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If it is raining today, I want you to know it is my fault. It is totally, and completely, all me. The clouds you see in the sky and the sprinkle of water you feel falling on your face and shoulders are because of me. I didn’t intend to ruin your morning. I sure did not mean to ruin your hair and am definitely sorry about your once-fabulous shoes.
I can imagine that you don’t want to hear this, but if you will allow me to explain, perhaps you will be less irritated with the condition of the weather (and with me). If you understand the “why,” you may actually sympathize with me and even embrace your frizzing hair just for the moment.
This is about me and Mother Nature (will just refer to her as “Mother”). You see I had two clients schedule outdoor events this week – one day apart; in a park and at a roof-top pool. With neither offering options for indoor shelter, of course we had expectations that we might be at the mercy of Mother and be pushed to reconsider our plans. But knowing is really only half the battle – making the difficult “weather call” is always the scary second half.
So yesterday, with gloomy weather reports and anxious clients surrounding me – there I sat, feeling a bit “damp,” as both teams expressly wanted my final say on whether to weather (yes - I did just put those two words next to each other) the incoming storm or reschedule their events.
There I sat at my desk with the weight of the decision(s) on me. Sure – there are reliable weather forecast outlets and I was consulting all of them. Yet experience tells me that Mother can change her mind. She can be fickle like that. Aren’t all Mothers? The reports could be wrong and the sun could definitely defy all predictions of rain.
I felt like I was on a game show and as the clock ticked, I was under pressure to hit the red button of decision. So I did at the very last minute I possible . . . and boldly called it ALL off. Then . . . I prayed. Yes, I prayed. I prayed for rain. I called friends and I asked them to pray for rain. I called my (own) mother and asked her to pray for rain.
Oh and I didn’t just pray for rain, but for the down pour – the “we cancelled this event for a good reason” down pour rain.
So now maybe you understand that this rain is not only going to save my business reputation, but (most importantly of course) it will make my clients feel good about their decision. Isn’t it always about leading your clients to a decision that makes them feel confident? Making them feel that they are clever? So whether it makes you sweat or makes your hair wet (or even ruins your shoes), you sometimes need to take the plunge and guide your clients into making their best decisions. And wherever there is doubt or the threat of it being the wrong decision . . . pray for rain.
Penned by Liz Glover Wilson
