When the Storm Is Out Of Your Control, Preparation Isn’t
Last week, much of the country braced for winter storms. Some areas were lightly dusted. Others were hit hard. That unpredictability is just the nature of storms—no matter how many forecasts you read, some things remain outside your control.
What is within your control is how prepared you are.
In our case, preparation meant doing a lot of things that—thankfully—we didn’t end up needing. I bought a larger propane tank. Filled the RV with gas and water. Moved firewood closer to the house in case we needed to help heat things for the moms. Checked in with neighbors. Made sure we had options.
Most of it went unused. And that’s the point.
Because if the storm had hit harder, I wouldn’t have been scrambling in freezing weather, hoping someone else had what we needed. I would’ve been grateful for the time spent preparing.
That mindset feels very familiar.
It’s the same approach we take when planning a meeting, event, or program.
Behind every “effortless” experience is a long list of contingencies that never make it into the spotlight:
Backup vendors you hope you never call
Alternate floor plans that stay in the folder
Weather plans that don’t get announced
Transportation buffers that never get noticed
Extra supplies that remain untouched
To an attendee, none of that is visible. And honestly, that’s a success.
Just like storm prep, good program planning often looks like overkill—until the moment it isn’t.
You don’t plan contingencies because you expect something to go wrong. You plan them because you respect the fact that some variables are out of your control: weather, travel delays, equipment failures, human unpredictability.
The real value of preparation isn’t in using every plan. It’s in knowing that if something shifts, you’re not reacting—you’re responding.
Last week, we were fortunate. We fared just fine, while others weren’t as lucky and our hearts go out to them. That contrast was a reminder: preparation doesn’t guarantee outcomes, but it absolutely changes how you experience them.
Storms pass. Programs evolve. Things happen.
Preparation is what turns uncertainty into confidence—and chaos into calm.
And when you don’t need it? You’re simply grateful you had it.
Cheers,
Kelly