Hope Informs and Inspires Strategy

You've probably heard some form of "hope for the best and expect the worst." That sounds like a sure way to become schizophrenic.*

Others have taught something like,  "hope for the best and nothing bad will ever happen." This is akin to thinking a five-year old would make a good pilot.

Keeping a hopeful, faith-filled attitude doesn't eliminate the need to prepare. Rather it requires us to prepare for multiple outcomes.

Multiple outcomes?

• If your engine dies, name three ways you can you fix it for under $500?
• What if your A/C or furnace ceases to work? What could you do to fix it for free?
• Your roof is disrepair. How can you replace it for 60% the going rate?
• If you lost your main source of income today, how fast could you replace it with more income?
• Your tax refund is $5,000. What are two ways to spend invest it for your family's future?

Great lawyers, detectives, athletes, pilots, and parents know that praying and expecting the best is vital. But inherent in our hope is the imperative to plan for all outcomes, both good and bad.

(Photo courtesy freedigitalphotos.net)

*Original post from 2012 TT archives under different title)