OK, we've nearly made it to February. Tomorrow it’s officially Spring (someone please tell the Sun), and I'm on high alert for my first snowdrop spotting of the year.

Yesterday I emailed my people and told them how I’d planned to open the doors to the Do Crew in January, but that I didn’t. It was busy, my gut was telling me to take my cue from nature and pause rather than rush in just because it’s January and my plan said ‘launch in January’.

It got me thinking about this delicate dance we have between solid plans and being flexible.

Like climbing a marketing mountain

An analogy I've often used is one of climbing a mountain. When you set off, you know you want to get to the top, and you probably plot out the best route to get you there. 

But then there are points where you pause for a drink or to take in the scenery, and you assess things. What's my energy like? What's the weather doing? How's the terrain? Do I have enough supplies and the right gear? Am I enjoying myself? 

And then you use this to make a decision on the next best step to get you to your goal.  

This is especially relevant for us small business owners. How often have you been told you must have a rock-solid plan, a five-year strategy, a perfectly mapped-out trajectory. 

And while planning is absolutely vital, I believe our greatest strength lies in our agility. We can change direction quickly. We can adapt to new circumstances. We can pivot when needed. It's what makes us so resilient.

You’re not flaky, you’re smart

Think about it: how many times have you had a brilliant idea, only to realise a few weeks (or even days!) later that it needed tweaking, or a different angle, or maybe even shelving altogether? That's not failure, that's smart business. It's recognising the terrain has changed and adjusting your route accordingly.

The danger comes when our plans become so rigid that we can't, or won't, deviate from them. When the unexpected happens (and let's face it, it always does), we crumble. We feel like we've failed. We beat ourselves up for not sticking to the plan.

But what if we saw planning more like that mountain climb? We have our goal (the summit), and we have a route mapped out. But we also allow ourselves those pauses to check in, to assess, to adjust. Maybe we discover a shortcut, or maybe we need to backtrack a little. Maybe the weather turns and we need to wait it out for a while. That's okay. It doesn't mean we've failed. It just means we're being smart, resourceful, and agile.

So, as you're working on your plans for the year (or even just for the next quarter), remember the mountain. Plan your route, but be prepared to adapt. Embrace your agility. It's one of your superpowers as a small business owner. And don't forget to enjoy the view along the way!