Of course there is no such thing as a perfect plan. Nothing in business, on the sports field or in real life ever goes exactly as planned. However the opposite approach, which is no plan at all, is generally a bad idea.

You may not quite go where intended but at least a direction has been set by a plan and the energies of the people participating can be directed more efficiently towards a common goal.

The alternative is lots of individuals running around like two teams of five year old football players all swarming round the ball with lots of energy and intent, but no structure or vision. The chances of scoring a goal or achieving any kind of agreed aim in such chaotic circumstances are at best haphazard.

And if such a  team comes up against organised opposition who move around and pass the ball, to continue the footballing analogy, the resulting loss is inevitable.

One of the real truths of life is that things will not always go as planned or anticipated. Things will go wrong and sometimes with a certain depressing  inevitability. The army saying "What can go wrong will go wrong" applies just as much in a business context. You win a fantastic contract and then fail to deliver. Your fabulous new product fails to attract the sales it should.

However it is not the fact that things go wrong that matters - they will anyway. It is what we as individuals or as a business team do in this situation that really counts. Any problem provides some opportunity. Even if you lose your job this may be a chance for a successful career change. Turning around a troublesome contract or product provides immense challenges but also scope to grow a business and impress a customer. It is also a learning experience to build on and avoid doing again. So don't cry over spilled milk - work the crisis and turn it to advantage.