We have been dealing with several family crises involving both my wife’s and my family. Not us directly, but sometimes indirectly can be even harder as you may have much less control or input. A personal or family crisis often is like a business one. Both type of crises can involve health ( physical or business) and, of course, the ever present factor in life and work, money.  And both type of crises have another thing in common. A Crisis does not just start and move directly to a finish; rather crises tend to move in their own, often random way.

Never a Straight Line.

My longtime, internist doctor often says this about other medical conditions. High blood pressure rarely starts out at 120/80 and goes up to 130/90 and then to 140/100. He says the same thing about rising cholesterol levels. He says that more often these health indicators move up to a new plateau, stay there for awhile, sometimes even drop back a little before they rise again. The bad medical indicators always just keep rising.

Never a Straight Line.

Business cycles, stock market indicators work the same way. Financial people love to forecast the next five years as a Straight Line (usually pointing upwards). Stock market analysts predict where one stock or the whole market will be end up trading in the next 52 weeks. But whether the conditions are an upward bull market or a downward bear, the daily and weekly prices go up, sideways and down many times before they settle.

Never a Straight Line.

Individual careers, nowadays, often move the same way. We used to look for job applicants whose resumes should  show ever steady upward progress through title changes and pay scales. And, we would be concerned about people who had the dreaded “break in service”. Today, almost everyone has taken a sideways career move, in order to go forward. And many workers have gaps of months or years on their resumes due to changing or losing jobs, taking personal time for family,  travel or whatever.

When I moved to USG Corporation from Donn, my initial title, in my eyes, went down: I went from Donn’s CFO to USG Interiors V.P. of Financial Administration( a title I still have trouble explaining). Then I was “promoted” from my subsidiary V.P. title to a Director in the USG headquarters. That sounded like a demotion but I was awarded more money and assured it was a good move. Those in large firms understand this madness all too well. And, of course, these bizarre titles and moves are often due to our favorite Human Resource group who love to confuse. A couple of moves and titles later, it lead to CFO of all of USG. A clear promotion.

Never a Straight Line.

And, of course, personal relationships are the ultimate example of this theory. Friendships, siblings, parents and children, dating and even spouses. All have their shares of ups and downs. Hopefully, more ups.

This is always the way in movies or television. The perfect relationship has a major setback. In my wife’s favorite Cary Grant movie, An Affair to Remember, Cary and Deborah Kerr are doing great until their cruise ship docks back in New York and they have to deal with their fiancees. An Empire State Building scene or two later, it all works out.

My wife, Tricia, would not go on a first date with me until two years after we met. After our first date, however, we have been together or spoken on the phone every day for the last 28 years. So that worked out as well. Relationships, like careers, like business and like medical issues move in their own unique patterns. But they all have their ups, downs and sideways.

Never a Straight Line.

So at this point, one might expect a smooth transition or, at least, a strong link to a Chapter in my forthcoming book, The Business Zoo. But wouldn’t that be too easy?

And wouldn’t we lose some of the fun and adventure? Because this blog, like most of business and life, needs to find its own unique rhythm.

Never a Straight Line.