Don’t Panic... Cats Can’t Fly

One day I was putting the finishing touches to the weekly newsletter that goes out every Friday. It was 12.50, and I was cutting it close for the 1pm deadline I set myself. I had just got halfway through writing the intro when I heard this awful screeching noise and looked out the window, at that point, our cat Morrissey plummeted past my office window, no parachute or safety harness.

My office was in the middle of 3 floors. He’d fallen, or was pushed by the dog,(far more likely) from the top balcony straight through the centre of this weird shaft we had to allow light into a lower courtyard (or atrium if I’m trying to come over as posh.) It’s over 60 ft or more top to bottom.

I can confirm that yes, cats do land on their feet and have 9 lives. They also evacuate their bowels when you pick them up to see if they’re OK, my wife found that one out.

It was straight down to the vet’s, where they kept him in for observation overnight. He returned home on Saturday none the worse for his base jump.

The reason I’m telling you this story is that as soon as the pressure is on, people react in different ways and it’s fascinating.

My wife ran around panicking, while covered in a ton of cat poo, I can also confirm that stuff stinks. While I calmly got his cage, got him in it, and got him to the vet’s. No panic, just clear thinking. I am not saying this to brag it’s just a reaction to being shouted at by big hairy sergeants for a long time when I was younger.

Identify problem, identify possible fix, implement, review outcome… after a while it becomes second nature.

So what do you do when something goes wrong in your business?

Panic, run around as if the sky is falling, or take well reasoned action? What do you do if you’re approaching a deadline? Panic you aren’t going to make it, or work as best you can to make that deadline?

If you tend towards the panic side of the spectrum, don’t beat yourself up about it. Sit back, take a deep breath, and take well reasoned action, even if it proves to be wrong, you at least thought about what to do.

The worst thing any of us can do is immediately react, take time to take a deep breath and think about things you could try. then choose one.

I’ve honestly lost count of the number of times I’ve done calls with people who are really struggling and can’t see how to turn their business around. Usually within 15 or 20 minutes, when they’re thinking straight, the answers are there in front of them, as clear as daylight.

What’s the biggest problem facing you now?

What’s your gut reaction to what you need to do?

Don’t do it, go grab a coffee (obviously, if it's very time-sensitive, like your house burning down, ignore this bit and run… and what are you doing reading my drivel in the middle of a crisis?)

Drink the coffee and think about the options you have and choose the path that you think is best.

Don’t let panic cloud your vision. You have all the answers you need, you just need to think straight.

You’ve got this.

You are always welcome to ask for advice in our free community we are there to give good advice.

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