The Wingman Blog

No Plan Survives

On decisions, leadership, and operating under pressure.

Imagine the project has already failed

Imagine the project has already failed

Imagine the project has already failedPaul Littlejohn
Published on: 22/05/2026

Most risk reviews surface the risks everyone already knew. The dangerous ones, nobody quite wanted to raise. A 10-minute exercise from cognitive psychology that gets the real failure modes into the room, how to run it, and why it works.

Decision Making
What "I need more information" usually means

What "I need more information" usually means

What "I need more information" usually meansPaul Littlejohn
Published on: 22/05/2026

You've built the spreadsheet. You've talked to the people. You're no closer. There's a body of research that says more information isn't usually what's missing. Five signs you've crossed that line, and three questions that move you off it.

Decision Making
What flying taught me about plans

What flying taught me about plans

What flying taught me about plansPaul Littlejohn
Published on: 22/05/2026

Planned for 3 hours. Briefed for one. The plan died inside 12 minutes. We still made the strike. What flying taught me about why most business plans do less work than the people who wrote them think, and three tests for the one on your desk.

Decision Making
For overthinkers who've tried everything

For overthinkers who've tried everything

For overthinkers who've tried everythingPaul Littlejohn
Published on: 22/05/2026

The 2am replay. The clarity in the shower, then 3 problems with it by lunch. The day spent thinking that left you exhausted with nothing done. Two techniques for getting out, with 30 years of research behind them. Neither involves thinking less.

Decision Making