When you run a business, you sometimes find yourself in hot water. A client is upset. A delivery is misplaced. An employee gets in an accident while driving a company truck.
These are not pleasant experiences. You want to do everything you can to avoid such things from occurring in the future.
What about getting in cold water?
That is what I did this summer when we were on an expedition cruise that took us from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, north through the Arctic Ocean, to the edge of the polar ice cap.
It was eerie sailing to the very edge of the ice. There were many small pieces of ice near the cap. The air was full of a cool mist. The captain backed the ship off the ice cap a bit and let the anchor down.
There were about 100 passengers on the ship and almost 20 expedition guides. Thirty of the passengers were going to jump into water that was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I was one of them.
Two expedition guides positioned a Zodiac pontoon boat about 20 feet from the opening in the side of the ship from where we were to jump. Two other expedition guides—one a photographer—were stationed the near the jump area.
I was first to go in. Wearing just a swim suit, guides on the ship prepared me for the jump. The good thing about going first is the webbed belt they put around your waist is dry. For all those who follow the belt is literally ice cold.
A rope is connected to the belt, with a guide on the ship holding on the other end. Just in case you get a heart attack or the like.
Those choosing not to jump in are lining the rails on the two decks above where the jump occurs, offering encouragement.
I step off the ramp at the jump area. Once in the water I immediately turn around and start climbing the ladder out. I am truly freezing cold. And exhilarated that I jumped in.
Shaking a lot, I go up to a hot tub on the upper deck. It is not hot enough. I go down to our cabin and take a very long hot shower.
After drying and then dressing very warmly I go outside to watch some of the remaining jumpers. Some actually do dives. Some even swim to the Zodiac furthest away from the ship!
About one hour later I stop shivering. To this day I still feel great about having jumped in. What prevented my jump from turning into a disaster?
Adequate prep on the part of the expedition guides. A safety system that was followed rigorously every time. Careful observation of each of us who jumped in while we were in the water.
Bring such measures to the day-to-day activities of your business to avoid being in hot water. Assume nothing will go right and prepare for the worst, each and every time. Follow the procedures you and your team agree will make success likely. Absolutely no shortcuts allowed.
Do these things and instead of being in hot water you can all chill out!