We’ve all had those days where we anxiously check the weather app, hoping that the forecast will change, knowing full well there’s nothing we can do about it.
Maybe it’s a big day for your business—a product launch, a client meeting, or an event—and the weather suddenly feels like the most important thing in the world. What if it rains? What if it’s too hot? What if the wind picks up and everything goes wrong?
But no matter how often you refresh the app or gaze out the window, the reality is that you can’t control the weather. What you can do is prepare—pack an umbrella, adjust the plans, or change your expectations. Business, in so many ways, is like the weather: unpredictable, at times frustrating, and beyond your control.
As business owners, especially those running things solo, we often get caught in the trap of worrying about outcomes we have no say in. And it’s understandable—there’s a lot on the line.
But constantly trying to control the uncontrollable leads to nothing but anxiety and burnout. What we can control is how we prepare, how we respond, and, most importantly, the mindset we choose to carry with us.
It’s easier said than done, I know. But if you take a moment to think about the things that stress you out the most in your business, you might notice a pattern. Often, it’s not the tasks you can check off or the work you know you can handle. It’s the things you can’t control—client decisions, market changes, economic conditions—that weigh on you the most.
One of the most helpful practices I’ve found is to start each day by separating what’s within your control from what isn’t. This isn’t just an abstract exercise; it’s about literally writing it down. On one side of a piece of paper (or a digital note), write "Can Control." On the other, "Can’t Control." And be honest with yourself.
Under "Can Control," you might write things like:
Under "Can’t Control," you might write:
When it’s there in front of you, it becomes a lot clearer what’s worth focusing your energy on. You don’t need to spend emotional energy worrying about what’s on the “Can’t Control” list. It’s wasted energy, and we all know how valuable energy is when you’re running a business alone.
Once you’ve separated the controllable from the uncontrollable, the next step is preparation. This doesn’t mean trying to foresee every possible outcome or trying to predict the future—it’s about getting yourself and your business ready to adapt to whatever comes.
Think of it like packing for a trip. You can’t control the weather at your destination, but you can make sure you have what you need. Business is no different. The more you prepare, the less those unexpected changes knock you off course.
For example, if you’re worried about a big client deal not going through, rather than stressing over it, you can prepare by:
This is about taking control of the variables that are within your grasp. When you do this, even if things don’t go as planned, you’ll have the confidence to pivot because you’ve already laid the groundwork.
One of the hardest lessons to learn, especially when you’re leading a business alone, is that things won’t always go according to plan. In fact, more often than not, they won’t. But that doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that you weren’t prepared enough. It just means that, like the weather, business is unpredictable.
This is where adaptability comes in. Adaptability is about having the resilience and flexibility to change course when needed, without beating yourself up about it. It’s knowing that success doesn’t mean sticking rigidly to one path but adjusting when necessary.
To foster adaptability in your business:
Adaptability is your umbrella for those unexpected downpours. It doesn’t stop the rain, but it keeps you moving forward, dry and focused.
Finally, the most important thing you can take with you—no matter the weather or the business climate—is your mindset. If you’re carrying the weight of trying to control everything, every hiccup will feel like a failure.
But if you enter each day with the mindset that you’ve done what you can, and that the rest will unfold as it does, you’ll find a lot more peace in your work.
This doesn’t mean complacency—it’s about confidence. It’s about knowing that you’re capable of handling whatever comes your way because you’ve prepared and because you trust in your ability to adapt. It’s about focusing your energy on the work that matters and letting go of the rest.
As a lone leader, it’s easy to feel like everything is on your shoulders, but the truth is, not all of it has to be.
You can’t control the weather, but you can control how you face it.
Bring your umbrella, prepare for the rain, and trust yourself to handle the storm.
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