Your people are more important than your plan

You've got a great plan.

The vision is clear, and the strategy feels unstoppable.

But plans don't execute themselves, do they?

Most people build a solid strategy and pay less attention to the one thing that makes it work—people.

A brilliant plan means nothing without a team that believes in it, owns it, and executes it with purpose.

In today’s newsletter, we’ll explore how people are key to a successful plan.

🗯️ Steve Jobs and the Macintosh Team

When Steve Jobs set out to create the first Macintosh computer, he didn't focus solely on the plan.

Jobs famously handpicked each team member, not just for technical skills but for a deep passion to change the world of personal computing.

He understood that a brilliant plan meant little without the right people to execute it.

Jobs often described the Macintosh team as a "band of pirates," a group of creatives driven by the same mission.

But it wasn't just about assembling the team, it was about nurturing them.

Jobs pushed them to think outside the box, take risks, and work together.

The launch of the Macintosh in 1984 changed the computer industry forever and cemented Apple's reputation for innovation.

So how are people more important than your plan?

Let's dive deeper.

🧠 When Execution Breaks the Plan

Let's talk about the flawless strategy you've structured.

It's bold, airtight, and just what you need to stay ahead.

But as you set the plan in motion, who's executing it?

When all the attention is on the plan, the people behind it can be overlooked.

So the team isn't built for the challenges ahead.

And over time, this neglect starts to show.

Deadlines are missed.

People stop taking responsibility.

The energy in the room feels off.

Instead of collaboration, there's friction.

People follow instructions, but there's no fire behind them.

Meetings end with more questions than clarity.

You get frustration and burnout instead of passion and creativity.

Because you didn't handpick, empower, or invest in the right team to bring your strategy to life.

So you get a disconnected, uninspired team that struggles to execute even the simplest steps.

❤️ Build the People, Scale the Plan

The power of a plan is nothing without the passion of the people behind it.

Stop obsessing over perfecting the plan and start investing in the people who'll execute it.

Try the people-first approach.

Build a team that is involved, seen, heard, and trusted.

When you nurture your team, invest in their growth, and empower their strengths, you'll open up something no strategy can replicate.

You create a space where ideas flow without fear, challenges are tackled as a team, and every member feels they're part of something bigger than themselves.

They're building resilience, adaptability, and a sense of pride that carries your vision through challenges.

You get a group of people who don't just follow the plan but can’t wait to bring it to life.

🤲 Build the Team That Builds the Plan

A plan is only as strong as the hands that carry it forward.

Here's how to shape your team to bring your vision to life:

1. Step back, see the person: Who’s the human behind the job? Take time to truly understand each team member's strengths, aspirations, and challenges. Instead of boxing them into the plan, find out the unique value they bring to your vision. People are more invested in the success of a plan they feel connected to.

2. Spot the architects, not just the builders: Look for team members who say things like 'What if we tried this instead?' or 'Here's another way to solve this problem.' These are your strategic thinkers. When someone questions the status quo, sees gaps, spots opportunities, or questions strategies, bring them into planning sessions. Involve them in conversations about the why behind decisions, not just the how.

3. Invest in their edge: A team's growth is your growth. If your marketing manager shows interest in data analytics, sponsor their certification in Google Analytics. When your people feel their potential expanding, they bring that energy back to the table.

4. Set the north star, not the GPS: Your major work is to lay out the vision and set clear success metrics, but let your team design the execution plan. Trust their judgment on the details. Micromanagement stifles creativity. Just give the right team autonomy, and you'll see your vision come alive.

🎯 Your Plans Are Only as Strong as Your People

What’s the real measure of success?

The blueprint or the builders?

Are you nurturing the leaders, visionaries, and doers who can bring your plans to life?

Plans don’t fail because they lack detail, they fail because they lack the right hands to execute them.

As Andrew Carnegie once said, “Take away my factories, my plants; take away my railroads, my ships, my transportation; take away my money; strip me of all these, but leave me my people, and in two or three years, I will have them all again.”

Now that's what we call a people-first mindset.