“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
sitting in the shade
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett
good fortune
“Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning.” – Thomas Edison
Definition of Plan
MerriamWebster online states four definitions for the term plan. Duden, the famous German dictionary, offers almost the exact same definitions. We’re interested in the second definition: “a detailed formulation of a program of action.”
1. A drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: such as a top or horizontal view of an object, a large-scale map of a small area.
2. A method for achieving an end, an often customary method of doing something, a detailed formulation of a program of action.
3. An orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective.
4. A detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service), i.e. pension plan.
Fail a lot
“If you take on a lot, you can also fail a lot.” Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“First weigh, then wager.”
A German figure of speech: “Erst wiegs, dann wags.” Translation: First weigh, then wager.
preparing to fail
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
Franklin collected many aphorisms in his Old Farmer’s Almanac. Freeing a country from under the powerful arm of a great power is going to take some planning, which Franklin knew was the first step towards success.
a form of planning
“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.” – Gloria Steinem
power, dominance, coercion
In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (1937), Curley, the boss’s son, tries to intimidate Lennie, a simple-minded but physically strong worker. Curley uses aggressive tactics, verbally attacking Lennie to assert dominance and provoke a reaction. Curley’s approach is all about power, dominance, and coercion. He seeks to establish authority through threats and physical aggression rather than logical arguments or compromise. The emphasis on force, intimidation, and asserting one’s will over others exemplifies a negotiation style focused on power dynamics rather than consensus-building. Not uncommon in the U.S.
Leverage
The American term Leverage conveys the concept of negotiation power and means to exert influence. It is culturally significant because it is consciously used to achieve favorable conditions, such as time pressure, alternatives, or status.