Preparing for the Unpredictable with a Negative Imagination

On Friday April 5th, I was meeting with a group of superintendents that included a few who were in their first year. Before the meeting began, I asked the neophytes how things were going with their upcoming school budget and board elections.

A couple responded, “Things are great;” “No problems. It is very quiet.” A seasoned superintendent overhearing them, raised an eyebrow, smiled, and warned, “Today and in this moment. Never relax. There’s always something around the corner.” Approximately an hour into the meeting, our building began to shake. Within seconds the phones of the 30 superintendents in the room began buzzing.

The meeting abruptly ended as all headed back to their districts. A 4.8 magnitude earthquake had just rattled the northeast corner of New York State.