The key to a successful Thanksgiving is planning. Know what

In the words of J. Kenji Lopez-Alt: “The key to a successful Thanksgiving is planning. Know what needs to get done, when it needs to be done, and how much effort and time it’s going to take you.” Though it speaks of a holiday feast, its wisdom reaches far beyond the table. It is a reminder that all human endeavors—whether in the kitchen, on the battlefield, or in the councils of state—are secured not merely by enthusiasm, but by forethought. For passion may ignite the fire, but planning sustains it until the work is complete.

The ancients often likened life itself to a banquet. They knew that joy was sweetest when prepared with care, that chaos is the enemy of harmony, and that even the simplest feast requires the ordering of tasks. To make a Thanksgiving meal is not merely to cook food, but to weave together time, effort, and fellowship into a moment of gratitude. Without planning, dishes burn, tempers fray, and the joy of the feast dissolves into confusion. With planning, however, the day becomes a symphony, each act of preparation fitting into the next like notes in a well-composed song.

Consider the example of Cincinnatus, the Roman farmer who was called to lead in a time of war. He did not succeed because of sheer will alone, but because he approached the crisis with clarity and order. He knew what had to be done, when it had to be done, and how much effort it would take to rally his people. His planning turned despair into victory. And when the battle was won, he returned to his plow, teaching that greatness often comes not from brilliance alone, but from discipline and preparation. Just as he planned the salvation of his people, so too must we plan even the smallest of tasks, that they may bring peace instead of turmoil.

Lopez-Alt’s words are also a shield against pride. Many approach Thanksgiving or life’s great labors with the belief that effort alone will suffice, that rushing forward without order will yield results. But this is folly. The builder who does not measure collapses the house. The sailor who does not chart the seas is dashed upon the rocks. The cook who does not prepare descends into chaos. Planning is humility made visible, the acknowledgment that success does not come by accident, but through careful attention and deliberate action.

And yet, planning is not rigidity. The wise planner leaves room for the unexpected—for storms, for errors, for delays. To plan well is not to lock oneself into chains, but to give oneself the strength and freedom to adapt. In the kitchen, as in life, mishaps will come: the fire too hot, the guest delayed, the dish spoiled. But with a plan, one does not falter. One shifts, one adjusts, and the feast still shines.

The lesson is clear: success in any endeavor is born not merely of effort, but of preparation. Whether you are cooking a feast, raising a family, building a career, or pursuing a dream, take the time to order your steps. Ask yourself: What needs to be done? When must it be done? How much effort will it require? In answering, you carve chaos into order and possibility into reality.

Practical action lies before you. Begin each task with a list, no matter how humble. Break great labors into small ones, so that each may be completed in turn. Estimate the time required, so that you may not be caught unprepared. And, above all, remember that planning is not a burden but a gift: it allows you to enter the work with peace and to enjoy the fruits of your labor with those you love.

Thus, Lopez-Alt’s words remind us of an ancient truth: that the joy of Thanksgiving, like the joy of life, is not secured by chance, but by wisdom. The feast becomes a celebration not only of food, but of foresight, not only of abundance, but of preparation. And when we plan with care, our tables, our homes, and our lives will always be filled with harmony.