The plan was perfect... until it wasn’t

I often travel down to Entrepreneurs Circle HQ in Birmingham.

And last time, I made the decision I wasn’t going to drive again.

A 5.5-hour journey each way…
Losing a full day travelling…
Then sitting in traffic on the way home after a long day, getting back late and feeling completely wiped out the next day.

No thank you.

(Not that I’m blaming age of course… although my sons — who are in their early 20s — had gone down for social media training and they were absolutely useless the next day, so that made me feel a lot better 😄)

Anyway, I had it all planned perfectly.

Train booked weeks in advance.
Glasgow Central opening all lanes again after the awful fire.
A neatly packed small case (very unlike me — I usually take everything when I drive).
Little travel bottles organised.
Work lined up so I could be productive on the journey.

Perfect.

Until I woke up that morning…

Train cancelled.

Fallen tree further down the line.

I was gutted.

But I didn’t have long to sit in that feeling.

I packed the car, downloaded an audiobook and some training, and got on the road.

And actually?
The journey ended up being far more productive than I expected.

It got me thinking how often this happens in business.

You’re moving along nicely.

Everything planned.
Everything organised.
Everything feeling in control.

And then something happens.

Something you didn’t expect.
Something you couldn’t control.
Something that forces you to change direction.

And in that moment, you’ve got a choice.

You can stay frustrated.
Dwell on what’s gone wrong.
Let it knock you off track.

Or…

You can adjust.
Pivot.
Make a new plan.
And keep moving.

Because the reality is — things happening outwith your control, last-minute changes, disappointments… they are all part of business.

They don’t mean anything has gone wrong.

They just mean you’re in business.

What really sets successful business owners apart isn’t avoiding these moments.

It’s how they respond.

And more importantly — how quickly they respond.

Because speed of decision-making and the ability to stay steady when things change is what keeps momentum going.

Not perfect plans.

Just to say… if you’re at a stage in your business where things are busy, there’s momentum, but you know things could feel more structured, more controlled, and less reactive — that’s exactly the kind of work I’m focusing on just now.

Helping established female business owners build the systems, discipline and clarity so that when things do go off track, the business doesn’t.

If that sounds like where you are, just reply and tell me a little about your business.

Have a great week,
Speak soon,

Cherie