There is a reason people, especially entrepreneurs, love planning. They love it even more, when it’s big, ambitious and grandiose. That’s because it brings a feeling of control over the complex world we live in. It’s the sense that, if we think hard enough and smart enough, we can overcome uncertainty and ride towards success, no matter what. If only that were true.
Thankfully, I scarcely do long-term plannings anymore. Instead of planning things, I would rather “Zappa” them. That means first, I make sure I have the non-negotiables in place (e.g. due date, scope) and then improvising my way towards the final goal. I first started using this term with my close friends circle after watching an interview with Frank Zappa, where he explained his approach to playing guitar live, which I will paraphrase as, “I have a basic mechanical knowledge of the operation of the instrument and I got an imagination. I know roughly how much time I have to play a solo. Then it’s me, against the laws of nature.” What a beautiful take.
There is really no need, or even much point, in trying to choreograph a multi-month project in detail from the get go. If anything, there are reasons not to delve into a long-term masterplan. It won’t work, unless reality turns out to be really kind to you. Instead, there is immense merit in embracing uncertainty, within the boundaries of constraints. It builds the adaptability, the reflexes and most importantly, the confidence you need to take on actually big projects, where things can and will go sideways in multiple ways and times.
Eventually, it leads to the virtue of the minimum viable product. It is the ability to focus on what matters; the functionality that makes a product what it is meant to be, the time when it should be put out and the level of quality it deserves. It is the ultimate dedication to signal, while treating the space for noise as an opportunity to explore the unknown and at the same time as a safety net for when things go south.
Turns out this is they way I have been working for the past few years, and it has paid off. I used to be really into grandiose planning, too. I still remember my 20-year-old self writing a five-year business plan for our first startup. It was such a joy and such a waste of time and skill at the same time. I am glad those times are behind me.
Instead of planning each new big project, I would rather Zappa it.
