Taking the time to build out the ideal plan is worth the effort, don’t get me wrong. It brings a lot of comfort to see it all laid out in front of you: the specific timelines, defined outcomes, step-by-step instructions. But what happens when the real world gets in the way and unexpected obstacles arise? What happens when your plan falls apart and you’re left to pick up the pieces or abandon it entirely? You’ve got to be ready to act on the fly and not let unfortunate circumstances slow you down.
Plus, in most cases, real progress doesn’t follow a straight line. That line curves, zigzags, becomes dotted, and every once in a while, it does a loop-the-loop. The sooner you accept that unpredictability is just part of the journey, the faster you gain a competitive edge.
Growing is often uncomfortable.
When things don’t go according to plan, you’re forced to think differently, act quickly, and work outside your comfort zone—sometimes WAY outside of it. But that’s just par for the course when it comes to entrepreneurship. That’s where you really start to grow, find out what you’re capable of, and what you need to work on.
Predictability helps you stay efficient, but unpredictability makes you innovative. Unexpected events challenge all of your assumptions and reveal your blind spots, no matter how big or small they are. Each time you face the unexpected, you build up your resilience—even when you fail.
If everything always worked out as you expected, you’d never evolve. And without evolution, you become irrelevant.
You can’t control everything, but there is a lot you can control.
Trying to control every single outcome is exhausting and doesn’t help you make progress. It drains your time and effort, leaving you with very little to spend on the things that are within your control.
Rather than trying to force things that are out of your hands, put your mind onto the things that you do have power over. Create routines and habits that allow you to pivot. Don’t make all your preparations for specific outcomes. Make them for a range of possibilities.
You can’t predict every twist, but you can be ready for the turns!
Build for speed and endurance.
If you want to operate at a higher level, design your life and work around agility and staying power. That means …
- Finding a small group of leaders you trust for feedback
- Learning how to make quicker decisions decision-making
- Being willing to repeat failed actions until you succeed at them
- Letting go of the need for everything to make sense immediately
Some of the best decisions only reveal their value in hindsight. Trust the process because you’ve built the capacity to handle whatever comes next!
Let the unexpected come—you’re ready to face it head on!
Unexpected events and circumstances are just part of the pathway toward your biggest goals. Every disruption gives you something to learn, opportunity, and a chance to improve.
Those who resist it burn out or fall behind. Those who embrace it evolve and move forward. If you want to grow, lead, and build something that lasts, stop waiting for certainty. Start embracing the unexpected. You have what it takes to handle it!
If you’re looking for a bit more to read, check out my most recent blog, on a topic near and dear to my heart: Autism awareness!
