Plan, [plan] - noun:

An approach to achieve an objective. An indispensable and unavoidable expenditure of effort which may include, but is not limited to: lists, goals, materials, budget, discussion, haggling, Excel spreadsheets, Power Point presentations, contingencies, assumptions, getting one's head around, reaching-out-to and bouncing things off of. Plans fall into two categories: Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is a fanciful stretching of the imagination for the purpose of inflating expectations to the point that one may become bouyant, possibly causing the feet to leave the ground. Plan B is the plan that is actually executed, at least in the early stages of Plan B. In practice, it is abandoned no more than a day or two into it's execution and replaced by activities constituting the reality of achievement of the objective. Some refer to this as Plan C, while others doggedly insist upon referring to it, erroneously, as The Plan.

Though seemingly useless in hindsight, plans are, in fact, essential. Without them we would be consigned to an aimless and dark existence of things that simply occur, for no apparent reason and with no obvious intent. Furthermore, it has been empirically shown that the act of planning stimulates the same area of the brain that deals with self-esteem and ego gratification. Planning also releases endorphins. This is seen to be a necessary balance to the overused and slightly charred areas of the cortex that are responsible for putting on your pants, getting out of the house and actually getting the thing done.