There are few things I love more than a good plan. In fact, I typically create multiple plans with various contingencies. (Just ask my husband who patiently listens to my running list of “what-ifs” before any major decision.)
There’s undeniable comfort in planning — you have time to be strategic, align your resources, and act instead of react. But what happens when that carefully crafted plan gets disrupted?
Do you get mad? Frustrated? Do you metaphorically (or literally) knock over the table and storm out of the room? (Yikes!)
Here’s what works: Planning is most valuable when it includes space for the inevitable unexpected disruptions.
Don’t get me wrong, I would like — no, I prefer — that everything go according to plan, but I’ve yet to find that to be the case in life.
Work? Never according to plan. Parenting? HA! Not even close.
What if instead of hoping disruptions don’t happen, we actually planned for them?
This is where we shift our energy from being surprised, angry, and frustrated to approaching that bump in the road as the puzzle we were actually waiting to solve all along.
Instead of seeing disruptions as setbacks, let’s try viewing them as opportunities to showcase our strategic agility — turning problems into chances to shine.
Remember: The most successful marketers aren’t the ones with perfect plans; they’re the ones who anticipate disruption and transform it into competitive advantage.
What’s your approach to handling disrupted plans? Have you found ways to build flexibility into your marketing strategy? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.
