The LRP

Musings from Dennis #25: The LRP. We know it as Long Range Planning, or in my previous job, the Strat Plan but it really is a plan across 5 years and so more simply just called the 5-year plan which all companies work on every year to review the current and plan for the future. The first time I came across this term and learnt about it was not at work and way before I entered the industry. I was 25 and dating this girl from church and hoping I would tie the knot by 30 (and hopefully with her). We dated for about 6 months and were really into each other (you know it when you see her face in just about everywhere you go!). She then decided to join her varsity mates for a mission trip to a third world country to help build infrastructure, teach the children etc. The first thing she did when she returned in 2 weeks was to call me (remember: no mobiles, no laptops, no internet etc in those days) at home and of course I missed her incredibly. Excitedly she said to me “Hey I’ve got a 5-year plan, do you want to hear it?”. 5-year plan? Hmmm. Of course I said yes and she went on to present over the phone. At the end of that speech, I realized I wasn’t part of that “LRP”! I don’t think she wanted to hint anything negative about our relationship at that time but she was younger and naïve then. But it killed me and I had to do the inevitable. So people, sometimes our LRP changes along the way! Have a great weekend!