Plan ahead (or get soaked): A Welsh weather reality check
In this guest article, Aaron Dixon, Business Continuity & Resilience Specialist, explores why simply hoping for the best or ignoring risks won’t stop operational disruptions, and highlights why taking proactive steps to prepare is essential for any organization’s survival.
There was a time when I thought I could outrun Welsh rain.
It was a bold belief. Some might say delusional.
I had checked the forecast (optimistically ignored the grey clouds), stepped outside without a coat, and set off, convinced I’d make it to my destination before the skies betrayed me.
You can guess how this ends.
Two minutes in? Drizzle. Manageable.
Five minutes? That deceiving mist that soaks you without looking like real rain.
Eight minutes? Biblical downpour.
By the time I arrived, I looked like I had lost a bet with the Atlantic Ocean.
This is what happens when optimism overrules reality, whether it’s avoiding a raincoat or assuming your business doesn’t need a continuity plan.
Denial is not a strategy
Every business has its own rainstorm moment, the disaster they assume won’t happen until it does.
- The IT department: “We don’t need a backup server. The system’s been fine for years.” (Until it crashes at the worst possible moment.)
- The supply chain manager: “Our vendors always deliver.” (Until Dave’s Distribution Solutions suddenly ceases to exist.)
- Leadership: “We’ll handle problems as they come.” (A beautiful sentiment right up until they’re caught scrambling.)
The problem isn’t just the unexpected disruption. It’s convincing yourself it won’t happen and skipping preparation altogether.
The seasoned local approach
Ask any Welsh resident and they’ll tell you: you don’t leave the house unprepared, ever.
This exact mindset should apply to business continuity. Because the best strategies aren’t built on ‘We’ve been fine so far’. They’re built on ‘What if today is the day we aren’t?’
So, before reality finds the gaps in your system, do yourself a favour:
- Run uncomfortable tests. If nobody struggles, your test wasn’t realistic enough.
- Question outdated processes. If your continuity plan involves fax machines, I regret to inform you it’s time for an intervention.
- Prepare for failure before it happens. Because standing in a metaphorical (or literal) downpour is not an ideal moment for learning lessons.
Conclusion: If you think it won’t rain, you’re already wet
Denial doesn’t stop disruption; it just delays the moment you realise you weren’t ready.
So, whether it’s weather-proofing your outfit or future-proofing your business, remember:
- Hope is not a strategy.
- Optimism bias is a silent assassin.
- If you aren’t planning for storms, don’t be surprised when you get caught in one.
Also, for full disclosure, I wrote this from inside one of my eight raincoats. Because, well… Wales.
In the interest of transparency AI was utilised to review and edit this article for grammar, clarity, and coherence, with final approval by human editors
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About the author
Aaron Dixon
Principality Building Society
