Crisis – 15 Essential Truths

by Robbie Vorhaus on February 6, 2011

in Crisis Management and Communications

  1. Crisis is unavoidable.
  2. Crisis is the disruption of a normal cycle or system.
  3. Crisis reveals truth.
  4. Most people when faced with a crisis respond by saying, “I never thought this could happen to me.”
  5. Over 85% of all crisis can be avoided, mitigated or survived by preparation.
  6. Over 85% of all people, businesses, brands and governments are not prepared for a crisis.
  7. Within 18-24 months of a major crisis, over 85% of all people say the event was one of the best things that ever happened to them.
  8. Never tell anyone in the middle of a crisis, “Don’t worry, this will all work out.”  It may not, and certainly not the way one would expect.
  9. Not all crises end well, although all crises do end.
  10. Just like rolling dice, another crisis could happen within a week or never again.  Knowing the odds work in your favor.
  11. First responders provide the best model for crisis preparation.  Fire fighters, police and security, military and emergency medical personnel, plan, train, prepare, organize, test, explore, educate, practice, observe and rehearse for crisis 365 days a year.
  12. You can’t learn to play guitar by listening to Eric Clapton.  You can’t learn how to make love by watching sex in the movies.  Watching the Super Bowl will not teach you how to play football, nor can you get wet from reading the word “water.”  Crisis is a real life, all-hands-on-deck, reality check, not an intellectual exercise.  A two-year old crisis plan sitting on the shelf is worthless.
  13. Learn the word foreseeability.  If what you are doing, thinking, planning will not result in a positive event, don’t do it.  What’s private tonight may be public tomorrow.
  14. It is impossible to go through a crisis alone. Don’t try.
  15. Follow your heart.  You were born to fulfill your heart’s dreams, goals and desires and regardless of the crisis, a clear path will eventually emerge to a joyful, peaceful, and harmonious life.  Trust your divinity.
 photo credit: mdanys

Tagged as: crisis, eric clapton, fire fighter, military, police, super bowl, truth

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  • Colin Mather

    My feeling is that if you live each day, in the present, the likelihood of crisis occuring, in the future, lessens considerably. As my mother said once, “if you pay attention well enough, all the answers to the questions are usually in the test.” Good article, Robbie.

    • Anonymous

      That’s why we loved your mom!

  • Thathuman

    On a relative note, I worked as a bike messenger in nyc for a while and everyday was all about preparing for crisis – over and over again. Granted, it was on a smaller scale, but it was constant prep for what would happen if…
    Might not be the exact same thing as you’re presenting, but the stakes were equally high!

  • Sean D’Souza

    Heh, heh I wrote a book called “Chaos Planning”. :) And naturally I would agree with you

    Sean

  • Muzekk

    Thanks Robbie! Yup crisis is inevitable…some folks choose to behave like ostrich and bury their head in the sand and hope that when they raise their head the storm would have passed and they pretend like nothing happened…NO GROWTH!

  • Aikomac

    Awesome insight and great perspective, Robbie!

  • Priyanka Palit

    Robbie, your insight is unique as always, brilliant post. I agree with all the points, definitely 12 and 15, but also 4 which I can relate to personally. When I was faced with possibly the biggest personal tragedy in my life, the first thing that came to my mind was “I never thought this could happen to me”, not considering the fact that it can happen to anyone- I’m definitely not the first, and won’t be the last either. Guess the same applies to business.

    • Anonymous

      Hi, Paula, and thank you. Two points: we always think a crisis is happening to us, although, in truth, it’s just happening and we define it as a crisis. And because we allow our egos the illusion of separateness from the Universe, we think it won’t happen to us because we are disconnected. We learn fast in crisis that’s not true.

      • Priyanka Palit

        Robbie it’s Pri not Paula!

  • Najchapman

    It doesn’t take a lot of words to speak the truth – and you’ve done a good job of doing that in the post. I’ve certainly removed a few rose tinted spectacles in the past, and had to reassure some friends that ‘this too shall pass’. in line with your comments.

    • Anonymous

      Ah, those rose colored glasses I shed in my twenties. Thanks for the post.

  • Deane Valkenaar

    Good article. I like your comment about crisis not happening “to us”, if we can stop thinking the world is out to get us, it makes preperation far easier and somewhat more predictable.

    • Anonymous

      thanks, Deane. life is what we make it, not something out to get
      us. pls stay in touch.

  • Earl Stokes

    Oh, how we missed the opportunity to speak of Huna Philosophy when last we met with your family on Kauai! Perhaps an opportunity IS in our NEAR future. We look forward to your next appearance in our life. Of course, #15 is so much more important than #12! We are enriched by your thoughts and writings. Mahalo for being a part of truth!
    Earl

    • Anonymous

      I would like learning more of Huna and send you and Lois love and light.

  • Caroline Sapriel

    well put, check out our 12 commandments of Crisis Management http://www.csa-crisis.com

    • Anonymous

      Thanks, Caroline for the 12 commandments.

  • Sheri

    Great! I love #15!

  • Teresa Bailey

    Beautifully said Robbie! I love,love,love #15…so true and easy, yet not too many people follow their true heart instincts. Thanks for reminding us that we “feel” our way through life and choose how to navigate!!
    many blessings to you and Candace.

    • Anonymous

      so nice hearing from you. and, of course, you’re right… we feel
      our way through life and happiness (or otherwise) is a choice.

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  • Ellen Rossano

    Robbie~Every emergency manager I know should print this out and hang it on the bulletin board where they will see it daily. Even those in emergency management fall into #4 – “It can’t happen to me.” For all of the planning and training we do, there are incidents that happen that no one could have imagined.
    I love the line “You can’t get wet from reading the word “water” in #12. You can write a plan, but unless you practice it and keep it updated, it’s just another dusty binder on the shelf.

  • John Salter

    Nice list. Though some first responders do rush in too early (and from the wrong direction) – and sometimes forget to focus on defining the problem (ie they “fight the hazard” and miss the vulnerability issues). But the best of them are excellent – so number 12 should stay with a caveat.
    The centrality of uncertainty being tackled by teams with energy and open heartedness is a terrific theme. Well done and thanks.

    • Anonymous

      You are right, of course, and I’m grateful for your thoughtful insight.

  • Ollie27254

    As a fire fighter, medic, teacher, father and Six Sigma Black Belt (process improvement) — there are many connections within your Truth’s that make me pause. I always seek to find improvements and I realize that there are controllable and uncontrollable events that will push us to limits we never thought possible. The Truth’s help us to understand that we are not able to avoid a crisis – but the more knowledge about a particular type of crisis and adequate responses to the event, will enable people to manage themself and help to keep order when others are fearful. I get through tought times by reverting back to training – if that is not working for the situation, then I adapt and overcome by breaking the problem down into manageable components.

    Thanks for taking the time to help us Robbie!

    Ollie

    • Anonymous

      Hi, Ollie, and high praise, indeed, from a true crisis expert. You remind us all in this business not only of preparation, but adaptation, too. I just saw the James Franco movie about the guy who after being trapped in the desert, cut off his own arm to survive. He saved his life by being both prepared and adapting to a terrible situation. Please stay in touch and thanks for your insight.

  • http://www.dewittstern.com Scott T. Brady

    Great list Robbie! Inherent in the list is that the overhwelming majority of people (85% by your estimation), companies, brands, are not only unprepared, but thoroughly so… Thanks!

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