The Power of Plan B

Recently I’ve been asked ‘what if Plan A doesn’t work?’ a lot. Students, clients and friends all wondering about the other options, and wanting to develop and nurture a Plan B.

If this is you, or you are a parent helping a child to focus on their Plan B – stop it!

I know, I know… you have to make money whilst building up Plan A. I know because I have been there… numerous times!

When I was 19 I went to Europe for a few months, and when I came back it was with the intention to work for six months, build up some cash, and head to Australia. Ten years later I was on the plane to Australia; such is the power of Plan B.

In Plan B, real life sensible stuff happens and dreams can be forgotten. The power of Plan B is strong, it woos you with talk of pensions and promotions. You start to live for the weekend, and finally feel that you fit in amongst your peers. As Plan B wraps it’s strong arms around you, you feel secure and protected.

And so, Plan A becomes an unrealistic dream – much like dating Brad Pitt, you resign yourself to the reality that it’s meant for someone else, and it was never really going to be yours anyway (not sure Angelina thought that). Now you’ve grown up and you have a real job. Sometimes Plan B can get your down, but hey, that’s life, it would be the same in any relationship, and this is the one you have with your J.O.B.

Eventually Plan A gets forgotten about... almost completely. Every now and then you wonder what happened to that creative side of you, and you allow yourself to day dream with fond memories. You might even go as far as wondering what life would be like now, and then you smile at your silliness and go back to ‘real’ life.

Plan B has won – you belong to it now. But are you really happy? Are you using your natural talents? Are you passionate and excited about your day ahead?

If you really need a Plan B, just to make enough money, decide what is enough and stick to it, decide how long it will take to get it, work out how you can stay focused on Plan A whilst using Plan B for what it’s intended.

                                                  You have the power – don’t give it to Plan B.

On a final note, if you think it’s too late, and maybe you’ve even found some love in Plan B, you can still find a way to re-ignite your passion in your old plans. Hobbies and projects can be just as fulfilling.

If you don’t like where you are now, change it, but if you kind of do and are having trouble accepting it, now is the time to decide to move on and embrace what you do have.