A plan is a programmed course of action, made for a programmed decision. Plans made for turbulent times during times where favorable conditions allow for more careful planning will almost always be more effective than plans made under hostile or turbulent times.

As far as possible management must be prepared for interruptions in normal operation and not allow fate to dictate the response.

Plans for managing in turbulent times, or in times of crises should not determine the basic culture of the operation. The organization’s leaders (both formal and informal) need to operate in an atmosphere of optimism and innovation, with no fear of taking risks for the benefit of the organization and its people. Abraham Lincoln once said; “We live in the midst of alarms, anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read.”

Given the Card’s history, one bad situation after another will take some great faith in the ship’s executive team to keep a positive attitude, especially at sea.

Fate makes demands on flesh and blood and what is most often the demand is flesh and blood.