I was sitting in the audience at a conference back in February, not expecting anything major, just soaking in the atmosphere, meeting new people, and catching inspiration where I could. Then this one speaker took the stage. I didn’t know his name. I wasn’t there for him. But within minutes, he dropped a story that hit me like a gut punch.
He told us how he used to tour the world working for top music acts, like the Jonas Brothers. He was the behind-the-scenes guy, living the dream many would envy. But deep down, he wanted out. He wanted to step into a new identity, one of purpose, of coaching, of speaking.
He said he was ready to make that leap…until he wasn’t. Right before his last show, he started pulling back. “Maybe I’ll go on that final tour in Europe after all,” he told himself. It felt safer. Familiar. It was his Plan B.
Then, no joke, he goes for a jog in Mexico and ends up being hunted by the cartel. Seventeen hours on the run, broken bones, bleeding, crawling through cacti in the dark. It was real-life Netflix stuff.
His takeaway?
“God and the universe weren’t going to let me run back to Plan B.”
And that… hit me right in the chest.
Maybe you’ve been here too
You say you’re going all in on your business, but you’re also scanning job listings on LinkedIn. You’ve got a “just-in-case” offer or a fallback freelance gig. You’re brainstorming Etsy shops, sourdough side hustles, or some trendy digital download that might bring in extra income.
You’re telling yourself it’s smart. Responsible. Strategic.
But really? You’re scared. You don’t fully trust yourself to make Plan A work.
And I say that with all the love, because I’ve been there too.
Why do we cling to Plan B
I’ve had a Plan B running in the background most of my business journey. DoorDash deliveries. Nanny gigs. Part-time roles inside other businesses. Not because I didn’t love my business, but because it felt safer to have something else to catch me.
But what I’ve realized is that Plan B isn’t safety.
Plan B is a distraction.
It’s a self-sabotaging loop that lets us play small, avoid risk, and say, “Well, I wasn’t really all-in anyway.” It feels responsible. But it costs you – time, money, focus, energy. It splits your power and slows your momentum.
Plan B says, “I don’t believe I can do this.”
Are you clinging to a Plan B that’s keeping you stuck?
Here’s how to tell and what to do about it:
- Identify your safety nets. Be radically honest: What “just in case” jobs, ideas, or habits are giving you a mental out from going all in?
- Define Plan A. What exactly are you building? Get clear. If it’s vague, your focus will be too.
- Commit in 60-day sprints. You don’t have to know what 12 months looks like. Can you go all-in on Plan A for 60 days? No backups. No distractions.
- Eliminate just-in-case tasks. Any offer, idea, or task that exists just in case Plan A doesn’t work – cut it.
- Face the real fear. Is it failure you fear…or success? For me, it was: “What if I can’t handle the clients, the income, the impact?” Call out your fear so it doesn’t keep running the show.
It’s time to bet on Plan A
I’m not immune to this. Even now, the temptation to “do something easier” shows up. I’ve caught myself thinking, “Maybe I could make some extra money selling sourdough,” or “What if I launched a quick little Canva product?”
But that’s not the work I’m here to do.
The truth is, if something went sideways tomorrow, I could find a way to make it work. We all could. But I’m not going to build a fallback before I’ve even given Plan A my full weight.
Because your next level won’t come from being cautious. It will come from being clear.
Ready to go all in on your business? That’s what we do inside the Focused Visionary Accelerator. It’s designed to help you commit fully to Plan A, with the strategy, support, and accountability to see it through. I’m a student of my own program, and it’s what keeps me grounded and focused.
Let’s burn the backup plan.
You’re more ready than you think.
Check out the Focused Visionary Accelerator
You’ve got this. And I’m right here with you.
