Putting dates on decisions

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By Dwain Duxson

Putting dates on decisions - Putting dates or timelines on things is fraught with danger, I reckon. Big ticket items, I mean, like the Car companies that says, "we'll phase out all combustion Engines by 2029". I cringe when I hear that. Suddenly, you have a massive goal and a short runway. This can then put the viability of the business at stake as you're putting feel-good outcomes ahead of financial ones. What's wrong with saying, "we're on a mission to phase out the combustion engine." Ah, I feel calmer already....

We can't predict how things are going to go in the future. Markets control outcomes, and we can't control markets. Governments making decisions on the back of set targets when they don't know what the consequences are for people and their livelihoods. We are seeing it play out now with energy. 

Don't get me wrong, planning or setting goals is great, and putting timelines on things can motivate people. I'm not a great planner myself, but I have been taught to and can see the benefits. But I still don't do it well because I believe in doing things on the run and with a slice of gut instinct.

If you want to get from 10,000 to 20,000 acres of Land, set that goal, park it in the back of your brain, and you will work out how to go about it as you go. It will more than likely be lots of little incremental gains. Then one day, you will wake up, and your goal will be achieved. Are you putting dates on your decisions?

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