I’ve always believed in the power of a well-prepared Plan B - so much so, there’s an entire lesson dedicated to it in Ready to Rise. But this past weekend reminded me that Plan B isn’t just a business strategy, it’s a life strategy too.
The Brisbane Lions were heading into their 7th AFLW Grand Final- an incredible achievement in a ten-season competition - and I was determined to be there in Melbourne. The only hitch? I had a flight to London leaving Brisbane the very next afternoon.
Cue the curveballs.
First came the Friday afternoon alert from Virgin: our Saturday flight was at risk due to forecast storms. If you’ve been in Southeast Queensland lately, you’ll know these weren’t empty warnings, flight cancellations had become the norm. So we pivoted, switching to an earlier flight. Sitting on the plane watching a wall of storms rolling in on the radar, I was grateful we’d moved fast. That agility meant not only making the game, but also attending the pre-match event for players’ families - a powerful reminder of the effort behind the on-field success.
Then came curveball #2. While we were mid-air, Jetstar cancelled our early Sunday return flight due to the A320 recall. Luckily, we’d already booked a backup. But with tight timelines and London looming, I decided to switch again, to a 7am Virgin flight into Brisbane. A mad dash to the Gold Coast to finish packing, then back to Brisbane to make my international flight. Mission accomplished. Bonus: I slept like a baby on the way to London!
Here’s the thing: none of this happened by chance. It happened because of a mindset - a commitment to agility, the same value that underpins Arc31 and the Ready to Rise philosophy. Agility isn’t frantic or reactive. It’s about quickly assessing your options, deciding with clarity, and acting with confidence.
Whether you're navigating storms or scaling a business, delays, indecision and fear of pivoting are what really derails you.
It’s why in Ready to Rise, I make the case that a strong Plan B isn’t a backup plan - it’s a leadership asset. It doesn’t mean you’re any less committed to Plan A. It means you’re prepared to lead with resilience when reality doesn’t match your roadmap.
I’d love to hear about a time you’ve had to pivot - what was your Plan B moment? And if you want to build your agility muscle, make sure to dive into Lesson 7 in Ready to Rise. It’s one of the most powerful shifts you can make as a scalable leader.
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