P-F-N

Every fork in the road breaths opportunity into your future decisions in life. When presented with options we weigh out the possibilities of the outcome. We plan so that we can justify risk verses reward and yet when we plan unforeseen difficulties are sure to arise.

“Good.” – Joko Willink

If you search for Joko’s speech on the word good you recognize that his understanding of the word is opportunity. He speaks about how circumstances out of one’s control shall be met with the response… Good!

Joko speaks on how if your first thought when dealing with something difficult or unplanned is good then you are setting yourself up for adaption instead of defeat. This is no positive outlook it is simply matter of fact. Adapting is necessary for survival.

Seeing life through a positive filter isn’t an issue to begin with of course, and yet in life there are plenty of times where you are met with a problem that is hard to spin into positivity. In time the positive perspective will come if you are looking for it. Everything will have its silver lining. Yet in the midst of tribulations sometimes a matter of fact attitude towards solutions is often a very solid first step…

So say it with me. GOOD.

I know what you may be thinking… “Would we be able to plan ahead and avoid possible difficulties?”

Yes and no due to the fact that even the best strategists and tacticians have to deal with random occurrences on the fly. From CEOs dealing with stock shared dropping, Chris Rock keeping composure after getting slapped or the surprise of a flat tire during a roadtrip; we must still respond with effective composure.

Man Plans, And God Laughs…

This old Yiddish saying explains to us that we can set our course and have contingencies in place for possible outcomes, but you can only account for so much.

God Laughs because no person can see everything that could get in their way. Instead setting your focus on what can be affected by prep and planning. No plan will ever be truly perfect but you can set your awareness to plan as you go.

P-F-N is how I look at planning anything.

Potential Future Nonsense…

This term is from The Office. Specifically Season 9 Episodes 24 & 25.

The term in the show refers to the manager Dwight’s perspective on efficiency. He states to his fellow workers that the intention of coming to work is that of avoiding anything that could derail the success of the company.

Silly jokes that divert attention to the topic at hand, any pranking or shenanigans that may occur must be eliminated.

Dwight of course still falls prey to the shenanigans of his assistant to the manager Jim, but like in life we plan and God laughs.

In the show this group intention of avoiding Potential Future Nonsense is exactly why the team lead by Dwight become and sustain a very lucrative branch of the company.

Sometimes we have to adapt, Sometimes we plan and it falls apart, Sometimes the plans fall into place like well place dominos, And sometimes the troubles of life fall on us like a building in a massive earthquake.

Though when all is lost…

Good!

Then we can try again and learning from the mistakes.

Take stock of when you have failed, Take notice of what went wrong in an objective manner, And set yourself up for success by eliminating any PFN before setting you plans in place.

This is all anyone can ask of you and with this outlook on issues success and more importantly fulfillment will be close by.