The document emphasizes the importance of having a Plan B, which serves as a contingency strategy to achieve goals if initial plans fail. It provides five key strategies for effective Plan B thinking in contexts like sales, negotiation, banking, business development, and addressing recurring organizational problems. The overall message stresses that a human-centered approach and creative contingency planning can lead to better outcomes.

1. 5 Examples of Plan B Strategic Thinking
Always Have a Plan B.

2. Plan A = Your primary goal or
strategy.
Plan B = An alternative strategy
(contingency planning) or goal if
something prevents you from
accomplishing Plan A.
Here are 5 examples of Plan B
strategic thinking.
What Is Plan B?
Always Have a Plan B.

3. “It’s not that I’m so smart — it’s
just that I stay with problems
longer.” (Albert Einstein)
H2H (human to human) sales processes are
increasingly more successful than B2C (business to
consumer) or B2B (business to business) processes.
1 — B2C, B2B and H2H

4. B2C, B2B and H2H —
Always Have a Plan B
B2C and B2B are aging sales concepts.
Marketing efforts often overlook the human element.
Suggested Plan B Strategy —
Emphasize H2H sales processes.
Think Outside of the Blog — with H2H content that
depends on a more human approach to customer
communication.
Always Have a Plan B.

5. 2 — Negotiating
“All problems become smaller if
you don’t dodge them but confront
them. Touch a thistle timidly, and it
pricks you; grasp it boldly, and its
spines crumble.” (Admiral William F.
Halsey)
Effective negotiating represents one of the
few short-term strategies that can help your
bottom line immediately by reducing expenses.

6. Negotiating —
Always Have a Plan B
There are 8 primary candidates for better negotiating.
Ineffective use of “Yes” and “No” is common.
Suggested Plan B Strategy —
Avoid paying “Full Sticker Price” for anything.
Remember the Power of No.

7. 3 — Zombie Banks
“Intellectuals solve problems —
geniuses prevent them.” (Albert
Einstein)
Zombie Banks have more liabilities than assets.
Is your bank a Zombie Bank or Problem Bank?

8. Zombie Banks —
Always Have a Plan B
Suggested Plan B Strategy —
Recommended Reading — “The Best Way to Rob a
Bank Is to Own One” by William K. Black.
Be prepared to fire your bank and banker.
According to multiple reports, the number of banks on
the FDIC Problem Bank List has ranged from 148 to 884
during the past 10 years — compared to 47 in 2006.
Zombie Banks are effectively bankrupt.
Always Have a Plan B.

9. “If you choose to not deal with an
issue, then you give up your right of
control over the issue and it will select
the path of least resistance.” (Susan
Del Gatto)
4 — Business Development
Today’s consumers prefer being at the center
of the buying process (customer-centric). This is
counter to classic marketer-centric sales
processes like cold calling and advertising.

10. Business Development —
Always Have a Plan B
Marketer-centric sales processes are less effective.
Many organizations are underusing proposals.
Suggested Plan B Strategy —
Emphasize customer-centric sales processes.
Increase use of one-page and unsolicited proposals.

11. “You may have to fight a battle
more than once to win it.” (Margaret
Thatcher)
5 — Zombie Business Problems
Many problems keep reappearing within
organizations. I refer to these challenges as
Zombie Business Problems or Zombie Problems.

12. Zombie Business Problems —
Always Have a Plan B
Suggested Plan B Strategy —
Add or enhance inbound marketing strategies.
Adopt a customer-centric writing style.
Current marketing problems require novel and fresh
solutions instead of old and outdated strategies.
Too much content is geared toward search engines.

13. Always Have a Plan B —
More Success Tips
Enhance writing and communication skills.
Prevent or fix Zombie Problems.
Develop multiple contingency plans.
Avoid shortcuts when completing due diligence.
Improve collaboration.
Evaluate what can go wrong: Plan B (and Plan C).
Think Outside of the Blog.

14. “The best way to predict the
future is to plan it.” (Peter Drucker)
Always Have a Plan B.

15. Always Have a Plan B.