BY MARK OVERBYE

Those business managers will be outrun and gunned down by competitors more devoted to their success . Developers of Plan B deal in doubt . There are lots of stories about doubters . None paints an enviable picture of the doubter . Doubt is the opposite of being committed . Doubt dims the light on the path to success .

Historical lore says Spanish explorer Cortés burned his boats when he reached Mexico in 1519 . Watching the boats burn , Cortés ’ men were effectively pledged to their plan . Cortés didn ’ t say , “ Hey , park those over there in case this doesn ’ t work .” Nope , burning the boats illuminated the mission .

Cortés wasn ’ t the first . On January 10 , 49 BC Julius Caesar forbade the return of Roman troops once they crossed the Rubicon River . Threatened with execution unless they triumphed in their pursuit of establishing the Roman Republic , the Rubicon was the point of no return . Today ’ s business lexicon includes the reference . When you hear , we just crossed the Rubicon , take note .

Steve Jobs is surely a modern-day conquistador . A master of making missions clear , he set a trajectory and rallied his believers . His followers understood Apple ’ s assignment “ to challenge the status quo ” and anyone who didn ’ t want a seat in that boat was set adrift .

Absolute transparency is the radical battle cry in today ’ s business world . Transparency establishes the truth , creating a mission so well-defined that contemplated deviation is reduced to amusement .

“ All progress starts by telling the truth ,” claims Dan Sullivan , a respected business coach and strategist . By suffocating any reason for Plan B ,

the true endeavor is clarified . That clarity of commitment is crucial .

Doubt is an evil seed . Opening the door to fear , all sorts of troubling thoughts rush in . Are we on the right path ? Will our customers like this ? Do the expected margins sustain us ?

How do you move forward with such obvious purpose that you sleep comfortably ? The answer is embedded within a formula for success tested through the lens of experience and data that smothers any potential for mutiny . If all the rowers in the boat work in harmony , the boat gets to its destination most efficiently . If there ’ s dissent , and some rowers are not committed , direction and speed are compromised .

What do you do when Plan A fails ? You pivot . If you ’ re paying attention , you know more since your journey began , your perspective is wiser and you have experience you didn ’ t have when you initially chose between A and B .

Upon pivoting , you pick a new direction and lead your teams . Using the rowing analogy , let ’ s say you and your team are rowing with purpose to a coastal city to collect rubies . You get there but find they don ’ t have rubies , they have diamonds . So you collect a few diamonds ( your newfound knowledge ) and row to the destination with rubies . Obviously , pivoting keeps everyone rowing with the same final objective in mind to a consistent beat ( purpose ). There ’ s always value in whatever direction you choose . Those sailors with the most knowledge have been to the most ports .

The conundrum in having a Plan B suggests that you can move back to the point where you choose between Plans A or B . That ’ s ridiculous . Heraclitus famously said , “ No man ever steps in the same river twice , for it ’ s not the same river and he ’ s not the same man .” Appropriately , you can ’ t go back to that A or B fork in the road . People , situations , information , and the world , have all changed . Act accordingly .

If you ’ re a Chuck Norris fan , here ’ s a modernday bit of inspiration . Chuck never retreats , he only attacks in a new direction . Words of pure wisdom . When you develop your plan , attack its integrity from all angles before launching . Fully vetting it in advance sweeps away any doubts and fully commits your confidence .

Cortés life was filled with conflict , especially through today ’ s lens . But it appears he was an inspirational ace . He was successful in getting his enemies to join his ranks , he consistently won his detractors over , married into nobility , and received from King Carlos his own Coat of Arms .

Nearly 40 years old when he burned his boats , he was a daring discoverer , an intrepid navigator with deep knowledge about leadership and plan creation . That bonfire was probably not a spontaneous action , but one with an outcome he already saw in his mind ’ s eye . Ask yourself :

Has Plan A been defined so clearly that Plan B has been laid to rest ?

Are we open-minded enough to consider that what we don ’ t know today might indeed become the future path tomorrow ?

Have we given every stakeholder a voice to ensure we ’ ve done our best to define the correct mission ?

These are the keys to launching a successful plan . They ’ re also the keys acknowledging that the vehicle for our objectives does not have a reverse gear .

Mark Overbye is the CEO of Anthem Marine , as well as the chairman of USA Waterski and Wake Sports Foundation . He is also the founder of Montara Boats and Gekko Sports .

www . boatingindustry . com february 2024

15