When Plans Go Sideways
I want to talk about detours.
Not the fun kind…wait, is there a fun kind? I’m talking about when you have a path, an expectation, a direction…
…and next thing you know, you’re forced off the path.
Just like your GPS reroutes when there’s roadwork or an accident, life sometimes reroutes you. In your workout routine, it might be bad weather or an injury. In your freelance business, it could be something bigger: a business loan falls through, a client doesn’t renew, your new marketing strategy flops.
Detours in business are inevitable.
Yes, even when you do have a plan. (You do have a plan, right?)
Detours in Business—and Life—Are Inevitable
These kinds of interruptions can be frustrating and disheartening. Trust me—I’ve been there. Literally two weeks ago, a steady client—one I’d counted on financially to finance business expansion—decided to take their creative production in a new direction. Even if it’s a normal part of the business, it still hurts. Even if I know it wasn’t because of my skill, that they’d appreciated all the work I’d done for them up to that point, it was still a gut punch.
Then a few days later, I headed out for my usual run, only to find my route blocked by construction. My first reaction? Really?! Now this too? I had my perfect little loop planned. The detour was longer, hillier, and passed through a less scenic part of town. My carefully laid plans—wrecked.
And that’s when it clicked: this is the same feeling we get in business. It’s a gut reaction. We whine. We stew. We take it personally. We want to punch a pillow.
But after the freak-out comes the questioning. Is there something I should change?
Some setbacks are temporary. Others might be redirections in disguise. Either way, panic is not a helpful project manager.
So when I calmed down, I asked myself: Is this a dead end, or just a longer route to the same goal?
Feel. Assess. Adapt. Repeat.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Let yourself react. Scream in a closet. Curse the sky. Do what you need to do to release that initial wave of frustration. It’s normal. Don’t keep it inside or pretend it’s not there. It won’t go away, it’ll just rot.
- Then assess. Is this a temporary delay, or a long-term shift? Don’t make decisions in a panic—fear is a terrible strategist. Make sure you’re taking business decisions in a calm emotional state.
- Lean on your community. If you don’t have one yet, start building it. Mentors, colleagues, collaborators, even online groups. These are your insurance policy for freelance life and a great backboard to bounce ideas off of. Also, they’ll understand your pain, and it feels great to have a safe place to share your struggle.
- Look for hidden opportunities. That client walking away? Maybe it’s space to pitch the dream project you’ve been putting off. That equipment that died? Maybe it’s time to upgrade and streamline. That lease not renewed? Maybe you find a brighter, quieter studio closer to home.
Most of all: Don’t go it alone. Just because you’re a solopreneur doesn’t mean you’re a hermit.
If you haven’t already, go check out this week’s episode of Freelance Fitness. We move through a cardio sequence together with a fun Latin playlist, and I walk you through how to process and pivot when things don’t go to plan.
You can listen while you walk, run, cycle, or simply need a mental reset.
New episodes drop every Wednesday—so hit subscribe, and keep showing up for yourself.
🎧 Listen to Episode 13 of Freelance Fitness: https://rss.com/podcasts/freelance-fitness/2142995
🎵 Playlist of the week by: Lawd Ito
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