Prepare for worst to walk away with prize

Plan B. We all should have one to be able to cope when our plans are dealt a blow.

On Sunday, October 2, most of us awoke as if it were just another day. For me, I went straight to the television to watch Liverpool smack Everton 2-0 - a good start.

Then, after basking in the joy of watching Liverpool's goals for a third time, I switched to TV One's Q&A;, where Paul Holmes said: "We are about to cross to the All Blacks' news conference at [10am]." Immediately, I knew that either Dan Carter or Richie McCaw were out of the Rugby World Cup.

It was unusual to interrupt a Sunday morning current affairs show with an announcement about sports. And I was right: Our most important player had a serious injury and our chances of winning the Cup had taken a hit.

Whether or not this is a mortal blow is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: We are more likely to be successful if the management and coaches have prepared for this type of eventuality.

For business owners, we face uncertain times and it's fair to say that we are likely to have "left-field" events and situations which will threaten the achievement of our objectives.

Business greats such as Richard Branson all talk about having a Plan B or exit strategy, so that if things turn to custard you have options.

We will see Apple execute its own Plan B with the sad passing on Thursday of Steve Jobs. His legacy includes the unique products and systems he created, and the team he leaves to carry on with his vision. I am sure that this day has been planned for.

In the case of the All Blacks, I think the fact that rugby is a team sport first and foremost is an important consideration.

Despite Carter's importance and the loss of his freakish skills, the other 14 players are world class and are playing well as a team. Had Carter played for Scotland, you would say with confidence that their tournament would be over.

If you have a great team in your business, you can overcome most obstacles as the combined power of teamwork brings more strength than the individual component parts.

The other thing going for the All Blacks is their system and the way they play the game. The processes and structures which are there to support the team - from researching their opponents to their training regimes - are cutting edge, and it shows in how they often tear apart their opposition. A business with robust and best-practice processes operates in much the same way, and making systems best practice is the most satisfying part of my job.

So, last Sunday, I considered the things mentioned above and came to the conclusion that the All Blacks would ultimately overcome the obstacle that losing the world's best player creates.

In your business, take some time to think about the potential "Dan Carter" type of events that may impede you.

Those of us with the best Plan B will walk away with the prize.