Five Quote by David Heinemeier Hansson
“Planning is not just guessing, it is harmful guessing, because it is a waste of time. All the time you spend doing your five year plan you can use to worry about tomorrow.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2012 podcast with DHH, 2012
Planning that lacks realism becomes wasted effort and creates anxiety about the future.
In simple terms: Bad planning wastes time and creates worry.
Key Takeaway
Focus on actionable short‑term steps.
Themes
planning
productivity
anxiety
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
advice
critical
When to use this quote
- project kickoff
- daily task lists
- strategic reviews
Key Concepts
time management
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance long‑term vision with immediate action?
- What short‑term metrics can guide your planning?
A Different Perspective
May overlook unexpected opportunities and over‑commit resources.
![“I don't believe in making five-year plans. I don't want to say, "Yes, I want to have children in the next five years," because I don't know. I've always known that I'd like to be a mom, but I don't want to live by a schedule. If I [did], I wouldn't be living in the moment.” quote by Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6c/charlize-theron-1430_believe_i-don-t-believe-in-making-five-year-plan_769977.jpg)
![“The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before going in with [Larry] Holmes. That would have made all the difference.” quote by Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d63/gerry-cooney-20863_bigs_the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-m_1534.jpg)
