There are two ways to travel through life: you can follow a path, or stumble along without direction. The choice is to turn that path into a clear course—one where you set your plans, goals, and expectations. You see where it begins and set out

toward your destination with purpose, overcoming obstacles or stumbling over them, then carrying on stronger than before. You reach the end and become a pioneer or a leader, ready to begin

another journey—and so on.

But if you travel that path without any intention or knowledge, and have no goal to move toward, you are simply stumbling blindly from one side of the road to the other;

you’ll fall into its obstacles and linger among the crowded ranks of those who have given up. You can either rise again or surrender!

The path you’re stumbling along is a route to success for leaders who have set their plans and goals. They take you with them toward their destinations, dreams, and desires—until they’ve gotten what they need from you, then

leave you halfway, when you fall into the obstacles they’ve created, or at the finish line, when they reap the success and recognition.

And even if you work hard to develop yourself and do a great deal, without plans or goals you’re still stumbling along, following the leader like one member of a herd. As the actor

Denzel Washington famously said: “Just because you’re doing a lot doesn’t mean you’re getting a lot done. Don’t confuse movement with progress!”

So first, set your goals, plans, and intentions. Make sure you’re working toward those goals, keep them confidential, and don’t tell anyone, in keeping

with the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) saying: “Seek help in fulfilling your needs by keeping them private, for everyone blessed with a favor is envied.” Narrated by al-Tabarani.

When you plan to do something, there’s no need to tell anyone about it. Keep quiet until you achieve the success you’re hoping for—then you can let the world know.

As Lou Holtz says, “Don’t tell anyone about your problems. Ninety percent don’t care, and the other 10 percent are glad you have them.”

No one will work to help you achieve your goals or get what you want except you. Even if everyone openly encourages you, they’ll stand around you like an audience,

challenging your ability to succeed and waiting for you to fail.

Under the headline “If You Want to Succeed, Don’t Tell Anyone,” Psychology Today published an article saying that, according to a survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation, 45% of Americans

made New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% succeeded in keeping them—meaning that 92% of those 45% of Americans failed.

Keep your goals to yourself. You don’t have to share them with anyone, even those closest to you. Friends often become enemies, and vice versa. Yesterday’s enemy can be

today’s friend, and yesterday’s friend can be today’s enemy!

Excessive talking can also lead you to discuss your goals and desires, and things may not turn out as you wish. In fact, regret and sorrow are sure to follow. As Voltaire said:

“The more committed you are to your goals, the more secret you should keep them.”

When you reveal your goals and intentions, you show everyone all your cards, making it easy for them to obstruct you, undermine you, and find out what you plan to do. And that’s what

others want. No one wants to see you achieve what they couldn’t, and you won’t find anyone who wants you to achieve the same goal they’ve achieved and challenge them for the top spot.

Entrepreneurs sometimes take an offensive or defensive stance—such as introducing a new idea or defending a product they have already launched. In either case, they should use the element of surprise in

what they plan to say, show, or present. If they tell anyone what they intend to do, the news will spread like wildfire, giving the other side a chance to defend itself.

Entrepreneurs should keep their subordinates guessing by telling them about fictitious plans, diverting their attention from what they actually intend to do. As Robert Greene says in the third law

of power: “Keep people in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue about your intentions, they won’t be able to”

تهيئة الدفاع”.

There’s a famous saying that clever people use to show how clever they are: “I’ll take you to the sea and bring you back thirsty.” But as a leader or entrepreneur, don’t take them to the sea,

because nobody wants to drink salty water. Instead, take them to the river and bring them back thirsty.