Creating Options and Flexibility in Times of Chaos

I’m a planner. Some people who are extremely close to me would say I “over-plan.” I can’t argue that thought at all. What I’ve learned over time is that good planning can prove to be highly effective, especially when there are unforeseen events and times.

In pre-Covid times when I traveled weekly, I would always be looking for alternative flight options when trying to fly home just to ensure I could get there even if my original flights were on time....just in case.  Even today, I find myself running different iterations of retirement planning scenarios even though I ran the same scenarios last month or the month before that....just to see what might’ve changed. Did I mention sometimes I overthink and over-plan?

But I have seen some of the positive outcomes from it. Just thinking about situations with different variants can cause one to conclude completely different outcomes. And from there, you can have a better understanding of the pathway to the best result possible.

As all of us have dealt with COVID-19, we’ve had to adjust. Whether it be professional, personal, interpersonal relationships, or just trying to exist with limited toilet paper, I’ve come to appreciate having as many options to be as flexible as possible. 

• Financially, what saved resources do you have that allow you to make adjustments at home or in your business? 

• Do you have a small storage area with a little bit extra of the basic necessities in case things are locked down? 

• Professionally, do you have the ability to work effectively at home so you can continue to grow and serve others?

• Do you find new ways of communicating with those you care about, keeping the relationships vibrant when you can’t see them face-to-face?

Like those scenarios, which lead to maybe a little bit of overthinking on my part, it’s also created options for different challenges….and gives me the best possible chance to be in the best possible position both personally and professionally.

Are you planning so that you have flexibility depending on an unknown future?