Do people asking for funding have a plan? Why is that even a question?

Anyone interested in strategic planning and leadership needs to keep current with trends, experience, the "cutting edge" and "what's next."   You can imagine that as a former financial/business journalist and publisher I am voracious in my consumption of business information.  I consume - off and on - The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the business sections of my local newspapers, CNBC, Bloomberg, Market Place, all sorts of web sites, trade publications and more.

A elegant strategy is one that fits. That falls into place. That works with style and ease.

On the road to wherever you might be going, isn't it often the case you get distracted or pulled in a new direction and turn off, stop, veer away, wind up not where you were headed? Sometimes this is serendipity, the new direction or destination much more interesting and positive.  But so often the change of course or pace results in a lack of progress or achievement.  In this wired, social media, ad-driven, sensory age we have so many things pulling at us, infiltrating our consciousness, diverting and distracting us.  Something of these intrusions are actual opportunities, but for the very greatest part they are not.