Have you Storm-Proofed your Business?

??? A storm is coming. Are you ready?

This isn’t a weather forecast—it’s a warning. If you haven’t faced a storm in business yet, trust me, it’s only a matter of time. The real question isn’t if one is coming, but how prepared you’ll be when it hits.

We all experience storms of one kind or another. Recently I experienced the side effects of an action that took place in America when Donald Trump put a freeze on federal funding. At first, I watched from the sidelines, thinking, This will be tough for some people… Until it wasn’t just “some people.” It was me.

One call changed everything.

“Don’t do anything else on the project,” my client in Grenada said. “Everything is now frozen.”

Another client in Guyana told me to pause all work—their funding was pulled overnight. Just like that, revenue streams dried up, and I saw firsthand how external decisions ripple into our businesses.

I said to her interestingly, way before even thinking about writing this article:

I know it’s going to be a challenging time, growing forward, but I’m certain this is not your first “storm” and you’ve weathered storms before – so you know that this too shall pass. Let me know if/when you have the space and in the meantime, take good care of you.

She replied with a heart.

Yesterday, my friend Kenneth Mohammed shared an eye-opening Guardian article about the U.S. aid freeze and its impact on Caribbean economies. Not long after, my friend Dr. Gillian Marcelle shared a piece on Timothy Snyder’s work—breaking down how some crises aren’t accidental but strategically engineered.

And then—because patterns always show up when you’re paying attention—I watched Episode 6 of Paradise, titled “You Asked for Miracles.” The episode follows Xavier Collins as he starts to uncover the deliberate manipulation of the community by those in power. It hit me:

This is exactly what happens in real life.

Ever watched a show and thought, Wait… this isn’t fiction. This is real life?

That was me watching Paradise, Episode 6 (You Asked for Miracles).

It follows Xavier Collins as he slowly realizes his entire community is being manipulated from the top down. Resources being pulled, industries collapsing—not by accident, but by design. Sound familiar?

It should. Because in business, some storms aren’t just bad luck. They’re calculated moves.

So, let’s talk about how you can storm-proof your business, recognizing the warning signs before you get caught in the downpour.

1. Storms Aren’t Always Accidents—Sometimes, They’re Designed

History has shown us that some crises aren’t just unfortunate events, they’re deliberate.

Timothy Snyder’s The Logic of Destruction reminds us how authoritarian regimes have used disruption as a tool—whether it was Stalin’s engineered famine in Ukraine (the Holodomor) or other political decisions that caused economic collapse.

Even Paradise shows us this idea in action. Powerful players make moves behind the scenes while the people at the bottom struggle to survive. The real difference? Who sees the game being played and who doesn’t.

Why does this matter to you?

Because in business, some storms are engineered too.

• Regulatory changes can wipe out industries overnight.
• Trade restrictions can cut off supply chains in an instant.
• Shifting political alliances can determine which businesses thrive and which struggle.

Waiting for someone to “fix it” is a bad strategy. Recognizing the patterns and positioning yourself ahead of time? That’s how you survive.

2. Stop Complaining. Start Rewriting Your Story.

Let’s be honest—when things go sideways, it’s easy to complain. Why is this happening? Why is the economy so unpredictable? Why does everything feel so hard?

But here’s the thing: complaining keeps you stuck in the storm. Shifting your focus creates your way out.

There’s a reason why mindset is everything in business. When you focus on lack, you create more of it. When you focus on opportunities in the chaos, you open new doors.

Instead of thinking: ? “My business is struggling because of X.”

Ask: ? “Given what’s happening, how do I position myself to win?”

The businesses that thrive don’t wait for stability—they create it.

3. Practical Ways to Storm-Proof Your Business

Okay, so how do you actually prepare for external disruptions? Here are a few non-negotiables:

? Diversify Your Income Streams: If one revenue source dries up, do you have others? Don’t wait until disaster strikes to build additional streams.

? Strengthen Local & Regional Networks: Caribbean businesses can’t rely solely on foreign aid or international trade. Community-driven economies are more resilient.

? Invest in Capacity Building: If external funding disappeared tomorrow, do you have the skills and infrastructure to pivot? Businesses that invest in knowledge and adaptability win every time.

? Develop a “What If?” Plan: If your key supplier vanishes, what’s your backup? If economic policy shifts overnight, what’s your move? Think ahead so you don’t get blindsided.

? Train Yourself to See the Signs: Just like we track hurricanes, track business shifts. Read the patterns. Follow industry changes. Anticipate the impact before it lands on your doorstep.

Final Thought: Be the One Who Sees it Coming

You can’t avoid storms—but you can decide whether you’ll be caught in one unprepared.

This isn’t about fear—it’s about strategy. About paying attention. About knowing that some storms are external, some are man-made, and some come from our own mindset.

Kenneth Mohammed’s article makes it clear: the U.S. aid freeze is not just an unfortunate event—it’s a wake-up call. Dr. Gillian Marcelle’s shared insight into Snyder’s work shows that this isn’t new—crises have always been manufactured, and those who see the patterns early are the ones who adapt.

And then there’s Paradise, reminding us that the people in power always have a plan. The question is—do you?

So what about you?

Are you waiting for the next storm to hit, or are you putting the right structures in place now to ensure your business is built to last?

How I Can Help You Storm-Proof Your Business

If reading this made you realize you don’t have a solid “What If?” Plan in place, let’s change that.

? Need clarity on what shifts could affect your business? Let’s talk. ? Want to strengthen your revenue model to reduce reliance on a single source? I can help. ? Need a fresh perspective on how to build resilience into your operations? That’s exactly what I do.

I help service professionals and business owners align four business pillars so they can weather any storm—and thrive.

Let’s start with a Solution Presentation where I’ll walk you through how to identify and fix the biggest misalignments in your business before they cost you time, money, and peace of mind.

The next storm is already forming. The question isn’t whether it will come—it’s whether you’ll be ready when it does.

?? If you need to storm-proof your business, let’s talk. First book a Clarity Session, and I’ll show you how to identify and fix the biggest misalignments before they cost you.

?? Click here to book a session with me.