“Russians don’t take a dump without a plan.”

The Hunt for Red October is one of my favorite movies. Great actors and memorable “One Liners”. Admiral Josh Painter, played by Fred Thompson (RIP), spoke of having a plan! He said, “Russians don’t take a dump without a plan. And senior captains don’t start something this dangerous without having thought the matter through.”

Basically, he was saying that every aspect of our activities of daily living should be guided by planning.

One thing I have noticed over the years, is that people often lose sight of their goals. They have a plan for obtaining those goals, but often they come up short across the board. They get sidetracked by focusing on one specific goal and their need to include every activity of daily living into their life plan falls by the wayside.

For example, completing the purchase of a new home definitely requires a detailed plan, but the oil still needs to be changed in your car, the plants still need to be watered and you must continue to buy groceries. One can ill afford to complete only one plan and forsake all of the other requirements and responsibilities of daily living. It is imperative that we have a balance. Trying to master only one plan, at the expense of all the other plans, is a recipe for disaster. You will find yourself stressed, argumentative and alienating family and friends.

Slow down! Regroup! Make your plan inclusive of every aspect of your activities of daily living. Feed the dog, love your family and remember your friends.