The Epileptic Entrepreneur™

In business, vision is often celebrated as the guiding light that keeps us moving forward. We hear it all the time: “Hold onto your vision. Stay committed to your dream.” And while vision is absolutely necessary—it gives direction, clarity, and purpose—sometimes vision can also deceive us. It can make us believe that the road we’ve mapped out is the only way to reach our destination. But the truth is, not all plans work out the way we hope. Some paths collapse, some detours show up, and sometimes our vision leads us down roads that are much rougher than we imagined. That’s where the importance of having a Plan B becomes not just a good idea, but a survival strategy.

Why Vision Can Be Misleading

Vision, in its purest form, is a picture of success in our minds. We imagine the company we want to build, the product we want to launch, or the impact we want to make. But vision is often idealized—it doesn’t account for market crashes, supply chain issues, competitor moves, or personal setbacks. In our excitement, we might fall into the trap of believing that sheer passion and persistence are enough to bulldoze every obstacle. Unfortunately, reality has a way of humbling us.

For example, you may have envisioned your business thriving by following a certain marketing strategy or building a specific product. But once you get into the market, you might discover that customers don’t respond the way you thought they would. Or worse, you might spend months (or years) pouring resources into a strategy that never takes off. If you cling too tightly to that single vision, it can lead to frustration, burnout, and sometimes even the collapse of the business.

The Power of a Plan B

A Plan B doesn’t mean giving up on your vision—it means having an alternative path to still reach the same destination. It’s about flexibility. It’s about saying, “If this road is blocked, I’ll take another. If this door closes, I’ll find another entry point.” Sometimes Plan B takes you somewhere unexpected, but often that new path reveals opportunities you never could have imagined.

Consider some of the biggest success stories in business history. Many companies didn’t end up succeeding with their original plan. Twitter started as a podcasting platform. YouTube began as a dating site. Slack was born out of a failed gaming company. These weren’t failures—they were pivots. They were Plan Bs that turned out to be even bigger than the original ideas. Had those founders clung stubbornly to their original vision, they might have faded into obscurity. Instead, by embracing flexibility, they achieved more than they ever intended.

Detours Can Lead to Greater Success

Sometimes, the “wrong” path takes you to the right place. When your original plan doesn’t work out, it forces you to think differently, innovate, and create solutions you never would have considered otherwise. These detours can end up stretching your creativity, expanding your market, or even shifting your business into a lane where you have far less competition.

Think of it like hiking up a mountain. You may plan a straight path to the summit, but along the way you hit obstacles—fallen trees, steep cliffs, flooded trails. If you refuse to adapt, you’ll get stuck. But if you’re open to taking side trails, adjusting your route, and maybe even backtracking when needed, you’ll still reach the summit. And along those side trails, you might discover hidden views and experiences you never would have encountered if you stayed rigid.

How to Build a Plan B Without Losing Sight of Your Destination

So, how do you actually build a Plan B without diluting your vision?

1. Define the destination, not just the path.
   Focus on the end goal—what does success look like for you? Maybe it’s financial freedom, industry influence, or solving a specific problem for customers. Once you’re clear on the destination, you’ll be more flexible with how you get there.
2. Identify possible obstacles early.
   Don’t just assume everything will go smoothly. Ask yourself, “What could go wrong?” If one strategy fails, what alternatives can you already prepare in advance?
3. Stay curious about new opportunities.
   Many Plan Bs come from being open-minded. Listen to customer feedback, watch market shifts, and be willing to experiment with new ideas even if they weren’t part of your original blueprint.
4. Separate ego from execution.
   Sometimes we resist Plan B because it feels like admitting defeat. But embracing a new plan isn’t giving up—it’s being smart enough to adjust. Ego can keep you trapped, while humility keeps you moving.
5. Celebrate the unexpected wins.
   When a pivot works out better than expected, embrace it. Don’t cling to the old plan just because it was “yours.” Success is success, even if it doesn’t look like the vision you started with.

Final Thoughts

In business, vision is important, but flexibility is essential. You might think you know exactly how your journey will unfold, but the reality is often more unpredictable than we care to admit. That doesn’t mean you abandon your vision—it means you remain open to alternative paths that still lead to your destination. Sometimes, Plan B isn’t just a backup; it’s the path that takes you further than you ever thought possible.

So dream big, plan boldly, but always keep a Plan B tucked in your back pocket. The detour you didn’t want might just be the journey that changes everything.