Been Thinking About Burning Man

I've never wanted to go to Burning Man (what can I say, I'm a fan of indoor plumbing), but a client went last week so I was watching the news, worried about her and the others getting out safely. And I thought, wow - for everyone involved, that sure didn't go as planned.

And it got me thinking of all the other things that didn't go as planned for me or the people I know: the remodel, the global pandemic, the new job, the new business, the diagnosis, the pregnancy, the breakup, the family vacation. Insert your favorite that didn't go as planned moment!

And I'm reminded (yet again) that most things don't go as planned. 

When I started coaching, I naively thought the hard part was launching the business and getting it to a certain steady state. What I learned from experience is that each year is different from the last. Collaborations come and go. Business ebbs and flows. The economy fluctuates. Stuff happens (I'm looking at you COVID-19). I sure didn't see those things coming.

So what are we to do in a world where little goes exactly as planned?

  1. Expect The Unexpected: Expect that some things just won't go exactly as planned. This "expect the unexpected" mindset can get you through most things.

  2. Have Your Pity Party. Yes, when something goes terribly wrong, you'll want to curse the gods, Mother Nature, or anyone else who appears to have ruined your best-laid plans. Have your pity party; you deserve it (and for some things, you may need way more time than others - that's called grief). Give yourself some grace. Ask for help. And don't try to go it alone.

  3. Control What You Can Control. Ask yourself - what can I do now to get to the same end goal or as close as possible? Ultimately, we can only control what's in our control and nothing else.

Knowing that life is full of curve balls is what makes it, at times, maddening and, at others, a great big adventure. Here's to enjoying the ride!

Winn Clark