When Things don’t turn out like you planned

When Things Don’t Turn Out Like You Planned: What Travel Mishaps Taught Me About Life, Leadership, and Letting Go

If you’ve ever made a plan, double-checked the details, and still had everything go sideways, you’re not alone. I recently lived through what I now lovingly call my own “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” experience—with a bus thrown in for good measure—and I walked away with some unexpected lessons about life, leadership, and our attitude when things go off script.

This is not just a travel tale. It’s a wake-up call about the stories we tell ourselves when the plan falls apart and how to take back control—not of the circumstances, but of our mindset.

Let me set the stage: I was on my way to the Maxwell Leadership Conference, a trip I’d carefully planned through American Airlines. My itinerary? Three legs: Wilkes-Barre to Philly, Philly to Charlotte, and Charlotte to Orlando. Easy, right? Except that first “flight” turned out to be… a bus. A literal, chartered, 2.5-hour tour bus from Wilkes-Barre to the Philadelphia airport. And that was only the beginning.

I could have melted down, but instead? I laughed. I took notes. And I walked away more empowered than I’ve felt in a long time.

Let’s talk about the three big truths that hit me between the suitcase mishap (don’t ask) and the thousand-step walk to my hotel room.

1. The Journey Rarely Looks Like You Envision It—And That’s Not a Bad Thing

I booked a flight. I got a bus. Not ideal. But here’s the truth: the route may have changed, but I still arrived exactly where I needed to be.

We get so fixated on how things are supposed to go that we miss the gifts hidden in detours. A slower route forces you to slow down. A missed connection opens up new conversations. A bus ride instead of a flight might give you a few precious hours of quiet. When I finally reached my destination, exhausted but amused, I realized something powerful: the path doesn’t define the outcome—your attitude does.

If you’re in a season of life where nothing is going “as planned,” take a breath. You’re probably still on the right path… it just might look different than you expected.

2. Setbacks Are Not Failures—They’re Redirections

Here’s what really got me: I had every reason to get upset. The confusion, the inconvenience, the unexpected expenses, the walk to my hotel room that felt like a Disney-themed marathon. But as I unpacked (both literally and metaphorically), I realized every detour, every delay, every inconvenience was part of a larger lesson in trust.

I didn’t fail. My plan didn’t fail. Life just reminded me that detours are often disguised as divine redirection.

Sometimes the universe needs you to slow down. Sometimes it needs you to laugh at yourself. And sometimes, it just wants to remind you that you are far more resilient than you think. You are not fragile. You are not failing. You are finding your way forward.

3. Your Attitude Determines the Experience

You know what’s more powerful than a perfect plan? A joyful attitude when the plan falls apart.

I could have spent that entire bus ride fuming. I could have called the airline and demanded an explanation. I could have let my frustration consume me. But instead, I chose to sit in that oversized, Wi-Fi-equipped bus seat and breathe. I chose to read, to listen to an audiobook, to rest. I chose to find humor in the ridiculousness of it all. That choice—my attitude—changed everything.

Your attitude is a thermostat for your life. It sets the emotional temperature, not just for you, but for everyone around you. It’s easy to be positive when everything’s working. But real empowerment is how you respond when it’s not.

If your week feels like one big metaphorical bus ride, ask yourself: What story am I telling myself about this? What meaning am I assigning to the detour? And how can I flip the script?

A moment of reflection on the road less expected

Choosing Empowerment Every Step of the Way

The truth is, we spend so much of our energy trying to control the uncontrollable. We map every move, over-plan every outcome, and yet life always finds a way to throw in a plot twist. Real leadership—real growth—doesn’t come from rigid control. It comes from resilience. From humor. From humility. From choosing to see every unexpected turn as a new chapter instead of the end of the story.

I could have canceled the trip. I could have spiraled. But instead, I decided: this will be a story I tell. This will be a lesson I teach. And most importantly, this will be a moment I grow from.

I got to the Maxwell Leadership Conference exactly on time. I learned more than I thought possible. I connected with brilliant people. I stretched myself as a leader and as a human. And it all started with a bus I didn’t expect.

Friend, if you’re facing your own misroute, take it from me: you don’t need a perfect path—you need a powerful perspective. Show up anyway. Laugh when you want to cry. Take the lesson, not the loss.

And most of all? Keep going.

Want to Go Deeper?

If this story resonated with you—if you’ve been white-knuckling a plan that isn’t going how you expected—here’s your journal prompt for the week:

What attitude am I carrying in my life right now—and is it helping or hurting me?

Let that question sink in. Journal it. Speak it. Pray it. Sit with it.

And then decide: Who do I want to be when things don’t go as planned?

That, my friend, is true empowerment.

Until next time,
CarrieVee