We’re all familiar with the saying “hope is not a plan.”  But the corollary is also true – without a plan, there is no hope.

In the current environment, most business leaders understandably are anxious.  Anxious about when they’ll be able to fully re-open their companies.  Anxious about finances.  Anxious about the safety of their employees. Anxious about whether their customers and clients will survive.  Anxious about their vendors and other partners and collaborators.  Anxious about countless other unknowns.

Many of these things are no doubt beyond the control of most owners and executives.  Yet there is a way to alleviate some of the anxiety and help move your business forward.

An old friend of mine is a psychologist and years ago he gave me some sound advice.  When faced with what seem to be overwhelming challenges, make a list of your problems, prioritize them, and consider how to respond to each one.  The simple act of writing it all down will create a sense of control and purpose, and will make the circumstances less daunting. 

So, if you are especially worried about your business these days– and who isn’t – it is an important time to pause and take stock. Take a moment to sit down and write out a list of all of things that worry you today.  Which are the most important or most threatening?  And what will you do about each one?

In short, make a plan.  The plan alone won’t resolve your problems or make them magically disappear – there will still be lots of work to do.  But I bet that you’ll have greater confidence in the direction of your business.  You’ll feel at least a little less anxious.

In other words…with your plan, you’ll have hope.