A Plan is a Contract

Recently, my executive coach, Dan Miller, presented me with an interesting challenge. We had just finished a year’s study of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He presented me with a list of all of the key themes we had discussed during the last year, 57 of them in fact. He asked me to pick ONE that was speaking to me at that moment. ONE out of FIFTY-SEVEN!

As I read through the list, there were so many memorable discussions. So many challenging areas to explore. So many questions raised. I couldn’t pick just one! After several minutes, I had it down to three. I thought that was a great accomplishment! But, he wouldn’t let me off the hook. Finally, I settled on “A Plan is a contract between the past, present and future.” Think about that for a minute…”A Plan is a contract between the past, present and future.”

In his Guidebook, Dan describes his use of the word “contract” in this way:

The use of “contract” in my view of planning is that a plan is a mutual exchange between planner, planning, and each of the tenses of time. I'm seeking to illustrate that planning is a much more fluid exercise even in its pre-execution mode. We've all heard the adage that no plan survives execution. I'm suggesting that this give-and-take reality occurs even before execution begins.

He goes on to describe a plan of being made of up things that are “fixed”, unchangeable, unalterable. These are things like the objectives or the principles. The fixes are those things that can and do change during the planning process and the execution of the plan. These might be changes made by the planner or those around her.

Ok, but now what? I picked one. Well, he wasn’t finished yet. His real challenge was for me to journal for 30 days. Reflecting each day on “A Plan is a contract between the past, present and future.” Wow, journal?!!? I had not journaled years. I blog, yes, but that’s different. He went on to explain, he was only looking for a sentence or two, not an entire post each day. He even presented me with a little spiral notebook for jotting my notes. Gee, how could I refuse?

I am not going to force you to read all 30 entries, but I do want to expose a few.

• I tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, some time about the past, I need to be more in the present. Time, no time to be in the present.
• Spent the day with Braxton (my grandson). That focused me on the present!
• Monday: a day full of 1-on-1’s with my team. How can I help them, what do they need from me? We talk about the past (tasks completed), we talk about the future (tasks needing to be done). How do I help them plan and how do we share the contract between Past, Present and Future.
• How do I plan in the present to EXECUTE in the present (author’s note: must have been a busy day!)
• Fixed and fixes. Took a day off work to work on the property. Rained all day. Ugh! Had to adjust the plans!
• Forgotten plans from the past, impact the present and the future.
• Capacity is fixed. Decisions made in the past are impacting plans made for today and tomorrow.
• Plans for the future cannot be made without first correcting issues with the past and its failed plans.
• Friend with cancer. The future is uncertain. How do you have a contract with the future when there may not be one?
• Sometimes contracts with the future put you in situations in the present you did not anticipate. Plans must be adjusted.
• Betrayal. A strong word. Plans were made. What is fixed? What can be changed?
• Education: a contract with the future executed in the present.

As I read back through them, I see more questions than answers. I also see answers that have changed since I first wrote these notes a couple months ago. Some things are clearer. Some things are fuzzier. It strikes me that the sign of a good teacher (or coach) is not one that gives you the answers, they give you the questions and inspire you to ask more as you try to answer them.

A Challenge:

Here is my challenge to you. Collect 40 or 50 “themes”. These could be quotes from books, movies that touched you, verses from the bible (if you are so inclined), memes from the internet, they could be from anywhere. After you compile the list, pick one. That’s right, journal on it every day for the next 30 days. Come back to the post and comment with your thoughts and questions. I dare you! You will not be the same in 30 days if you only give it a try.

Dr. Dan Miller, President and CEO of Historical Solutions, provides executive coaching through “Creative Conversations”. These sessions look at a river of time, a river of the life of an historical figure. As you study that person’s river, you also study your own river of life. It is, in a word, powerful. Each session is broken into three parts. The first segment is a catch up, answering the question, “what’s been going on since last we met?” The answer could be personal, professional or both. The middle segment is spent exploring a period in the life of the historical figure. This could cover a year or several. The final segment...the Paddles. Continuing with the river metaphor, Dan presents three themes (like, “A Plan is a contract between the past, present and future”), a reference to a point in the person’s life, and a question. He looks for an immediate answer. Within a week, he emails you a copy of the presentation and a Guidebook. This is a recap of what you discussed, the Paddles, his thoughts on your answers, and a challenge or question to wrestle with for the following month.

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• Life, Family, Love, Leadership and History:  Rivers of Thought
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