Problem with Plan-B

The problem with having a Plan-B is that we often take it.

It's a fall-back plan.

To keep us from failing.

Or so we think.

The problem with falling back to "Plan B" is that we do just that...

We fall back.

Way back.

The actor Will Smith nailed this notion in an an interview:

"There's no reason to have a Plan B because it distracts from Plan A. Being realistic (i.e. having a Plan "B") is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity...it's unrealistic to walk into a room, flip on a switch and have the lights turn on...fortunately, Edison didn't think so."

In last October's Denver Rock and Roll Marathon, there were 2398 finishers.

Yet there were 8957 finishers for the HALF-marathon.

Don't get me wrong, running a half-marathon is indeed no small victory.

It requires a great deal of training and discipline.

But when less than 25% of the Denver MARATHON participants actually run the MARATHON event, I wonder how many people short-changed themselves.

How many took the "realistic Plan-B" option of the half-marathon for fear of failing?

I think taking a "realistic Plan-B" is a strategy of playing aggressive defense.

It's managing the downside.

Instead of reaching for what we really want--and can do.

We play it in our running and in our lives.

All the time.

An aggressive defense chock full of "Plan-B's" will often prevent losing.

The problem is...

It also prevents winning.

AMJ