A takeaway about backup plans

Entrepreneur Chris Guillebeau said, “If Plan A fails, remember you have 25 letters left.” 

Yes, at some point, it’s time to walk away. 

But why not generate a list of inventive, path-expanding options before you do? 

Impending failure casts shadows that hide possibilities. Failure when it comes is bad enough, don’t give it early wins. 

Make a list of zig-zag options until you laugh at how cool or crazy things might turn out to be. If Plan B is boring, remember Guillebeau, and play around with later letters. 

Be a leader who adds creative human spirit, when things are working, and when they aren’t. 

Be a leader who inspires possibilities, even though failure is one of those possibilities. It always is!!! So what??? Don’t let it grab more mental & emotional space than it deserves.  

In a world where almost nothing complex goes to plan, plan to adapt, and plan to enjoy it if you can. 

The Airbnb founders did it in the early days when their business was in trouble. In election season, they cleverly created & sold presidential candidate breakfast cereals -- “Obama O’s” and “Cap’n McCains” -- to keep their venture going. 

Even if Airbnb didn’t work out, what an inventive experience to have, a helluva story to tell, and a worthy way to either go forward, or go out in style. 

It’s energizing to act like there’s an alphabet. 

That’s the takeaway: Be a next-letter leader.