I can’t believe I didn’t have it on the list because this is so important.

You must always have a plan B.

Yes, it is easier to think everything is going to work out. But often things change, and if you’re not prepared, you’ll be caught flat footed, scrambling, in full blown crisis management. Instead, assess the situation now and identify those areas with greatest likelihood of failure…”If something’s going to go wrong, it’s going to be “fill in the blank”.  What’s the long pole in the tent? Who is the one person you are worried about? Where do you have a dependency that’s making you nervous?

And if it goes wrong, what will you do? Think through the steps now when your head’s clear.

All you pessimistic, glass half empty people out there? The bright side, you’re usually great at the Plan B.  So if you’re not, take a moment and ask yourself….”what if it doesn’t go as expected? What is my plan B?”