As life becomes more complex, it becomes increasingly important to be precise with our words.

It’s easy to confuse thinking with planning when looking from the outside. But the difference lies in what’s desired and what’s not.

Thinking and planning are both cognitive acts, meaning they are mental processes, but that’s where the similarities end.

Thinking is inclusive. You can do it alone, with other people, with a keyboard, with a whiteboard, with your eyes open, with your eyes closed, with a pen, or with a pencil. The key to effective thinking is to have a loose grip on the outcome and a high degree of curiosity. The value of thinking is in the exploration of what could be.

Planning is exclusive. You can do it alone, with other people, with a keyboard, with a whiteboard, with your eyes open, with your eyes closed, with a pen, or with a pencil. The key to effective planning is to have a firm grasp on the desired outcome and why you want it. The value of planning is in the exploration of how to get the desired outcome.

Is your outcome to be thinking, or are you planning an outcome?