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Why a Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Chances are, you’ve heard this quote at every personal growth conference you’ve attended throughout the years — and for good reason! A plan is the backbone of a goal. Without a plan, your goal loses its spine and becomes nothing more than a wish.
But there’s a difference between hearing this quote and actually creating a plan and putting it into motion. Today, we want to give you all the motivation you need to give your goal structure and make Antoine de Saint-Exupéry proud.
Let’s jump into everything you need to know about why a goal without a plan is just a wish, how to set goals and how to put your plan into action.
But First, Who Was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry?
The man behind the famous motivational quote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish,” was renowned French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. de Saint-Exupéry was best known for his short novella Le Petit Prince, or as we call it in The States, The Little Prince.
Since its publication in 1943, Le Petit Prince has become one of the most widely translated books of all time, available in more than 250 languages and dialects, from Bavarian to Braille. The quote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish,” first appeared in the original publication of Le Petit Prince almost 80 years ago.
In addition to The Little Prince, de Saint-Exupéry’s literary works included Wind, Sand and Stars, Night Flight and Flight to Arras. A common theme in de Saint-Exupéry’s work was the skies, which is understandable when you consider that he first achieved fame as a French aviator. Sadly, de Saint-Exupéry’s first love of aviation appears to have led to his death.
Despite a robust and well-received body of work, de Saint-Exupéry disappeared while on a reconnaissance mission in World War II. Though he vanished back in 1944, his disappearance is still shrouded in mystery till this day. Remains from his plane and some personal effects were discovered in 2000, yet his body has never been found.
However, the work he left us with — including this legendary quote — continues to be celebrated.
