The Winter Storms – Preparations Matter, But we don’t control the outcomes

The recent winter storms that swept across the country offered a stark reminder: we control our preparation, not our outcomes.

I re-learned this lesson in real-time over the past couple of weeks. My flight to D.C.? Canceled on the day of travel. I adjusted, moving my trip earlier. Then Atlanta—scheduled for Saturday, January 31st—same story. Most flights were canceled. I postponed it.

The D.C. trip came with its own curveball. We were scheduled to record podcast episodes. Our video crew was flying in from Nashville, which got inundated by the storms. They weren’t able to make the appointment. We scrambled, hired a local crew in D.C., and kept moving. It worked out fine.

Travel demands flexibility, especially during unpredictable weather. You may plan meticulously, but then reality intervenes. You adapt. This isn’t failure; it’s the nature of things we cannot control.

The Preparation 

Here’s what struck me: I’m genuinely thankful for these past two weeks. Despite the disruptions, I traveled. The work got done.

But it could have gone differently. The storms could have been worse. Everything could have been grounded. All that preparation, the scheduling, the coordination, the planning might have yielded nothing tangible.

And here’s the thing: that preparation still would have been worth it.

We live in a results-oriented world. We measure success by outcomes. But outcomes exist in a realm beyond our complete control. Weather systems don’t consult our calendars. Flights cancel. Crews get stranded.

What we do control is showing up prepared. Ensuring contingencies. Staying flexible enough to pivot when circumstances shift.

The Real Return on Preparation

The value of preparation isn’t just what happens when things go right. It’s what you’re capable of when things go wrong.

Because I’d done the groundwork, I could advance the D.C. trip. Because we’d thought through our needs, we knew what kind of local crew to hire on short notice. The preparation created options when the plan fell apart.

This applies beyond travel too. In business, in relationships, in any endeavor where uncertainty exists (which is all of them), preparation is your insurance policy against chaos.

You might prepare thoroughly and still face cancellation. Postponement. Complete derailment. That’s not a reflection on your preparation, it’s a reflection on reality.

Moving Forward

So where does this leave us? With a simple framework: prepare as if outcomes depend entirely on you. Then release your grip on those outcomes, knowing they depend on far more than your efforts alone.

Control what you can control. Adapt to what you cannot. Be grateful when things work out. Be resilient when they don’t.

The storms will come. Flights will be canceled. Plans will change. Your preparation won’t guarantee success, but it will give you the best possible chance and the tools to respond when the weather turns.

Thankful for being able to adapt to change and being flexible.

Karthik Chidambaram.