Sticking to your plan can lead to a happy ending. Most people develop a plan when they start out in business. The plan is based on information they have gained from research through reading, observing, and talking to others. One compiles the plan on paper and it becomes a map of where you want to go. Many people discard the plan when they encounter adversity or when someone tells them they have it all wrong.

A sporting event this year watched by over 100 million people provided a great example of a team that had a plan and stuck to it. The New England Patriots were behind 21-3 at halftime of the 2018 Super Bowl. The 3rd quarter brought more of the same and with less than 3 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter the score stood at 28-3 in favor of the Atlanta Falcons. Was panic setting in? What needed to be changed immediately to get the Patriots back on course?

The Patriots had confidence that their plan was correct. They just needed to be patient a little bit longer and things would work out. The belief that their approach was right gave them confidence. That confidence translated into momentum gradually turning in their direction. Slowly but surely what they expected to occur began happening. 28-3 became 28-9 then 28-12 then 28-20 then 28-28 and finally, a 34-28 victory.

It all started with a plan and the confidence that eventually that well thought out plan would yield success.

Remember don’t ever quit until the game is over as you never know when one more try may yield to a successful outcome.