A Goal Without a Plan Is Just a Wish

On Friday, November 14th, I was watching The News Hour on PBS. Paul Solman who reports on many of the financial news stories, did a piece on the steady decline and impending demise of casinos in Atlantic City. He illuminated the dire effects that the loss of employment is having for the thousands and thousands of people who are employed by that industry – loss of wages, loss of health insurance, loss of retirement benefits. Just terrible.

He interviewed the mayor of Atlantic City who explained the history of casinos in his fair city and the ups and downs it has experienced through the years. No matter what happened during the downturns, however, AC could always be counted on to pop back up again because it (and Las Vegas) had the monopoly on gambling. No more. He went on to talk about his goals to bring Atlantic City back to its former glory.

To lighten up the report, Solman pretended to put a coin in one of those boardwalk fortune teller booths that dot the walkway, and the exotically clad moving manikin named Izabella declared: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Wow.

I shared this quote with my niece, who had heard the expression as: “A goal without a plan is just a dream.” This idiom was new to me and it really struck a chord for several reasons:

1. I had recently reached a point where I knew I needed to get myself on a healthier nutritional and exercising path, so I consulted with my niece, who is a transformational coach focusing on health and wellness. Her passion for helping people understand the chemistry of nutrition and exercise while making it fun and exciting is truly inspirational. I watched her turn her own life around and then dedicate herself to helping others do the same.

She helped me create a practical plan and is helping me stick to it. Have you ever heard the expression: “When you make a promise to yourself, you hold a fool accountable?” I knew without her coaching, I would stay on course for a little while and then slowly veer back to my comfort zone. Having her hold your feet to the fire, encourage and support you, and help you adjust and adapt the plan so that it’s practical and doable is key.

2. Working with her reminded me that as mediators, this is one of the many roles we take on with our clients. We assist them in mapping out a strategy for a successful process of separation, and guide them as they figure out how to implement it.

So as I coach, I am being coached. Izabella would be proud.

Comments from Social Media

Good for you for walking your talk! I wish you the best with your plan and reaching your goal. 

Carolann Mazza

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The end of your last paragraph contained the real key to success. A goal without a plan is just a wish, a plan without implementation is just another book on the shelf. My greatest frustration in the last 25 years has been customers who spend thousands of dollars for a detailed financial plan and then refuse assistance in implementing the plan. Many come back a few yeas later to start over again. You’ll notice I called these people customers. Customers because they bought a product and put it on the shelf. I failed to convert that “customer” into a “client” who bought into the long range relationship to develop, implement, and review their plan. Implementation and management of a plan is hard work and the greatest success comes with a team approach of lawyers, advisors, and counselors. 

Susan and Bill Morris

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I love the expression and its implications. A goal without a plan is just a wish (or a dream). A good question to pose to clients.

Shannon Fitzpatrick

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