I was a financial planner for the last few decades before I “retired.” That career was a good fit for me and my skills, plus I had the opportunity to help others meet their goals.
I love to plan. I enjoy setting goals, especially big ones. Having a big goal is like being a mountain climber – facing a great mountain – and trying to find the path up. Then I use my creativity to make progress towards achieving my goals.
I know that plans don’t work perfectly, because nothing happens exactly as planned. But having a plan gives me the comfort of having a path to follow and a sense of accomplishment. I can climb that mountain.
All plans are based on assumptions, which are no more than best guesses about the outcomes of actions to be taken. During the pandemic, planning is particularly hazardous because of huge uncertainties.
I have modified my approach. I still set goals and do my planning, but. I am now willing to accept somewhat vaguer descriptions of my goals. I force myself to be more patient and flexible on the timing of achieving my goals. I continue to use innovation and creativity to make progress.
Instead of planning for the long-term future, I am setting shorter-term goals, typically up to a few months. As I make progress, I watch carefully how the results unfold. Then I modify my approach as needed.
It now feels like I am climbing up a number of smaller mountains. When I get to the top of each, I pause to look around. Only then do I realize what the current landscapes are. Afterward I plan out my next few steps.
I continue to plan because I have big goals to achieve. Planning gives me a sense of control over my life. But changing its scope helps to prevent huge anxiety as circumstances change.
Has your scope of planning changed during the pandemic?