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Rutendo Gwatidzo-Changing Perspectives
“How can I make it in business this year?” One of my clients asked me this challenging question on the first Monday of 2026.
I paused before responding as I started to think around the same question for myself. “Wait, allow me to come back to you after one week”, I responded.
What I then did was to conduct a research with eight of my clients of which five of them are doing well while three of them are struggling. Based on the feedback that I got, allow me today to share my perspective that I believe will help many.
In today’s fast paced world, the ability to plan less and execute more is a key competitive advantage. Many people are over-planned and under-delivered.
They create a to-do-lists, colourful journals, strategic roadmaps and fancy timelines. Sadly, in most cases nothing meaningful moves for the month, quarter and even the full year.
Again, they create another to-do-list and it remains a cycle where planning is done religiously but, without achieving the desired results. A good number of companies have been found in the same scenario year in and out for a good number of years.
Real impact doesn’t come from complicated planning. It comes from decisive execution.
Let’s get practical!
Someone bought gym shoes and clothes. He even watched YouTube videos about “the best workouts.” Then he spent three weeks comparing gyms, negotiating prices, asking friends for opinions, and analysing reviews. Guess what?
A month went by, he never went to the gym hence nothing regarding his body changed. On the other hand, someone else simply put on old sneakers, walked for 20 minutes, and repeated it daily. Guess who made progress?
The difference wasn’t knowledge. It was execution. Planning feels productive especially when you put it on paper but, without action, it yields nothing. Sometimes planning becomes a sophisticated form of procrastination especially when it comes with excuses like “I’m still preparing.” “I’m researching.” Or “I’m waiting for the right time.” Planning feels safe but, execution exposes reality and reality makes us accountable.
Imagine This!
Let’s assume that you need to start a business. You then find someone to assist you and the person spends 12 months working on a logo, designing a website, rewriting the business plan and discussing the idea.
After the 12 months, there is no customers or revenue. Just planning. On the other hand, someone wanting to start a business also engages another person to help. The person simply identifies a solution to provide, calls ten potential clients, delivers value and keeps on doing the same every month. Within four months, the business gained customers, credibility and growth. By the end of 12 months, the business is already attractive and expanding.
Why?
Because action creates results while planning only creates theory. In other words, momentum beats perfection.
Corporate reality!
Endless meetings kill execution Many organisations hold meeting after meeting, strategy workshops, alignment sessions, pre-meetings for the meeting and minutes that nobody reads. But, nothing actually changes on the ground. Meanwhile, leaner competitors are already shipping, testing, learning, adjusting and winning. And then when they are out of business, they wonder what happened.
Execution creates competitive advantage. Slow planning creates corporate theatre. A good number of organisations or individuals plan too much because they fear making mistakes, they don’t want criticism or they want certainty before taking action. But, progress does not work that way. Clarity grows after movement not before. A smarter rhythm is usually based on short plan, fast action and quick feedback.
This is the operating model that works!
Define the next small move, to be taken within the next 48 hours not the next 5 years.
Execute immediately, do it now, do not procrastinate. Do the call. Send the proposal.
Start the conversation.
Review the results as you go, what is working? What is failing? What are you learning as you go? Then, adjust accordingly and keep on moving forward.
Practical micro-examples anyone can apply today! Suppose you want to write a book, start by writing one paragraph or page per day. Suppose you want to improve customer service, call just three customers per day and ask what annoys them most.
If you want healthier finances, start by saving $1 per day, and increase the amount as you go.
If you want to pray, study, or read the bible more, start with five minutes per day without negotiation.
Small actions compound. The journey of a thousand miles began with one step. Big dreams without action dissolve. Execution creates momentum and momentum fuels motivation, energy, creativity, determination and resilience just to mention a few.
Do not wait for the perfect plan. Rather, perfect the plan as you move.
While planning is important, it constitutes about 20 percent only toward the success of a project. The other 80 percent must be disciplined execution because plans alone do not change lives, build companies or transform culture but, action does.
So stop over-planning. Just make the call, send the email and start the project. Test the idea, learn and adjust as you move. Plan less and execute more. That’s how momentum is created and sustained.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a human capital executive and managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy. She is a multi-award winning leader, transformational speaker and coach. She is also the Author of Born to Fight and Breaking the Silence books. Contact details – 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official FB public page.
