Why Winging It Will Sink You: The Fatal Flaw of Having No Strategy

One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs, managers, and team members make is thinking that having no plan is somehow a plan. Life gets busy—believe me, I get it. People close to me have faced profound challenges: losing loved ones, dealing with team turnover, welcoming a new baby, becoming caregivers to aging parents, or even navigating the chaos of getting a new puppy. It’s easy to get so caught up in the whirlwind of life that you start pushing important goals to the back burner, assuming that you'll “figure it out later.”

But here's the hard truth: "figuring it out later" rarely happens. Without a clear plan, all you’re doing is drifting, hoping things will magically fall into place. And I hate to break it to you, but they won’t. Whether you realize it or not, no plan means no progress.

Let me tell you what sets the most successful entrepreneurs, managers, and team members apart: they’re the ones who face issues head-on. They don’t ignore problems or hope they’ll disappear with time. They recognize the shortcomings, the lack of progress, and the challenges in front of them—and then they take action.

Now, before you think I’m advocating for perfection or some kind of superhuman work ethic, let me clarify: everyone’s busy. Everyone has a million things going on, both personally and professionally. The key is in understanding that having a plan doesn’t mean you have to solve every problem single-handedly. In fact, many times, it’s not about doing everything yourself—it’s about setting things in motion for the people around you.

Think about it: you have a team. Whether you’re leading it or are part of it, you have people you can lean on. And sometimes, all it takes is you stepping up and creating the roadmap to get from Point A to Point B. You don’t have to implement everything on your own, but by crafting a plan, you give your team direction, focus, and most importantly—motion.

Motion is the key word here. Motion starts with a plan and a decision to act. It’s the catalyst for progress. Without it, you’re just standing still, and standing still is the fastest way to fall behind. People often overcomplicate progress, but it really boils down to this: those who move forward are the ones who have a plan and tackle problems head-on.

Think about the people in your life who seem to get the furthest. They’re not the ones who sit back and wait for things to get easier. They’re the problem-solvers, the ones who create momentum even in the face of adversity. The people who get ahead in life are the ones who refuse to sit on the sidelines when things get hard.

And here’s the big thing many people forget: you’re not alone. You have a team. Sometimes, all your team needs is a little clarity and direction. And it doesn’t take a monumental amount of time to create that plan. If you don’t have time to implement it right now, that’s fine—but at least get the ball rolling. A plan gives your team purpose, and purpose leads to action.

So, stop fooling yourself into thinking that “winging it” will work. It won’t. If you’re serious about making progress—whether in your business, your career, or your personal life—it’s time to stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start with a plan. Because without one, you’ll be left standing still while everyone else moves ahead.