---
title: "Blue Plans"
description: "Abbott's mechanism for managing Wall Street while investing in the future."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/good-to-great/blue-plans/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Blue Plans

> Abbott's mechanism for managing Wall Street while investing in the future.

Jim Collins's framework, from Good to Great, pp. 177 to 198.

Framework 13 of 15 from [Good to Great](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/good-to-great/index.md) by Jim Collins. Category: Leadership.

## The steps

1. **Promise less to analysts.** Tell analysts a growth figure, say 15 percent, while planning internally for much more.
2. **Keep a ranked list of unfunded projects.** These are the Blue Plans.
3. **Fund them from the surplus.** Channel the difference between promised and actual growth into the Blue Plans.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Chapter 8 - The Flywheel and The Doom Loop, pp. 177–198

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/good-to-great/blue-plans.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/good-to-great/blue-plans-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/good-to-great/blue-plans.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/good-to-great/blue-plans-dark.png