The Power of Proper Planning
Well, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks here in my hometown of Buffalo, NY.
Over Christmas weekend our area experienced a blizzard that blew through with hurricane level winds and dumped 4-6 feet of snow over a 36-hour period. Over 40 people died, leaving behind family and friends to mourn.
Though the weather forecasters and local departments were warning us for days, some people did not prepare. They left their homes in the middle of the blizzard to get groceries. Others responded to calls for help and instead got themselves stuck and froze to death in the snow.
It was a tragedy.
The one distraction we can turn to through all our hardships is our local NFL team the Buffalo Bills. The Bills provide entertainment, inspiration, and serves as a bright spot in this community.
Last Monday, during the first quarter of the football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Bills safety Damar Hamlin made a tackle. He got up, walked a step, and immediately collapsed on the field.
Trainers rushed to his side and performed CPR for nine minutes as the players, fans in the stadium, and millions of tv viewers watched in suspense. Hamlin was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and the game was postponed.
The outpouring of support for Damar Hamlin and the Buffalo Bills has been overwhelming. At this week’s game, the Buffalo Bills training staff was honored for saving Damar Hamlin’s life. They acted within seconds and performed the medical procedures necessary to not only save his life, but to maintain his brain function. Damar Hamlin is making an amazing recovery.
It was a triumph.
What determines whether a situation ends in tragedy or triumph? Many factors contribute to an outcome, along with a little bit of luck. From my perspective, one factor stands out.
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
Most people prepare when a storm is coming. They run to the supermarket, gas up their snow blowers, and check their generators. They are proactive so they can respond in an emergency with logic and not react with emotion.
Some people do not prepare. They don’t take warnings seriously or assume they can go about their normal business and not be affected by their environment. Then, in a panic, they act irrationally. They make poor decisions and put themselves or others in danger.
Citizens who did not prepare for the storm found themselves reacting irrationally. They went out into a blizzard without proper equipment on a fool’s errand. It was unfortunate and unnecessary. Just a little bit of proactive planning could have made the difference between life and death.
Proactive planning is built into the training staff of the Buffalo Bills. They are prepared for every game. They train for this type of emergency. When an injury occurs, they run out onto the field with a bag of tools, ready to act. They have the proper equipment on hand and their actions are purposeful.
The training staff saved a life because they planned ahead. They respond to a crisis instead of reacting in a panic. Being proactive creates positive outcomes.
Don’t underestimate the power of proper planning. Whether it’s stocking up on an emergency food supply, getting your annual health screenings, or learning a new skill (like CPR).
Proper planning is a form of self-care.
What have you been putting off that needs to be put front and center?
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