“Failing to plan is planning to fail”

Cynthia Hurt

Last week on my way home from work I remembered I needed dish soap, so I stopped at the store. Two hours and a trunk load of shopping bags later, I had made it home only to find that I still did not have dish soap.

This frustrating scenario reminded me of Benjamin Franklin’s famous adage “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” If I had planned a shopping list I likely would have made it out of the store in less time, having spent less money, and actually accomplished my goal—to buy dish soap. Lesson learned: every goal that’s worth achieving is worth planning for.

The same goes for long-term organizational goals. One of the best ways to plan, track, and maintain financial control of organizational goals is with a thoughtful budget. Whether you’re planning next year’s budget or amidst budget updates, it’s always a good idea to understand the tools at your disposal. In Blackbaud University’s new class Financial Edge NXT: Building Budgets, learn all about how to create new and manage your existing budgets.

This course is included with your Learn More training subscription. Not a subscriber? Find out how a Learn® subscription can help you develop your ongoing skills!