sharpening the axe

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln

No president had to face as great a challenge as Abraham Lincoln. Never neglect the time and effort necessary for due diligence before action.

Purposes of a plan (USA)

A plan is a systematic and organized approach to achieving specific goals or objectives. In the United States, plans are used in a variety of contexts, including business, government, and non-profit organizations. Some of the main purposes of a plan might include:

  1. Setting goals: A plan can help identify the specific goals or objectives that an organization or individual wants to achieve. This can provide a clear direction and focus for efforts, and allow for better decision-making and resource allocation.
  2. Organizing resources: A plan can help identify and organize the resources that will be needed to achieve the goals or objectives. This might include personnel, materials, equipment, and financial resources.
  3. Coordinating activities: A plan can help coordinate the activities and efforts of different individuals or groups, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals in a coordinated and efficient manner.
  4. Managing risks: A plan

Source: ChatGPT. Question: For Americans what is the purpose of a plan?

someplace else

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

The term Yogi-isms was created to describe Berra’s malapropisms and unintentional witticism. But they’re not just for laughs. As simple as the above statement is, nothing is more true.

Purposes of a plan

A plan is a detailed proposal or scheme for achieving a specific goal. In Germany, as in any other country, a plan can serve a variety of purposes, depending on the context in which it is being used. Some possible purposes of a plan might include:

  • Setting out a clear strategy for achieving a particular objective, such as increasing sales or improving efficiency
  • Providing a roadmap for the implementation of a project or initiative, outlining the steps that need to be taken and the resources that will be required
  • Facilitating communication and coordination among team members or stakeholders by clearly outlining roles and responsibilities
  • Allowing for the tracking of progress towards a goal and making adjustments as needed to ensure that the goal is achieved

Plans can be created for personal, business, or organizational purposes, and can range from simple to-do lists to complex, multi-faceted proposals.

Source: ChatGPT. Question: For Germans what is the purpose of a plan?

Purpose

For the Germans, planning is absolutely crucial for success. A good plan provides structure. It ensures cohesion and stability. Well thought-out planning reduces risk.

Purpose

For Americans a plan is an approach, a way to proceed. A good plan guides people who are collaborating. A good plan keeps them on a path towards a target.

Kant on planning

“Making plans is at times a luxuriant, boastful pursuit of the mind by which one gives oneself an air of creative genius, demanding what one cannot do, criticizing what one cannot do better, and suggesting what one does not know where it is to be found.”

“Pläne machen ist mehrmalen eine üppige, prahlerische Geistesbeschäftigung, dadurch man sich ein Ansehen von schöpferischem Genie gibt, indem man fordert, was man selbst nicht leisten, tadelt, was man doch nicht besser machen kann, und vorschlägt, wovon man selbst nicht weiß, wo es zu finden ist.”

Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804), German philosopher.

“more tense the nerves”

“Je gedehnter das Vorhaben, desto gespannter die Nerven.” Translation: The longer the project, the more tense the nerves.

Daniel Mühlemann (born 1959), nature photographer, aphorist and translator.

“also forgiven”

“Entworfen bloß, ists ein gemeiner Frevel, Vollführt, ists ein unsterblich Unternehmen; Und wenn es glückt, so ist es auch verziehn.”

Translation: “Just designed, it’s a common sacrilege. Completed, it’s an immortal enterprise. And if it succeeds, then it is also forgiven.”

Friedrich von Schiller (1759 – 1805), German physician, poet, philosopher and historian; is considered one of the most important German-speaking playwrights and poets.

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