Unexpected Guests: What a Hedgehog Taught Me About Business
The other day, while getting my kids ready for school, I noticed our dog was unusually fascinated by by daughter’s backpack. I didn’t think much of it at first, assuming maybe she had left a snack inside - it’s been known to happen.
But then, the bag moved.
Curious and slightly alarmed, I opened it up and, to my shock found a hedgehog curled up inside! As it turns out, my daughter had discovered the little guy in our backyard the day before and decided not only to sneak him into her room and care for him overnight, but also to try smuggling him into school to show her teacher.
Needless to say, it was a moment filled with surprise, a minor heart failure, and a mixture of screaming & laughter.
How exactly does this relate to business?
In business, much like finding your daughters new pet in her backpack, people can throw surprises your way. Whether it’s a team member, client, supplier, or partner, even those with the best intentions can disrupt your plans and rock the boat.
A sudden shift in team dynamics, like an employee leaving unexpectedly, or a change in market trends requiring your product to be adapted, can completely catch you off guard. Maybe a supplier introduces a new process without warning, changing how you need to run your systems - these “Curveballs” (as i like to call them) can create significant challenges that disrupt your plans.
It’s essential to stay flexible and responsive, recognising that surprises like these are an inevitable part of running a business. By maintaining open communication and being adaptable, you can navigate these disruptions and turn them into opportunities for innovation, growth, and a stronger business.
So, what do you do you’re thrown a hedgehog?
When faced with unexpected surprises, like a hedgehog in a backpack, it’s important to approach the situation thoughtfully. Here are some strategies for you to keep in your back pocket for use in your own “Hedgehog Moments” and how I learnt them thanks to my own mini wildlife experience!
Pause and Assess: Take a moment to fully understand the situation before reacting. What initially seems like a setback could reveal opportunities when you have all the facts.
Once I cooled down from the shock I realised it could be a fun learning moment for my daughter - and a memorable story for us all.
Stay Calm and Flexible: Keeping a cool head allows you to think clearly and adapt quickly. Being flexible will help you navigate sudden changes without getting derailed.
I’d like to say I kept a cool head - I absolutely did not. However, once my heart returned to it’s regular rhythm, we embraced the unexpected adventure instead of letting it derail our morning routine.
Communicate Openly: Share the situation with your team or stakeholders. Transparency fosters collaboration, and you might find solutions faster together.
My daughter & I collaborated to find a more suitable way to handle our new little friend, making sure she understood why smuggling a hedgehog to school wasn’t the best idea.
Focus on Solutions, Not Problems: Shift your mindset from dwelling on the disruption to finding actionable steps. Break the issue into manageable pieces to create a path forward.
Rather than dwelling on the shock, I shifted my mindset to finding actionable steps. Together, with my other kids as well, we brainstormed ways to safely return the hedgehog to the backyard and ensure it was happy and secure.
Learn from It: Treat every surprise as a learning experience. Analyse what caused the unexpected event, so you can prevent similar issues in the future or better prepare for the unknown.
Analysing with the kids what led to the hedgehog’s little escapade was a chance for some laughter and reflection. I also resolved to teach my children more about the amazing creatures that live in our backyard - and why they should stay out there!
Reflecting on that morning, I can’t help but chuckle at the unexpected adventure a hedgehog brought to our day. At first, the surprise was alarming, but looking back, it’s a humorous reminder that life - and business - often throws us curveballs we never see coming.
These moments, while startling at the time, become the stories we share and the lessons we learn from. They remind us not to take ourselves too seriously and that sometimes, the best things arise from the most unexpected situations. Embracing these experiences, even with a laugh, helps us build resilience and adaptability, essential traits for thriving in both parenting and entrepreneurship.
After all, every unexpected event can teach us something - like to always check under the kids beds for wildlife after you tuck them in.
