We can't predict the future, yet we do it all the time. We organize projects, events, days, weeks, and years. We plan to buy a home, build a career, travel, get married, raise children, teach a class, retire, or get in shape. Our ability to model the world as it is and might be is a gift, but mental time travel is also really hard. Fortunately, since planning is a skill, everyone from playful improviser to rigorous planner can greatly improve, if they are ready to learn: The principles and practices of nonlinear planning. How to grow and sustain hope with willpower and waypower. When to pivot or persist with paths, goals, values, and metrics. How myths, memories, fears, and feelings shift the future. Why the plans of an octopus are the product of evolution. How artificial intelligence is poised to transform what we plan. If you hate planning, you're doing it wrong. The uncertainty of change makes us crave chaos or control, but it's as dangerous to be rigid as it is to move fast and break things. To organize the future, we will find better ways, because happiness is a prediction, and it's also the freedom you'll feel upon realizing there is no one right way to plan.

This is a book about everything. Or, to be precise, it explores how everything is connected from code to culture. We think we're designing software, services, and experiences, but we're not. We are intervening in ecosystems. Until we open our minds, we will forever repeat our mistakes. In this spirited tour of information architecture and systems thinking, Peter Morville connects the dots between authority, Buddhism, classification, synesthesia, quantum entanglement, and volleyball. In 1974 when Ted Nelson wrote "everything is deeply intertwingled," he hoped we might realize the true potential of hypertext and cognition. This book follows naturally from that.

In the spirit of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and The Joy of Less, experience the benefits of buying less and sharing more with this accessible 7-step guide to decluttering, saving money, and creating community from the creators of the Buy Nothing Project. In their island community, friends Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller discovered that the beaches of Puget Sound were spoiled by a daily influx of plastic items and trash washing on shore. From pens and toothbrushes to toys and straws, they wondered, where did it all come from? Of course, it comes from us—our homes, our backyards, our cars, and our workplaces. And so, a rallying cry against excess stuff was born. In 2013, they launched the first Facebook Buy Nothing Project group in their small town off the coast of Seattle, and they never expected it to become a viral sensation. Today there are thousands of Buy Nothing groups all over the world, boasting more than a million members, and 5,000 highly active volunteers. Inspired by the ancient practice of gift economies, where neighbors share and pool resources,The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan introduces an environmentally conscious 7-step guide that teaches us how to buy less, give more, and live generously. At once an actionable plan and a thought-provoking exploration of our addiction to stuff, this powerful program will help you declutter your home without filling landfills, shop more thoughtfully and discerningly, and let go of the need to buy new things. Filled with helpful lists and practical suggestions including 50 items you never need to buy (Ziploc bags and paper towels) and 50 things to make instead (gift cards and salad dressing), The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan encourages you to rethink why you shop and embrace a space-saving, money-saving, and earth-saving mindset of buying less and sharing more.

" ... Pascal will illustrate the method by telling the story of the imaginary (but very real) Atlas Industries as it switches from traditional planning methods to rigorous strategy deployment. He will explain in detail how you and your organization can get the right things done by applying the method consistently"--P. vii, foreword.

Starting a business of any size can be overwhelming. This book provides straight answers and expert advice on creating the right business plan for any type of business. The accompanying CD contains 60 sample business plans created for a variety of popular ventures.

Eleven-year-old Dini loves movies, and so when she learns that her family is moving to India for two years, her devastation over leaving her best friend in Maryland is tempered by the possibility of meeting her favorite actress, Dolly Singh.

Expert advice for the perfect wedding day! She's met "the one" and set the date - now she needs your help to plan the big event! The Everything Mother of the Bride Book, 4th Edition is completely updated and revised with the latest information you need to get your daughter down the aisle in style. Wedding planner Katie Martin explains everything you'll need to know, including: Planning showers and engagement parties Meeting the future in-laws Navigating sticky situations like ex-spouses and former family members Picking out the perfect dress Knowing when to speak up - and when to keep quiet! Complete with new sections on social media etiquette, this practical guide covers everything you'll need to make sure your daughter has the perfect - and stress-free - day of her dreams.

Plan your special day in style with this comprehensive wedding organizer packed with over 100 gorgeous, full-color photos of centerpieces, table settings, favors, flowers, and more. From the proprietor of the nationally recognized wedding venue Alda’s Magnolia Hill comes this all-in-one guide to making your wedding dreams a reality. Alda Ellis expertly guides you through every step of the process, from determining what kind of wedding you want to hosting a memorable celebration after the “I do’s.” Other helpful features include… 12 tabbed dividers, allowing for quick reference to each chapter in the book Convenient pockets for keeping important paperwork, business cards, and swatches Plenty of blank space for writing down appointments, notes, thoughts, and other info Scripture verses and quotes to inspire you and prepare your heart for marriage A valuable appendix covering an array of smaller details that often get missed With Alda’s decades of experience at your fingertips, this book is like having a professional wedding planner at your disposal 24/7 without the cost of hiring one. Start your planning here!

No matter what your dream for retirement - traveling the world, relocating to an exciting new city, or just spending more time with family - you can make that dream come true. The Everything Retirement Planning Book helps you determine how much money you'll need to save for your dream and the best ways to do it. This down-to-earth handbook is full of checklists to help you make the decisions you need to make before retiring. The Everything Retirement Planning Book includes practical advice on: Social Security benefits Withdrawing funds from IRAs Investments before and after retirement Life insurance and long-term care policies Working after you retire Of course, retirement planning involves more than just financial matters. This comprehensive guide also covers the emotional and psychological issues surrounding retirement, along with the pros and cons of popular retirement destinations. The Everything Retirement Planning Book has everything you need as you plan for the next stage of your life.

Based on the best-selling first edition, this greatly expanded and updated version contains forty-seven new activities, more information about how to design and lead retreats, and additional suggestions for how to recover when things go wrong. A CD-ROM allows you to print out chapters for distribution to key leaders, duplicate templates, and produce handouts for specific exercises. Whether you're planning to lead an offsite retreat for the first time or the ninety-ninth time, this easy-to-use, one-stop resource provides: Step-by-step instructions for leading a wide variety of tested exercises. Insight into establishing effective working relationships with clients. Information on what to include in your retreat designs. Suggestions for encouraging participants to speak up and play an active role. Tools for managing conflict. Guidance on making decisions during a retreat and changing course when necessary. Strategies for developing and implementing action plans. Tips for follow-up so you can keep the change train on track. Order your copy of this practical guide today!