In the world of entrepreneurship, there’s a popular mantra that gets tossed around like gospel: “Burn the boats.” The idea is simple—if you eliminate all other options, you’ll be forced to succeed.
But not every entrepreneur agrees.
“Not having a backup plan isn’t always bravery—it can be a form of rigidity,” says Shalom Lamm, a seasoned entrepreneur with decades of experience in real estate, tech, and social impact ventures. “And in business, inflexibility is dangerous.”
In this post, we’ll explore how the myth of the “no plan B” mindset can create unnecessary pressure, stifle innovation, and even lead to burnout—and how Shalom Lamm approaches planning with both ambition and adaptability.
The Myth of the All-In Mentality
For years, entrepreneurs have been told that having a backup plan means you don’t believe in your primary plan. That hedging your bets somehow equals lack of commitment.
Shalom Lamm sees it differently.
“Believing in your vision is critical,” he says. “But refusing to prepare for alternatives can make you blind to risk—and resistant to change.”
The all-or-nothing approach assumes the path to success is linear. In reality, businesses evolve, markets shift, and timing plays a bigger role than most people admit. The ability to pivot isn’t weakness—it’s survival.
When No Backup Plan Becomes a Burden
Let’s be clear: commitment is essential. But commitment without contingency can backfire in several key ways.
1. Unhealthy Pressure
If you’ve convinced yourself that failure is not an option, you might work yourself to exhaustion or make desperate decisions out of fear. Lamm has seen this firsthand.
“I’ve watched founders pour everything into one idea and ignore warning signs until it was too late,” he says. “They weren’t lacking talent—they lacked perspective.”
2. Tunnel Vision
Without a backup plan, founders can become so attached to one outcome that they ignore valuable feedback. Opportunities for improvement are dismissed, and creative thinking shuts down.
“Some of my best ideas came from asking, ‘What else could this become?’” Lamm notes. “That kind of thinking doesn’t happen when you’re locked into a single outcome.”
3. Fear of Change
Ironically, having no backup can make you more fearful—not less. If everything depends on one plan, the risk of trying new strategies feels too high. You start playing not to lose instead of playing to win.
The Case for Strategic Optionality
So what’s the alternative? Shalom Lamm recommends a mindset shift—from “no plan B” to “strategic flexibility.”
This doesn’t mean you don’t believe in your vision. It means you’re wise enough to prepare for various paths to get there.
“You can still be all-in on your mission,” Lamm explains, “but your tactics can evolve. That’s how smart businesses grow.”
Here are a few ways to apply this thinking:
- Build flexible systems that allow for quick pivots.
- Test small, fail fast, and adapt based on feedback.
- Identify multiple revenue streams instead of relying on a single source.
- Define success broadly, allowing your mission to grow beyond one product or service.
Real-World Example: A Pivot Done Right
In one of his ventures, Lamm launched a digital product that initially targeted educators. While traction was slow, user feedback revealed a surprising interest from corporate trainers.
“Instead of doubling down blindly, we explored that interest,” Lamm says. “Six months later, our revenue doubled—because we allowed the business to evolve.”
Had he stuck to the original plan without openness to change, that success might never have come.
Confidence vs. Stubbornness
At the heart of this discussion is a key distinction: confidence should empower, not trap you.
“Being confident in your business means trusting your ability to adapt, not betting everything on one fixed idea,” says Lamm. “Stubbornness looks like confidence, but it’s rooted in fear.”
A backup plan isn’t a sign of doubt—it’s a sign of maturity.
Final Thoughts
There’s power in commitment, but true entrepreneurial strength lies in adaptability. The idea that “real entrepreneurs don’t need a plan B” may sound inspiring—but in practice, it often limits creativity, invites burnout, and prevents necessary change.
Shalom Lamm reminds us that the smartest founders aren’t those who burn every bridge—they’re the ones who build more than one path to success.
So if you’ve been clinging to a no-plan-B philosophy, consider this: your flexibility might be your biggest competitive advantage.