--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the army we are drilled into execution…" description: "\"In the army we are drilled into execution and then supervision, to make sure everything goes the way you planned it. But there is another thing that we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/colin-powell-691_army_in-the-army-we-are-drilled-into-executio_3011331.jpg" --- # In the army we are drilled into execution and then… ![“In the army we are drilled into execution and then supervision, to make sure everything goes the way you planned it. But there is another thing that we do in the military, that I think perhaps isn't done enough in corporate life: As soon as you have made that decision, you start on the contingency…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/colin-powell-691_army_in-the-army-we-are-drilled-into-executio_3011331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/colin-powell-691_army_in-the-army-we-are-drilled-into-executio_3011331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/colin-powell-691_army_in-the-army-we-are-drilled-into-executio_3011331.jpg) > “In the army we are drilled into execution and then supervision, to make sure everything goes the way you planned it. But there is another thing that we do in the military, that I think perhaps isn't done enough in corporate life: As soon as you have made that decision, you start on the contingency planning. Because there is, as we like to say, a thinking, breathing enemy out there, who is not going to let you do just what you want.” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Military planning includes contingency for unpredictable threats, a practice lacking in business **In simple terms:** Prepare for unexpected challenges through contingency planning Key Takeaway Always have a backup plan for unforeseen obstacles Themes strategy military contingency risk management Mood strategic pragmatic Type military business When to use this quote - project management - business strategy - crisis response - risk assessment Key Concepts leadership decision making organizational resilience planning Questions to Reflect On - How much contingency is too much? - When should flexibility override strict plans? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle agility and innovation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Supervision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supervision/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) ## Related quotes > [I'm pretty actively involved with the military because I think they're incredible human beings. 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The government have overall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lemass/rte-was-set-up-by-legislation-as-an-instrument-of-public-policy-and/) Sean Lemass > [A convention was drawn up on June 17, 1925, in which the principle of supervision, as opposed to that of simple propaganda, was recognized,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-jouhaux/a-convention-was-drawn-up-on-june-17-1925-in-which-the-principle-of/) [Leon Jouhaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-jouhaux/) > [After an inferior man has been taught a doctrine of superiority he will remain as inferior as he was before his lesson. He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/after-an-inferior-man-has-been-taught-a-doctrine-of-superiority-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I think it's important to remember that music supervision is not just about a fantastic record collection or knowledge of music, although that certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-patsavas/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-that-music-supervision-is-not-just/) [Alexandra Patsavas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-patsavas/) > [Kids should be taught about sex, sex hygiene and contraceptive methods starting in the sixth grade, and whenever they want to try it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/kids-should-be-taught-about-sex-sex-hygiene-and-contraceptive-methods/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. 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It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. 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