Extra Padding for Your Business

I recently returned from my first camping trip in many years and I have to say, technology has helped to vastly improve the comfort level of sleeping under the stars. Not only are the tents a snap to set up and break down, but the options for a little padding under your sleeping bag such as air mattresses helped me redefine the term "roughing it" and gave me a great night's sleep.

How does this relate to business? Stick with me a moment longer....I also returned from a grueling business trip last week and I had all these grand ideas about what I wanted to accomplish when I got back to the office. I even scheduled a workshop just a few hours after my arrival time back in town. I pulled it off, but just barely. I definitely needed adrenaline to carry me through trouble-shooting a technology snafu and by the next morning, I was toast for pretty much the rest of the week.

What does that have to do with this sleeping bag? Well, my rocky performance happened because I didn't allow any extra padding for my schedule or energy level. I went bare bones and paid the price. Now sometimes in business, we have to make do with what we got. But if you have the option to plan ahead and insert a little padding so that you consistently under-promise and over-deliver, I say, go for it. What are your thoughts and experiences?