In a recent LinkedIn post, Lenny Rachitsky highlighted a powerful concept articulated by Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, regarding strategic planning and vision. Rachitsky shared Perkins’ distinction between two fundamental approaches to planning, which she terms “Column B” thinking.
Understanding Column A vs. Column B Planning
Perkins, as shared by Rachitsky, contrasts a common, more constrained method of planning with a visionary one. The former, which she labels “Column A,” involves assessing current resources and limitations. This is akin to looking at the available materials and determining what can be built with them immediately.
“There are two ways of planning. Imagine you you’re building a castle on the hill. One way is imagining what would be the most magical, wonderful, mythical, castle you can build.”
This initial, aspirational step, as described by Perkins and relayed by Rachitsky, sets the stage for what truly distinguishes strategic long-term vision. It’s about defining the ultimate, ideal outcome before considering the immediate feasibility.
The Power of Future-Oriented Vision
The core of Perkins’ “Column B” thinking, according to Rachitsky’s post, lies in focusing on this idealized future. Instead of being limited by present circumstances, this approach encourages the definition of a grand, almost mythical, end goal. The subsequent work then becomes a dedicated, long-term effort to bring that vision to fruition.
“The other thing you can do is look at the bricks around you, and ask what can I do with these bricks? Most planning is often done by looking at the bricks and trying to stack them. This way you can create only so much. That’s column A.”
Rachitsky emphasizes Perkins’ critique of the prevalent “Column A” method. This approach, while practical in the short term, inherently limits potential by focusing on what is immediately possible with existing resources. It can lead to incremental progress rather than transformative breakthroughs.
Building the ‘Magical Castle’
Perkins’ “Column B” thinking, as illuminated by Rachitsky, proposes a paradigm shift. It advocates for articulating the most ambitious, desirable future state first. This future state then becomes the guiding principle for all subsequent actions, investments, and strategic decisions.
“Column B thinking is thinking about what is that magical, wonderful future you want to build. And then doing that.”
The implication, as highlighted in Rachitsky’s sharing of Perkins’ insights, is that by first defining this ultimate vision – the “magical, wonderful future” – individuals and organizations can then dedicate the necessary years and decades to actually construct it. This long-term perspective, driven by an audacious goal, is what enables the creation of truly remarkable achievements, much like building a mythical castle.
In essence, Rachitsky’s post serves to amplify Perkins’ call for a more visionary approach to planning, urging leaders to dream big and then systematically work towards realizing those grand ambitions, rather than being constrained by the limitations of the present.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Lenny Rachitsky on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on November 3, 2025 | View original post on LinkedIn →