Dealing with Uncertainty

Grab your cup. ☕

Have you ever reached a point where you start questioning your direction?

I have. Many times. What I've discovered is that it's usually a signal that forces you to think or act differently. But before clarity comes, you're hit with an unsettled feeling: uncertainty. And most people hate uncertainty until you come to terms with it.

During the Blitz bombings of World War II, Londoners initially panicked and ran for bomb shelters. But after about three months, many reframed that terror. They refused to cower in fear. Instead, they took to rooftops with martinis, playing music and dancing the night away. Their attitude was simple: If we are going to die tonight, we will die laughing with friends rather than hearing each other moan in death. When I read that in Eric Larson's book, In the Garden of Beasts, I wondered which Londoner I would be? Rooftop or basement?

We all process uncertainty differently. Some defy it and push through recklessly. Others may withdraw because they lack the skills to handle it.

Uncertainty isn't a flaw in life—it's a constant. It requires skill to decipher the emotions it stirs up, because as a great theologian, John Henry Newman said: "If we insist on being as sure as is conceivable, we must be content to creep along the ground, and can never soar."

Here are two quick ways to build that skill in your business this week:

1. The Agent Strategy: Navigating the Real-Life Blitz

Uncertainty doesn't just come from the market. As we know, it usually hits right in the middle of your daily life.

It's trying to squeeze in a last-minute family vacation before school starts, managing back-to-school routines, juggling doctor appointments, or sitting by the side of an elderly parent navigating a tough health diagnosis. Trying to run a production business while life pulls you in five directions creates overwhelm. How do you handle it? Rooftop or basement thought process?

What if we view that chaos and uncertainty as a signal to be curious? Being curious about a different way of operating that could lead you to better systems or learning how to reframe your thoughts. If this resonates with you, what if you could build a schedule that protects both your family and your business? Would it help with the guilt you feel because you don't have control of your time? So, what's in your calendar? Where is the quiet time so you can sit with your thoughts and get curious about the uncertainty and what it might be telling you to reframe or change?

2. The Leadership Insight: Teach Coping Skills, Not Just Motivation

When life or business feels unpredictable, your agents look to you. If they haven't learned how to process uncertainty, their default reaction will be to freeze, hide, or step back entirely. Generic hype won't fix a lack of practical tools.

In your consulting times this week, help them name the real issue. Ask them: "Uncertainty is normal here. What is actually within your control today, and what is just noise?" Giving your team a framework to navigate fear creates resilience that survives any season. Teaching calendar skills that help them pivot with change is something most haven't been taught while growing up. Now's the time to learn.

The Weekly Challenge

If you're feeling uncertainty then lean into it. Question it by being genuinely curious:

"Where am I experiencing uncertainty right now, and am I letting it drive fear—or using it to force better thinking? Is there a different direction here?"

Name the unknown, create a pros and cons list, and take one action against your fear.