51. Have a Plan b and a Plan c

"I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change." John Rohn, the world's leading motivational speaker, philosopher and entrepreneur

You have to plan for disasters. You've got to build a 'what if clause into everything you do. If you don't, you'll be caught looking inept. Never assume it's all going right - it isn't, never assume you'll always do OK - you won't. Never assume technology will always work - it won't. Never assume you've got enough time -you haven't. Never assume they'll turn up on time - they won't. Never assume you won't forget things - you will. Never assume Plan A will work - it won't. Never assume Plan B will also work -one day that won't either.

I think you might get the picture by now. When things go wrong - and they will - be ready to improvise, adapt and overcome. Say you're giving a presentation and have mapped out the whole thing using PowerPoint, what will you do if there is a power cut? Technology failure? You must have worked out beforehand what to do when power fails or technology screws up or that order fails to come in - because they will. Maybe not today but tomorrow lies waiting to catch you unawares, unguarded, unprepared.

Really good managers, of course, don't need Plan B or Plan C because they can think on their feet and are ready to cover their tracks at any time, ready to improvise. I think it wiser though constantly to ask, 'How am I going to cope when this doesn't work?' Serves me every time.

52. Recognize when you're stressed

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it conies dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

The good manager stays well ahead of the stress game. And why? Because stress is counterproductive - it isn't profitable. The old image of the stressed executive popping pills, with high blood pressure but still pulling off fantastic deals is just that - old. The modern executive is laid back, unhurried, charming, thoughtful, careful, on top of their job. You don't need stress. You really, really don't. Yes, you need excitement, challenge, enthusiasm, exhila­ration and stimulation, but you do not need stress.

Stress is just excitement and fun that has gone wrong. Instead of loving your job, you start to fear it. Instead of being excited, you experience fear. Instead of challenge, its confrontation.

So how do you manifest stress? No really, how do you experience it? This is such a personal thing. I know when I'm under a lot of stress because I shout more, reason less, demand more, am polite less, rush more, am laid back less. But that's me. For you it might be smoking or drinking more or not sleeping or not eating (or eating too much or too hurriedly or too much junk food) or it might show as nervous exhaustion (sleeping too much), panic attacks, twitches, tics, irrational fears, inappropriate behaviour, driving too fast (me again as well to that one). If you don't know what your signs are, ask somebody who knows you well - they will be able to tell you.

When I notice a couple of my stress symptoms I take time out to check:

* why am I stressed

what is causing the stress * what I can do about it

how I can stop it recurring again.

I don't like being stressed (my children say I am a real pain) and there is no job worth doing that I'm going to allow to affect my health detrimentally. I know how to chill - I'm very good at lowering the stress levels once I notice they've crept up. I know what works for me. What works for you?