Many people believe that if Plan A doesn’t work out it’s great to have a Plan B in your back pocket. When I was growing up, it was important to have a backup plan and if Plan B didn’t work you would go down the alphabet that all the way to down to Plan Z. Plan B can actually be a barrier and hinder your success. You could actually be setting yourself up for failure. Just because you hit some obstacles with Plan A doesn’t mean you automatically have to jump to Plan B or give up on Plan A altogether. This obstacle may be giving you the extra time you need to really think things through and decide how to move forward. It may be challenging you and testing whether or not you truly are as passionate about Plan A as you say you are. This test is one of commitment.

Quit holding yourself hostage from achieving your goals and start being the person you wish to show up as in the world. Plan A is only successful as the actions you take to make it become reality. No action, no results. Plan B becomes the default plan. It is where a person goes when they think that they’re not there to be successful.

Let’s call Plan A your “true goal” or “ultimate outcome”. If you spend time focusing or creating Plan B, you are no longer spending your time and attention on what you really want which is Plan A. Your energy and attention will be focused on creating a successful Plan B should Plan A not work out. Your passion will wane because you will start beginning to think that Plan A is not likely to happen and you will be less motivated to put in the effort to make Plan A become a reality.

You cannot truly build a successful plan a while you are building Plan B at the same time. When your attention and focus are split and therefore you’re not putting in the 100% effort into either plan. In order to succeed, you need to be able to put your full attention and focus on your end goal. Your end goal is your target of what you’re aiming for. When having two plans and two targets, you can lose focus on where you want to put your time and energy and get off track. Eventually, you will see Plan B start gaining some traction. Opportunities and successes will arrive and you will look longingly and Plan A and wonder, “What happened? This is not what I really wanted.”

If you catch yourself spending more time than you thought focused on Plan B, it is time to stop and evaluate where you are. Make a decision to focus on Plan A. You will be motivated and passionate about what you do. Your happiness will be the driver of your actions. Spend your time, attention, and focus on creating the successful Plan A. As you start taking consistent actions toward Plan A, you will notice that Plan B will become an afterthought. Plan B is not a default due to risks or failure. It is another options – the backup should A fail. Why plan for failure? Spend more time planning for your success and what it will mean to you and those it impacts. When you start seeing results, you will be putting, even more, energy into ensuring those results are sustainable and successful. How do I know this? I caught myself focusing on Plan B and I started to see Plan A slip away. I knew if I did not do something soon I would be on the fast track to making Plan B the new Plan A even though it was not what I truly wanted. When I shifted gears and focused on Plan A, results started to occur.

If Plan A is truly what you want, why are you denying yourself? Don’t let anyone talk you out of making Plan A become your reality especially yourself. Go after it and take the steps you need to make it happen. Success may be only an action away!

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com