What are YOU Preparing For?

Image from tmz.com

Unless you’ve been living in a lead cave, you’ve heard a lot about the AHRnold… and his wife Maria.  Above everything else, I love my husband and my  marriage, so I really do hate stories like this one.  And, as much as I hate to hear of divorce, when a man has THIS little respect for his wife and family, I’m all for it. The disrespect, degradation, deceit, and downright narcissism necessary to betray your family to this degree would certainly be – for me, at least – a deal killer. Despicable.  Shameful.  Disgusting.  He – and all of the women willing to sleep with a man they knew to be married.

Who knows for sure how much Maria has “tolerated” in this regard in the past… Hopefully – for her sake – not as much as is now being played out in the tabloids. Still, as gracefully as she’s handling this situation, I’m SURE she wasn’t “PREPARED” for it.  How can you EVER prepare for the news that a woman -who worked alongside you … in YOUR home- was screwing your husband – under YOUR roof –  and bore a son to him over  a decade ago???

Still, she’s made major decisions, taken bold actions, and is navigating her way through an ugly, ugly situation as well as she can… better than what would have been expected…. all  (I’m sure) without  being “prepared” for such a shocking revelation.

As you may have guessed, I’ve never signed a pre-nuptial agreement. (We had only the love between us when we walked down the aisle, so no real need there! lol…) And, I can’t imagine ever signing one.  I was appalled by a website I found years ago that highlighted a book titled, PREPARE FOR DIVORCE – BEFORE YOU WALK DOWN THE AISLE. Really?  If THIS is what you’re preparing for, maybe the “aisle” should be avoided all together.  Why bother?

I know there are tons of people, experts, gurus, etc. who would adamantly disagree with me, but I don’t see the REAL VALUE in preparing a plan B.  In my experience, investing (time, money or energy) in a plan B is taking equal investment out of the pursuit of plan A.  The more you familiarize yourself  with and dance around with a plan B, the more likely you are to end up there. That’s the way  I see it anyway. Here are a couple examples:

I had kids before most of my friends.  I chose to deliver naturally… no drugs, no medical intervention, nothing.  (This was my choice… I have no opinion at all about your own… )  But, many people I talked to said they WANTED a natural birth, but were  prepared for plan B (read:epidural) just in case.  As soon as they said they were OPEN to a plan B, I knew the path they would take. Because delivering with NO epidural is tough. Trust me –  “just in case” will hit you hard – right about 7 cm!!  =)

The same is true for business owners who protect, prepare for and nurture a plan B. Plan B is usually a job they have or a job they’re looking for.  And, just like childbirth, being an entrepreneur is tough.  There will be times when it would be really easy to abandon plan A … especially if plan B is waiting in the wings “just in case”.

I don’t care what your choice is. Married / Not married.  Epidural / No Epidural.  Business / Job.   My point is this:

what are YOU preparing for?

Are you preparing for what you WANT?  Or what you’ll settle for – your plan B?

We all know the saying, “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail!” But, what do you  think about preparing TO fail by investing in a plan B?  I know I’ll get a good BEEYATCH-slapping from some people because of this post… but I can take it.  =) I want to hear your thoughts! =)