Yesterday afternoon, I got some new information which made clear that a business event which I had planned and which is coming up VERY quickly needed to be rethought. In my mind an almost complete start-over. Immediately my thinking went into panic-mode. "There isn't enough time." "I can't do this." "I'm in over my head." "I've never done anything quite like what they're asking before."

Fortunately, I know how to work with this.

Step 1: Recognize the story in your mind that says you can't (or variations on that theme) as just that: a story about a future which has not yet happened.

Step 2: Take a deep breath (or three. I also get outside and take a walk). Drop the stories and look at reality…ask yourself these questions:

• What are the new requirements?

• Do I know everything I need to know?

• Do I need to request information or assistance from anyone?

• What needs to be done now?

Step 3: Take action

In this case, I just put the new requirements into my computer mind and by the time I returned from my walk, had a complete and elegant solution mapped out. (5 years ago, I would have agonized about this for a week and completely gotten in my own way.)

Reality is almost always easier than the story!