“Failing to plan is planning to fail”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
This phrase emphasizes that not making plans or preparations is essentially setting oneself up for failure. It highlights the importance of planning ahead to achieve success.
Tone Cautionary and motivational
Where it comes from
Often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the exact origin is unclear. It has been widely used in business and self-help contexts to stress the importance of planning.
Examples
- Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail—let’s outline our strategy before we proceed.
- He learned the hard way that failing to plan is planning to fail when his unprepared presentation fell flat.
- In project management, we abide by the saying ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’ to ensure success.
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