Oct 12, 2025

Notes from “Middle Earth”
Playa Caracol, Panamá 

“Looks like I’m going to have to reschedule my upcoming call.”

(Can’t read the full email – click here for the online version.)

I suppose we could have surmised something was up when we passed a truck pulled over the side of the road, with a large diesel generator on the trailer it was pulling. We were on our way to run some errands in the largest town near us then join the local Pickleball club for a club tournament they were hosting.

Just before the 6:00 pm start, I had received what looked like a cryptic WhatsApp message from a group I wasn’t familiar with – all in Spanish of course. Something about a power outage that was planned. I didn’t look at it too closely.

On the way back the generator was sitting on the shoulder of the road, connected to a rural school, all ready for use. Fortunately there was a full moon to help illuminate the road, else it would have been difficult to see.

Once safely back home, I looked more closely at the message. I wasn’t pleased.

“Looks like we’re heading back to town tomorrow dear.” I said to my wife. “The electric company has planned some work on the power lines, and we will be without electricity all day from 8 am to 6 pm!”

So, we reorganized our day, beginning with an earlier rise to ensure we had power to make coffee and breakfast, then drive into town, visit a coffee shop for the morning so I could make my scheduled calls, grab a light lunch then take advantage of a special one of the members was running for massages at her new spa.

Everything was going well. Out of the house by 8:30, jump into the car and I’d have plenty of time for my first call at 9:30. 

One big problem.

Blocking our exit from the parking lot were two large trucks. They were stopped because the gate was not open. The gate, being electric, was stuck in the down position. And no one, it seemed, knew who to contact to get it opened. 

Eventually a resort fellow arrived with a bunch of keys. He fiddled around, trying to find one that worked to open the control box. He spent 10 minutes or so fiddling around before he decided to phone someone else.

5 more minutes go by. Then a side-by-side with 2 other employees arrive – and they give him a different set of keys. Those don’t work either.

By now, we had been sitting there for 25 minutes. The trucks for longer. 10 more minutes slipped by. The truck drivers and other employees lounged lazily in the shade of some palm trees. They didn’t seem too upset or surprised.

Finally a lady drove up in one of the resort ATVs and waved at us. They had been successful at opening the other entrance gate she intimated. 

So, around the line of trucks behind us we drove, free from our compound, to make our way to town. 

By this time, I knew there was no way we could make it to the town nor the coffee shop, to make my first call. So while we were waiting, I had emailed my colleague, asking if we could reschedule for an hour later than planned.

It is interesting and almost comical that while we only received notice the afternoon before a full day’s planned power outage, the folks in the nearest rural village had received enough notice to organize and call in, a generator so that their school would have power for the day. 

Comical too, that the local administration of our community did not see fit to ensure all the gates in and out of the area were raised and kept up, before the morning shut down began. Sometimes, it boggles the mind how badly managed people and resources can be.

Even so, I chastised myself for not parking our car outside our parking area, since there are spots to do so next to our complex. I could have done so easily, the night before, anticipating the possible outcome. Then, we could have been on our way as planned, with no need to reschedule.

“Hope for the best but plan for the worst.” 

That is kind of a Dan Kennedy slogan. Planning and expecting the worst outcomes even while implementing the tasks you need to do to achieve your goals and objectives. 

Meaning, have a plan ‘B’ and ‘C’ and maybe even a ‘D’ so that when things do not turn out the way you hope, you have an alternative plan in place to keep you moving forward.

Now, if you’re not sure how or what plans, strategies, tasks are required to get you to those goals of yours, then a good place to start is my Do-It-Yourself Business Academy. 

Until next week, 

Stay healthy and focus on profit! 

 - Hugh 
The “Profit Accelerator” Expert

P.S: Tiny, consistent wins—1–2% changes—can compound into 50–100% more profit in a year. Our team built a tool to unlock those gains. If you’re curious about how this can transform your coaching business, click here to explore further.

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