Most languages and cultures have some form of the expression “when it rains, it pours.”
In Latin, malis mala succedunt means, “troubles are followed by troubles.”
In Japanese, the saying goes, “when you’re crying, you also get stung by a bee.”
The common point of these expressions is a reflection of an unfortunate reality of life: what can go wrong, it seems, invariably will, and often all at the same time.
But to understand this…
is to hedge against it.
To imagine and foresee certain aspects of this reality is to prepare against it.
Consider the business we’re in and the services and opportunities we provide to our customers. If you’re only preparing for a few small things to go wrong in your life, you’ll likely be disappointed when you’re proven wrong by the nature of reality.
And, you’re going to be doubly disappointed when your problems come in pairs and triplets. Just because the rain falls doesn’t mean you have to like it, but you should be prepared for it.
We often talk about how we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond.
Knowing it’s going to rain, it makes sense to make sure our roof is sound above our heads, we check the wipers on our car, and we grab an umbrella.
Knowing it’s going to rain, it makes sense to adjust our plans if need be and have a good indoor activity planned for the day.
Our reaction in each of those situations is entirely controllable, it’s up to us how prepared we are, and so it’s up to us whether the rain affects us or not.
Did you build your roof while the sun was shining, or did you hope it would just keep on shining indefinitely?
Did you check those wipers when it was nice out, or did you wish you did when you couldn’t see the car in front of you? Did you remember to bring an umbrella?
Some days it feels like it’s a downpour. Like it may never let up (hello, mid-pandemic 2020). But we know that it will eventually stop raining. Plan accordingly, adjust, course correct.
It is crucial that we manage our expectations, too. We must understand that there is not only one outcome for a given situation. This is especially true in our interactions with prospects and customers. Our program focuses intently on role playing for this very reason – to have “talk tracks” that address the various answers a prospect might give us and how we can respond in a way that drives them to interest in what we are offering.
Also, know that even if you are caught unprepared, the first thing you can do to make things better is not to make them any worse. Get inside, dry off, and make a plan to be better prepared for next time.
The content we deliver to our Masterminds is all about being prepared for everything that comes your way running an agency. Lock in your IAO Masterminds membership.
