Business & Strategic Planning: Wins & Losses 1-6-26

Summary

Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Host: Scott Becker
Episode: Business & Strategic Planning: Wins & Losses 1-6-26
Date: January 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker delves into the nuances of strategic planning within a business, private equity, and personal development context. He reflects on his own experiences with planning—highlighting both victories and setbacks—and offers insight into different approaches people take when setting goals and executing plans. The discussion is candid and practical, providing actionable takeaways for listeners seeking to refine their own strategies for growth, investment, and career advancement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Spectrum of Strategic Planning

[00:28 – 01:40]

• Becker introduces three primary approaches to business and goal planning:

  • Action Without a Plan:
    Some individuals launch into action without clear plans. While this can lead to success through sheer momentum and adaptability, it often lacks direction.
  • Minimalist Planning:
    Others operate with a basic, minimum-sized plan. This enables progress while providing enough structure to guide decisions.
  • Comprehensive Planning:
    Some create detailed, extensive plans. However, over-planning often leads to analysis paralysis and inaction.

• Becker sees most people at either end of these extremes—either acting without a plan or planning so comprehensively that they never start.

Personal Reflection: Planning Strengths & Weaknesses

[01:40 – 03:10]

• Becker candidly evaluates his own tendencies:

  • "My failure is not in going too comprehensive on the plan; it would be going too light on the plan." [01:47]
  • He notes his experience with investment planning as an example where extra thought and clarity up front paid dividends. But at times, he finds himself being too opportunistic rather than systematic.

• Example:
  In allocating assets (equities, treasuries, private business interests), thoughtful planning has helped Becker stay systematic, but sometimes he is too quick to say "yes" to opportunistic investments.

Case Study: Business Plan for New Book

[03:10 – 03:55]

• Becker references a current project (his newest book, "Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks and Scale with Confidence") as an instance where a clear, 80-90% finished plan is leading to positive momentum.

  • "We've got a very clear plan for what we're trying to do there. So we like that. It's not perfect, but it's an 80, 90% plan." [03:23]

• In contrast, with personal goals (fitness, golf), he often jumps into action without enough upfront planning, resulting in less success.

Key Takeaways: Discipline and Simplicity

[03:55 – 05:05]

• Success has come when Becker utilizes simple, actionable plans and attacks them directly.

  • "In my best situations, I use simple plans and really attack from there. And I've had great success with that." [04:37]

• Failure occurs when even the "simple plan" lacks sufficient depth or forethought.

• Encourages listeners to:

  • Strike a balance—don't over-plan to the point of inaction, but don't under-plan and drift aimlessly.
  • Reflect on which end of the spectrum they fall into and adjust accordingly.

Personal Goal for the Coming Year

[05:05 – 05:29]

• Becker shares his resolution:
  • "My goal this year is to be a little bit more disciplined in my planning, my weeks, my year, my goals and how we're going to get there versus as opportunistic." [05:27]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Planning Approaches:
  • "I see a lot of people at either side of the spectrum—either just get going and act without a plan, or... go for the most comprehensive plan they can and then not really get started." [00:48]
• On Personal Experience with Planning:
  • "Where I fail is where my simple plan is even too simple and I've not made enough effort, but just figured I'll figure it out by going and engaging in it and so forth. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't." [04:47]
• Advice to Listeners:
  • "I hope this is helpful to somebody." [04:59]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:28: Introduction to episode and overview of strategic planning discussion
• 01:43: Becker's self-assessment of planning failures and successes
• 03:23: Business plan example—planning the release of his new book
• 04:37: Reflection on the efficacy of simple plans
• 05:27: Resolution for more disciplined planning in the coming year

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Episode Tone and Style

Scott Becker’s tone is conversational, honest, and reflective. He speaks directly from personal experience, sharing both wins and losses candidly, and maintains an encouraging and practical approach throughout the episode.

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Actionable Takeaways

• Assess your own approach to planning—are you an over-planner, under-planner, or minimalist?
• Aim for a simple yet actionable plan that provides direction without causing paralysis by analysis.
• Learn from both successes and failures to refine your planning strategy.
• Be intentional and disciplined in your approach for the year ahead.

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For more insights, follow Scott Becker on LinkedIn, subscribe on your preferred podcast platform, and consider pre-ordering his new book “Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks and Scale with Confidence” for more practical strategies.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Scott Becker with the Becker Business in the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Today's discussion is going to be about strategic planning, wins and losses in personal experiences. We're going to talk about personal experiences. So so here's the issue on business and strategic planning. And again, you're with the Becker Business, the Becker Private Equity podcast. We try and bring you one to two business and market insight episodes a day, plus one interview a day with a brilliant business leader. So we're going to talk today about business and strategic plan planning, wins and losses. So here's what I see as the spectrum of business and sort of investment planning and whatever planning you're doing. This could apply as well to your sports, to your fitness, to your business, to really whatever you're trying to do to your career, etc. And I look at business plans through three different lenses. People that just act without a plan and sometimes they get where they should be going because they act and they figured out second, those that work with a sort of minimum size plan for what they're trying to do. And then third, those that work with comprehensive plans as to what they're trying to attack. And what I would say is I see a lot of people at either side of the spectrum that either just get going and act without a plan or two go for the most comprehensive plan they can and then not really get started. And I think the right answer for most of us. And I often fail when I go too light on this. My failure is not in going too comprehensive on the plan, it would be going too light on the plan. But the basic concept that I think about is as follows, that if I'm trying to become a better investor, I've got to do some deeper thought up front. And I've done a really good job with this as to how I want to allocate assets. And once I've decided how I want to allocate assets between equities and treasuries and then private business interest, then I could be a little bit more systematic about am I opportunistic about when people bring me an investment idea or do I jump at it? Because I think, okay, this return sounds great, it's worth doing, etc. Etc. It and I could take the risk on it and afford to lose. I think I've done a pretty good job on this. But as I look at different investment opportunities coming at me and finding myself more often saying yes a little bit more than I typically do to sort of opportunistic investments versus things that I really plan to go after, I view it a little bit as though I'm not being as systematic as I'd like to be and as much of a planner as I'd like to be and as intentional as I'd like to be. Similar in developing business plans. We've got a very clear business plan this year for one of the books that we've authored. The newest book we've authored again, buy that book at Amazon, please pre order. It'll come in June, but please pre order it now. Building Great Businesses Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks and Scale with confidence. We've got a very clear plan for what we're trying to do there. So we like that. It's not perfect, but it's an 80, 90% plan. It's pretty clear about what the plan is. When I look at some of my other goals, whether it's fitness or golf, whatever it is, I think I often suffer from acting without enough planning about here's really the approach to do this. And often I feel like I would benefit from just a little bit more planning up front, a little more clarity up front as to what I'm trying to do. My hope with this is, and again, I've had a successful business career. We've done great. You know, plenty of people have done a lot better. We've done great, went to Harvard Law School, had a great legal career, built a great business, have had fantastic colleagues, served great customers. So, so no complaints. But I do think I would, I would benefit from being a little bit more disciplined sometimes in that planning. And again, we all fit in these different sides of the spectrum. You know, some people are over planners and never get any place, others don't plan at all and others use simple plans. In, in my best situations, I use simple plans and really attack from there. And I've had great success with that. Where I fail is where my simple plan is even too simple and I've not made enough ever. But just figured I'll figure it out by going and engaging in it and so forth. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. I hope this is helpful to somebody. Again, God bless you for listening to the Becker Business, the Becker Private Equity Podcast. You know, my goal this year is to be a little bit more disciplined in my planning, my weeks, my year, my goals and how we're going to get there versus as opportunistic. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business and Becker Private Equity Podcast. Again, a reminder, follow us at Apple, Spotify, wherever you listen to podcast. Follow me on LinkedIn and of course buy the book, pre order the book at Amazon. Building Great Businesses Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks Scale with Confidence. And I'll tell you this, if you're the first person to text me about this podcast, we will send you a $100 gift certificate. An Amazon gift certificate. You have to Text Scott Becker Scott 773-766-5322 thank you so much for listening to the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast.

[C]

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