Maybe in the mid–1700s, flying a kite with a key on the string during a thunderstorm seemed like a good plan.

At least he had a plan. You’ve got to love Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

If I were you, I’d listen to that dude. Things worked out pretty well for him, and we’re still talking about him nearly 300 years later.

Do You Have a Plan for 2014?

I’ve always put together a plan for the year. Mostly, things have turned out differently than planned. I’ve always had to modify the plan at some point during the year. Circumstances change, people come and go, the market works differently, and we get new ideas. It’s hard to stick to the plan.

I’m tempted not to plan.

I’ve watched the plans change so many times, I’m tempted to just fly by the seat of my pants. It feels like planning is often a waste of time.

But I’m doing it anyway. I’ve come up with my 2014 plan, and now I’m making it happen. I’ve decided that a flawed plan is better than no plan at all. I’ll change it as we go. I’ll know where I’m headed, generally, even if I have to alter the course.

I figure that I should listen to Benjamin Franklin. I’m going to do what he says and see whether lightning strikes.