My perfectly planned day

I had my day perfectly planned. I was in Barbados for the Caribbean Association of Indigenous Banks (CAIB) 35th Annual Conference. On Wednesday, I was scheduled to deliver the keynote on “Leadership in Times of Crisis” at 2.30 p.m. I planned my day well, so that I would be ready to deliver a mind blowing presentation that afternoon.

In line with my plan, I awoke at 6.00 a.m., enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee followed by an invigorating workout of spinning and light weights in the gym. Returning to my room at 7.15 a.m., I intended that after a long cool shower, I would have a solid, healthy breakfast and then return to my room to rehearse my speech until I was confident I could deliver it flawlessly. I was just about to go into the shower when the phone rang. It was Patricia, the CEO of the CAIB:

“Marguerite – where are you”?

“In my room” I responded, somewhat befuddled, wondering where else I should possibly be at 7.20 a.m.

“I need you to do your keynote at 8.15 a.m. The speaker for that slot has been delayed and I need to revise the agenda. Can you be ready for the bus at 7.45”?

“But but but ….. I am not ready; I haven’t rehearsed my speech; I haven’t even showered yet” … a litany of excuses to make this intrusion into my carefully planned day go away.

And then I realised that I was in the exact position that I was due to speak about later (now sooner, much sooner). I was in a crisis! Here is what I had written in my speech:

“Our normal response in a crisis is to PANIC! We become paralyzed, not so much by what is happening but by our FEAR of what has happened in the past and what could happen in the future. FEAR feeds upon itself (contagion effect), and soon everyone else is in a panic. One cannot see clearly in this state, for a state of FEAR clouds our vision and therefore our ability to make decisions. But, this is the very time that we MUST make decisions!”

I was exhibiting the exact same response that, with great authority and wisdom, I would be admonishing my audience not to do! I was panicking. I was paralyzed. I was living from a place of fear. Observing myself, I paused, took a breath and told Pat that I would be on time for the 7.45 a.m. bus. And I was.

Now, with the luxury of time for reflection, here’s what I learned:
1. You are never 100% prepared for anything
2. Yet, you are usually more prepared than you think
3. Taking a breath is one of the most powerful things you can do, for it allows the space for clarity and wisdom
4. Trusting yourself is the greatest trust of all – for it is we who undermine ourselves, not others

I delivered the speech. Throughout the day, participants came up to me profuse with their gratitude and congratulations. And Pat reminded me later that all week I had been complaining about being scheduled to deliver the speech after lunch, and there it was – I delivered the speech first thing in the morning. My final lesson? Be careful what you wish for – for you will certainly get it! It was indeed a perfectly planned day.