20 Comments to “Plan Bs, Worse Case Scenarios and Positive Realities”

1. October 30th, 2007 at 7:41 am
   Troy Worman said

   Houses that fell on you? I don’t recall any houses falling on Glinda.

2. October 30th, 2007 at 7:57 am
   Karin H. said

   Hi Liz

   ;-) We’ve just landed a worst-case scenario this morning, so one more for our own records to pick from in the future.

   After taking a deep breath we can happily (or should that be: bravely?) follow your advice:

   I’m free to concentrate on building the positive realities

   Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart. specially in business)

3. October 30th, 2007 at 8:23 am
   ME Strauss said

   Hi Troy!
   I’m no Glinda, but I appreciate the compliment. :)

4. October 30th, 2007 at 8:26 am
   ME Strauss said

   Hi Karin,
   After one disaster or two, I start to realize that the response requires the same sort of business decisions.

5. October 30th, 2007 at 8:32 am
   Karin H. said

   Yeap, that brings us right back to our ‘hedgehog’ concept (sticky ticky ;-))

   Karin H.

6. October 30th, 2007 at 8:44 am
   John Richardson said

   After a week of incredible fires here in Southern California, I started to think about all those things that the experts always tell you to do… like backup your computer, create a home inventory, and pat your dog. Well I’ve patted the dog so far and I’m working on the other two…

   Luckily no tornadoes yet :-)

   John

7. October 30th, 2007 at 8:55 am
   ME Strauss said

   Hi Karin!
   That hedgehog sure gets around, doesn’t he? :)

8. October 30th, 2007 at 8:56 am
   ME Strauss said

   Hi John!
   It’s so good to hear from you and know that you’re safe. So many of our friends are out in CA.

   Pat your dog for me too. :)

9. October 30th, 2007 at 9:17 am
   Kusani said

   Two things! First, I love how you phrased this, Liz. Indeed, we can draw upon our past experiences of disasters, flubs, and hastily-concocted work-arounds to get all the worst-case scenarios and back-up plans we could need! It’s wonderful that you then choose to build positive realities.

   Second, my dad has an adage that has served me well. Paraphrased, it goes like this: “Just remember, you don’t have to stop with a Plan B. You got the whole alphabet to work with.” So what are Plans R and Y like? =) I love the idea of having lots and lots of alternative options, though I realize some situations won’t lend themselves to being so thoroughly second-guessed.

   Thanks for kickstarting my brain today, Liz and loyal commenters! =)

10. October 30th, 2007 at 9:26 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kusani!
    I’ve never really been a fan of Plan Bs myself . . . to me they offer an immediate out in case I want to give up. So I just build alternate Plan As — I know it’s semantics but it feels like stronger stuff. :)

11. October 30th, 2007 at 10:14 am
    Mike said

    Hi Liz,

    Wonderful post (nice graphic, too). Everyone has an innate ability to see all the things that can go wrong in a situation; it’s seeing all the things that can go right that we have to work at! ;-)

    Mike

12. October 30th, 2007 at 10:17 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike,
    The first step toward success is knowing what it looks like. You’re so right. The hardest part is seeing that. :)

13. October 30th, 2007 at 10:23 am
    Mike said

    Tell me about it! ;-)

14. October 30th, 2007 at 10:29 am
    ME Strauss said

    Don’t have to, you already know. :)

15. October 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
    Kusani said

    Well, belatedly… I never thought of Plan Bs as ways out, honestly. It’s an interesting point!

    To me, Plan Bs and Cs and Zs are just alternate ways of reaching the same goal. If Plan A doesn’t lead you to success, well, go with Plan B and try to get there in a different way. It’s not that Plan B is an excuse not to try Plan A first, or that Plan B will lead you to a different ending (other than Plan B might get you to your goal where Plan A has failed; you know what I mean!).

    Totally semantics, I agree. I think you and I are on the same playing field, just using different terms! =)

16. October 30th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
    ME Strauss said

    I agree, Kusani!
    It is semantics, but nonetheless, I know some folks don’t try when they know there is a “fall back” plan to rely on. Buy inventing a plan B some folks actually has given themselves an out for not succeeding at plan A.

    If there were no plan B, some folks would try harder. . . . it’s a fact. :)

17. October 30th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
    Mother Earth said

    if i was to to share the drama of the last 2 years it would have an “and then this” happened added to every sentance. a listener might feel like I am trying to say my elephant is bigger than yours and pinker and nastier, truth is the drama now as i sit here in hindsight is rather amusing…i had no plan for what happened nor did I have a plan to fall back on, crawl into or letters in the alphabet to create from

    it’s what was so

    Coming to the other side of it almost feels like the rebuilding taught me an even deeper life lesson

    does that makes sense?

    I am going to shine brighter somehow - truly shine brighter

    and the new skin feels way better than the old one

    Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
    http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com

18. October 30th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karen!
    We’re a great group at attracting “what comes next” kind of things in our lives when we need excitement. Now’s when you should start attracting lots of money instead. :)

19. October 30th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
    Mother Earth said

    I couldn’t agree more - don’t you know that is why I am so drawn in ? I did recently have a series of money come forth occasions small - yet I accomplished more fiscally in the last 30 days than I expected

    more needs to come from my profession vs good will yet it’s a good feeling

    Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
    http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com

20. October 30th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Karen!
    I know you did. That’s why I said that. :)