I woke up into my usual morning routine. Rolled over to check my phone, played on Twitter a little, then got up to grab a bagel. The “pre-sliced” bagels are never cut all the way through, however. They tend to be cut only about half way, and today it seemed extra necessary that I grab a knife to help with getting the two halves apart. 

So I took the bread knife out of the block, hearing that familiar SHWING sound that I love so much. I generally like to cut bagels over the sink so i don’t have to clean up the crumbs. Little did I realize, I completely overestimated the grip I had on half of that bagel. The top slipped right between my fingers, bounced on the counter, rolled slightly, and landed in a pan of dirty dish water that was soaking from the night before. I wasn’t about to try and dry it off, but you better believe I considered it, as it was the last bagel in the bag.

I made do with just half a bagel, and supplemented it with some eggs. 2 eggs. Scrambled with a dab of ketchup on top, and piled on my bagel half. It actually was delicious, and I was then thankful for the great butter fingers incident of Feb 28th, 2014.

But how does this apply to us?

The point is sometimes what you plan for in the beginning isn’t what turns out at the end, and it’s not always a bad thing.

Whether it’s in your ‘control’ if it turns out how you envision or not, ultimately we’re just trying for the best we can right? So if something comes a long to ruin your plans, or change your knowledge about the situation and you decide to change paths, don’t look back. If you drop half your bagel in water, and you only have 1 half left, don’t sit around and wait for another half to just appear, or mope and never eat anything. Adapt.

As an entrepreneur or marketer(let’s face it most of the health professionals I’m here for are both) you need to be in a constant state of flexibility to go with the flow, and not be too attached to your ideologies of how you want your project to end up. Because, as things move along your old vision may not be possible, or may not be the best option available anymore.

Some like to call it a pivot of flexibility, some don’t worry about what to call it and just do it.

Joel M. Harrison