When I think of the effect of failing to plan, I recall the story of a farmer who set out to plow the south forty one spring morning. Although this was an important job, he didn’t develop a plan of exactly what needed to be done or how he was going to accomplish it.

He had started out early to oil his tractor, and found he needed more oil, so he went to the shed to get it. On the way to the shed, he noticed that the pigs had not been fed. This sent him to the corn crib, where he saw some sacks. That reminded him that the potatoes were sprouting, so he started for the potato pit. As he passed the woodpile he remembered that his wife wanted some wood for the house.

While he was picking up sticks, he spotted a chicken that was ailing, so he dropped the wood and went to its aid. When evening arrived, the tractor was still in the barn and the south forty was still unplowed. The poor farmer had worked hard all day, but he hadn’t accomplished the main thing he had to do that day.