Your bank loan application is delayed because three members of the loan committee are off snorkeling in Tahiti. Priority Mail becomes Low Priority Mail and takes two weeks to travel across three states. The new software doesn't work and a replacement won't arrive for weeks. The best businesses temper their plans and commitments based on the reality that things don't go as they should. If you think it will be done Thursday, better promise your customer next Tuesday.
Successful people establish goals, actions and timelines.
And keep them. The power of goal setting is incredible. In 1953 the graduating class of Yale University was interviewed by researchers. You Can Learn From The Mistakes Of Others. When you read about or hear about someone else's business blunder, try to envision how the lesson may apply to your own business.