What to Do When Business (and Life) Doesn’t Go as Planned
I had a completely different plan for today.
Actually, for this entire week—maybe even this whole month.
But then something unexpected happened. The kind of disruption that doesn’t show up on your carefully color-coded calendar or fit neatly into your mental spreadsheet of how things should go. And yet, there I was… dealing with it.
And it got me thinking: entrepreneurship and life have a funny way of humbling you. You plan, you prepare, you perfect—and then something goes sideways anyway.
If you’re a high-achieving woman who thrives on structure, strategy, and control (like me), this can feel like a gut punch. But learning to navigate uncertainty might be the most important skill for women in business today.
When the Plan Falls Apart: The Reality of Running a Business
There was a time when I believed success came from perfection. That if I just planned hard enough—accounted for every outcome—I could prevent failure, disappointment, or anything unexpected.
Spoiler: that’s not how entrepreneurship works. Or life.
Clients back out. Launches fall flat. Tech breaks. Family emergencies happen. You get sick, or burned out, or hit by something you never saw coming. And no strategy session or productivity hack can fully prepare you for that.
What I’ve learned (slowly and painfully) is that the most resilient entrepreneurs aren’t the ones with perfect plans—they’re the ones who know how to pivot, adapt, and move forward when things go off-script.
3 Mindset Shifts That Help Me Handle the Unexpected
This isn’t a “look how far I’ve come” story tied up in a bow. I still struggle. But here’s what I am learning about handling setbacks and staying grounded when things don’t go as planned:
1. Let Go of the Idea That “Perfect” Was Ever the Goal
When things derail, I ask myself: Was that plan really the only path to success—or just the version I got attached to?
Often, the detour ends up being better than what I originally envisioned. The trick is to stay open to new possibilities instead of clinging to old expectations.
2. Pause Before You React
Old me? Hit panic mode. Fix everything fast. New me? Takes a breath. I ask: Is this an actual emergency, or just an inconvenience?
Most of the time, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just not what I expected. Giving myself that pause helps me respond with intention instead of stress.
3. Progress Over Perfection
This one’s still hard, especially if you pride yourself on doing things well. But the truth is, messy progress beats flawless procrastination every time.
The people who succeed in business aren’t perfect—they just keep going.
This Isn’t Failure—It’s Forward Motion
If you’re facing something unexpected in your business (or life) right now, here’s your reminder: this doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re in motion.
Entrepreneurship will always come with curveballs. The key is learning to move with them—freak out a little if you need to, then figure it out anyway.
So here’s to the pivots, the plot twists, and the imperfect progress. You’re doing just fine.
What about you? What’s something in your life or business that didn’t go as planned recently? Leave a comment below—I guarantee you’re not the only one navigating the unexpected.
