--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble with many plans is that they…" description: "\"The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the way things are now. To be successful, your personal plan must focus on what you want, not wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/nido-r-qubein-14876_being-successful_the-trouble-with-many-plans-is-that-they_3086991.jpg" --- # The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the… ![“The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the way things are now. To be successful, your personal plan must focus on what you want, not what you have.” quote by Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/nido-r-qubein-14876_being-successful_the-trouble-with-many-plans-is-that-they_3086991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/nido-r-qubein-14876_being-successful_the-trouble-with-many-plans-is-that-they_3086991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/nido-r-qubein-14876_being-successful_the-trouble-with-many-plans-is-that-they_3086991.jpg) > “The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the way things are now. To be successful, your personal plan must focus on what you want, not what you have.” [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Plans should be built around future goals, not current circumstances, to achieve success. **In simple terms:** Plan for future, not present. Key Takeaway Focus on desired outcomes. Themes goal‑setting future planning vision Mood optimistic focused Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - project management Key Concepts Strategic thinking self‑development Questions to Reflect On - What future goal drives you? - How will you adapt if conditions change? A Different Perspective Changing circumstances may disrupt even well‑designed plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) ## Related quotes > [Our military plans should be based on the assumption of unpredictability, rather than on carefully drawn, static models of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/our-military-plans-should-be-based-on-the-assumption-of/) [James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/) > [Every day I get letters from people thanking me for helping them to become successful, whether because of their personal growth or because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/every-day-i-get-letters-from-people-thanking-me-for-helping-them-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I have discovered there are only a handful of good ideas in the whole world. You already know them. You have heard them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/i-have-discovered-there-are-only-a-handful-of-good-ideas-in-the-whole/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“They taught me in the Army to make plans based upon the other guy's capabilities, and not based upon his stated intentions. And an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-morrill/they-taught-me-in-the-army-to-make-plans-based-upon-the-other-guy-s/) Stephen Morrill > [“don't make a business plan before you make a personal plan, a poor mind will only lead to failure, work on yourself first”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anath-lee-wales/don-t-make-a-business-plan-before-you-make-a-personal-plan-a-poor/) [Anath Lee Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anath-lee-wales/) > [I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-would-not-be-opposed-to-devising-a-new-system-of-pensions-in-which/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [Every time you state what you want or believe, you're the first to hear it. It's a message to both you and others about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/every-time-you-state-what-you-want-or-believe-you-re-the-first-to/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I think it's probably, musically, probably the most sophisticated. ("The Woman in White") There's a lot more daring harmony in it than in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-think-it-s-probably-musically-probably-the-most-sophisticated-the/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Everyone has a breaking point, turning point, stress point, the game is permeated with it. The fans don't see it because we make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everyone-has-a-breaking-point-turning-point-stress-point-the-game-is/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [You can't not be a little different from others and be successful for three decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/you-can-t-not-be-a-little-different-from-others-and-be-successful-for/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [You cannot be successful without passion. If you don't love what you're doing, if you don't have passion for it - forget it. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-cannot-be-successful-without-passion-if-you-don-t-love-what-you/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## More by Nido R Qubein > [Good leaders must become what they want their followers to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/good-leaders-must-become-what-they-want-their-followers-to-become/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Some people procrastinate so much that all they can do is run around like firefighters all day - putting out fires that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/some-people-procrastinate-so-much-that-all-they-can-do-is-run-around/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Most of us miss our best opportunities in life because they come to us disguised as work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/most-of-us-miss-our-best-opportunities-in-life-because-they-come-to/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Make education a continuing, never-ending process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/make-education-a-continuing-never-ending-process/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [You can't think your way into acting positively, but you can act your way into thinking positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/you-can-t-think-your-way-into-acting-positively-but-you-can-act-your/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Only when your memories are more important to you than your goals are you old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/only-when-your-memories-are-more-important-to-you-than-your-goals-are/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Make a strong and permanent commitment to invest your talents only in pursuits that deserve your best efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/make-a-strong-and-permanent-commitment-to-invest-your-talents-only-in/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Teaching people skills without giving them a vision for a better future - a vision based on common values - is only training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/teaching-people-skills-without-giving-them-a-vision-for-a-better/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [The time is now, the person is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/the-time-is-now-the-person-is-you/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Motivation without mobilization means only frustration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/motivation-without-mobilization-means-only-frustration/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [The power to affect your future lies within your own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/the-power-to-affect-your-future-lies-within-your-own-hands/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [The organization that can't communicate can't change, and the corporation that can't change is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/the-organization-that-can-t-communicate-can-t-change-and-the/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Goals help you keep in perspective what's really important so you don't spend all of your time doing what seems urgent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/goals-help-you-keep-in-perspective-what-s-really-important-so-you-don/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Achieving your vision doesn't mean you've reached the end of the line. It simply means that you've come to a new starting place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/achieving-your-vision-doesn-t-mean-you-ve-reached-the-end-of-the-line/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [Those who are afraid to fail may not deserve to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/those-who-are-afraid-to-fail-may-not-deserve-to-succeed/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) [Explore all 45 Nido R Qubein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) ## More Being successful quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [You cannot be successful without passion. If you don't love what you're doing, if you don't have passion for it - forget it. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-cannot-be-successful-without-passion-if-you-don-t-love-what-you/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You can't not be a little different from others and be successful for three decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/you-can-t-not-be-a-little-different-from-others-and-be-successful-for/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Everyone has a breaking point, turning point, stress point, the game is permeated with it. The fans don't see it because we make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everyone-has-a-breaking-point-turning-point-stress-point-the-game-is/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/hockey-is-a-unique-sport-in-the-sense-that-you-need-each-and-every/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [There has always been a display of wealth and always will be, until the depression comes, which it always does. And let me tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/there-has-always-been-a-display-of-wealth-and-always-will-be-until/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [There's nobody that wants the president to be successful more than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-clapper/there-s-nobody-that-wants-the-president-to-be-successful-more-than-i/) [James R. Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-clapper/) > [Don't worry about your individual numbers. Worry about the team. If the team is successful, each of you will be successful, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/don-t-worry-about-your-individual-numbers-worry-about-the-team-if-the/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) > [We have to be successful at the cutting-edge industries of the future like Twitter. But we also have always been a country that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-to-be-successful-at-the-cutting-edge-industries-of-the-future/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Also, it's not the mathematical skill that's critical to winning, it's the discipline of being able to stick to the system. There are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blair-hull/also-it-s-not-the-mathematical-skill-that-s-critical-to-winning-it-s/) Blair Hull [Browse all 1,002 Being successful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the way things are now. 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