Hey Reader,
Life can be quite tricky.
One moment, you’re on track, firing on all cylinders.
Everything feels aligned, you’re making headway, and then boom, a sudden twist shows up.
It’s not a crisis. It’s not a failure. It’s just… unexpected.
The kind that derails your finely tuned plans and throws your schedule into disarray.
Curveballs aren’t the disasters they seem to be at first.
But most people stumble because they haven’t mastered the art of change.
In today’s newsletter, we’ll explore how unexpected changes can be turning points.
But it takes one thing — being adaptable.
🗯️ Taking the Reins
A month ago, I stepped in as interim CEO for one of my companies.
I had other plans, and this wasn’t part of it.
Overnight, it became a primary focus, reordering half my schedule, taking over half of my time, screwing up my calendar, and throwing every priority I had into a new light.
It’s not a bad thing.
It’s an opportunity.
I’m doing the right thing.
It’s what needs to be done, but it’s a curveball.
An opportunity to stretch beyond my usual role.
I know this unexpected change isn’t going to just disappear, and wrestling with it won’t help my sanity.
So I’m settling into the new reality, adapting and winging it one day at a time.
And while the temptation to see curveballs as burdens is strong, there’s a way to make them game-changers instead.
🧠 Why Throw You Off Course?
Curveballs can force you to hit pause and readjust.
They’ll demand more from you than you plan to give and pull you in directions you didn’t see coming.
At first, it’s just a disruption like a canceled meeting or sudden shift in priorities
Maybe it’s something personal, like a family emergency.
Or something professional, like an unexpected change in leadership.
It may not seem like a big deal at first, right?
But then the pieces start coming together, and the to-do list grows.
It’s taking much more of your time than you’re probably willing to give, your calendar starts blowing up, and you find yourself off balance.
The trouble is, most people treat these moments like setbacks.
Like the universe has thrown you a curveball just to mess with your plan.
So you resist, fight, complain, struggle.
You try to cling to your original schedule, try to force everything back to normal.
The resistance starts draining you.
The frustration builds, the stress rises, and you start feeling like you’re spinning your wheels rather than moving forward.
You’re drained, burnt out, and overwhelmed.
But what if you stopped trying to fight it?
What if you saw that curveball as an invitation to grow, adapt, and adjust?
❤️ Embracing the Curveball as an Ally
Curveballs aren’t setbacks after all.
When you’re open to change, you’ll stop treating it like a disruption.
It becomes a moment to expand and a chance to work with life’s unexpected offers.
It releases the tension and strife to revert back to your usual routine.
You become open to the new opportunities it presents.
It gives you a chance to adjust, reset, and do something new.
It reveals a way you didn’t expect to grow while nurturing your grit.
It pushes you to think differently and test out new approaches.
You’re showing up, not just ready to manage the unknown, but willing to turn it into an advantage.
This shift brings freedom.
Instead of battling with what wasn’t supposed to happen, you’re using it.
Building resilience in real-time, expanding your perspective, and growing confidence that no plan could fully prepare you for.
🤲 Your Playbook for Life’s Curveballs
When unexpected changes happen, don’t fret.
Here’s how you hit back:
- Claim back your day: Get ruthlessly clear about what’s non-negotiable at that point. Picture your day like a battlefield; you can’t fight every front at once. So modify a thing or two to meet the new demand. Maybe move your workout from morning to evening or block off a couple of “untouchable” hours.
- Let it flow: It’s either you waste time getting frustrated over a screwed-up schedule or focus on getting along with the unexpected change. When change comes, it expects you to move with it. So go with the flow of the new normal. Experiment fresh ideas, and explore options you haven’t considered. Cancel a routine meeting, adjust a project’s timeline, or delegate a part of your workload you’ve never handed off before. That’s how you adapt.
- Own the change: A sudden wind of change shouldn’t completely derail your original plan. Revisit one area of your business or routine that the curveball disrupted. Ask yourself: “What’s better for this?” Maybe this leads to a new partnership, a part-time hire, a new resource, or a tactic to keep things going.
- Bank the lessons: As you close out the day, ask yourself: “What did this change reveal about my fortitude?” What worked? What didn’t work? What surprised you? Reflect on any gaps you discovered and the unexpected strengths you leaned on. Take this insight forward. It’ll help you handle future uncertainties with precision.
🎯 Will You Adapt In Real Time?
So, what will you make of the next curveball that comes your way?
Will it just be another frustration or a shot at redefining what you’re capable of?
How often do you use what’s out of your control to show what’s within your control?
As Bruce Lee once said, “Be water, my friend.”
When you flow with what comes, you gain power over it.
Not by resisting, but by transforming it.
With appreciation,
Huw
P.S.: Take 5 minutes to reflect on any unexpected change in your life or business. As an elite performer, explore ways to use it to your advantage. Be water, my friend.
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Huw Edwards
Founder & CEO, h3.xyz
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