Isn’t it fascinating how, just when everything is going well, life can throw unexpected challenges our way, leaving us feeling stressed and overwhelmed?  Trust me, you’re not alone.   I’ve been in those situations multiple times myself, and it’s not exactly a walk in the park. 

We all hope for smooth sailing, especially in our fast-paced world where time is of the essence, but let’s face it, life is full of ups and downs, and things often happen when we least expect them. 

So, how do we navigate these unforeseen obstacles?  Can we actually turn them into opportunities?  Absolutely!  It all starts with proactively preparing for the unexpected. 

Now, I understand that not every situation warrants this level of preparedness, but when it comes to important events, critical projects, or effective meetings, it pays off to plan for potential interruptions, changes, or delays. 

It may seem like a simple concept, yet many of us tend to roll the dice, assuming nothing will go wrong, without considering the cost if it does.  Plus finding excuses or blaming the situation or others won’t change the consequences – failed projects, missed deadlines, ineffective communication, lost sales, lost trust, and having to re-do work…all things we want to avoid.  So how can you prepare? 

Here are a few ideas: