Ever see the dark clouds coming and just… choose to ignore them?

That was me 30 mins ago ☔

I went on an unintentional progression run.

It started off innocently enough, gallivanting through the green fields of Traralgon (I'm here working with TAFE Gippsland), taking sheep selfies.

Then, at the halfway point (well, I wanted to run longer, but it suddenly became the halfway point), it starts raining HARD. Sideways rain. My jog turns into a sprint home...

It got me thinking about how we handle surprises in our work, and these three things in particular:

1. Assess and adjust on the run (pun intended):

While I was dashing home, I still made sure to slow down around corners to avoid slipping. It’s okay to hit pause and recalibrate when things change unexpectedly. Better to adjust your pace than make an avoidable mistake that sets you back.

2. Protect what matters:

When the rain hit, I quickly put away my AirPods and electric keys to keep them dry. The same goes in business—when the storm hits, protect your critical assets. This could be relationships, data, resources. It’s not about avoiding the rain, but safeguarding what’s vital while you navigate through it.

3. Keep an eye on the finish line:

Sure, I got soaked, but my goal stayed the same: getting home in one piece. Business surprises may change your path, but they don’t have to change your goal. Stay focused on where you’re heading, even if you have to take a detour.

But here’s probably the most important thing.

You can see the dark clouds in this photo!

I could have turned around then.

But, I kept thinking, “It won’t be that bad when it hits.”

It was.

Lesson learned?

Sometimes we see the signs but choose not to act.

Prevention is the best strategy—but when you don’t, you’d better have a good Plan B (or, at least, find a corny lesson for LinkedIn!!).

#adapt