Guy Reams (00:01.016)
This is day 187, spontaneity needs preparation. You were really only allowed to be spontaneous when you were prepared. Any other time is probably just recklessness. People love to be spontaneous. They like things to be interesting, exciting, and fun. When you're well prepared and acting from a solid foundation, spontaneity can yield good and sometimes unexpected returns.
However, engaging in spontaneity without any basis whatsoever usually produces chaotic and often negative results. To illustrate, have several examples from my personal life. First, investments. When you engage in investments, a strategic and well-thought-through investment thesis is always advisable. People who are consistent and dedicated to a specific strategy usually see the best results.
Even when things are down, they stick to their plan, and eventually they went out, assuming that the plan was solid from the beginning. Reading Warren Buffett's own recollection on his early progress, wasn't necessarily his ability to see into the future that made the difference. Rather, it was a clear and sensible strategy that he followed for a long period of time. In my experience, when I've had a solid foundation producing consistent results,
and that has given me the occasional opportunity to be spontaneous. If that moment of inspiration produces a good investment, then great. But if not, I'm only risking what I had specifically allocated for that purpose. On the other hand, much of my early life was spent making reckless investments based solely on guesswork. There may have been one or two immediate gains, but for the most part, those performed horribly over time.
Second, leading a team. Often when you're a leader, you're searching for something that will produce the big win. It's natural to think that the great leaders are the ones who come up with the great ideas. Reality is often the opposite. Good leaders understand and recognize a sound strategy, and then they just follow it. They ensure everyone else understands it too. By being consistent and adhering to a strong strategy,
Guy Reams (02:26.892)
The entire team has something to fall back on when things get tough. Not everything is going to be awesome all the time. So you need a dependable plan that delivers consistently and becomes the default when other ideas fall short. With that solid foundation in place, you can afford to take a few chances to pursue opportunities that arise unexpectedly. Some won't work out, but some will.
and those are the ones that may hit big. When you take a calculated risk from a place of stability, your team sees you as visionary. But if you chase things all the time with no foundation, people will see you as a distraction and the source of unnecessary turmoil. Third, backpacking. When you're in the wilderness for an extended period of time, especially with a large group,
You cannot be randomly spontaneous without risking severe and sometimes life-threatening consequences. If you were to wake up one morning and decide to take a group on a week-long expedition into the desert with no plan, no adequate preparation, and no directional guidance, then you're in for some serious problems. Now, if you've carefully planned a hike, accounted for the necessary logistics, and established a base camp,
Then deciding to do a spontaneous day hike, that's a different story altogether. One form of spontaneity can get people killed, the other can create memories that will last a lifetime. All three of these examples illustrate that spontaneity can be rewarding, if it's done at the right time and from a solid foundation. Spontaneity is never a strategy. It is certainly not a plan. You cannot simply quote unquote
be spontaneous, and expect to achieve anything meaningful. There has to be some level of preparation for your unplanned actions to have any hope of producing results that you'll appreciate. It's like suddenly heading off the Disney world and expecting your group of 10 people to have a great time just because you were being spontaneous. Now, if you plan the trip in advance and once there,
Guy Reams (04:47.801)
decided to shift gears and explore an exhibit that you didn't know about, that could become a memorable moment for everyone to enjoy. The point is this, spontaneity can bring joy to your life and to those around you. But if you're constantly impulsive, all you're going to really create is disruption, and eventually people will just start to avoid you.