The One Question That Changed How I Handle Crisis

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Five minutes before I was supposed to deliver a keynote in Washington DC, the event organizer pulled me aside.

“We won’t be able to use your slides today.”

Mind you, these are the same slides they asked me for a week earlier.

Most people fear public speaking more than death, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. But I wasn’t scared.

So I looked at the organizer and said, “This isn’t good. I don’t have much public speaking experience and I need those slides.”

Now SHE looked scared. Guess that was a bad time for sarcasm.

I told her it would be fine. And it was.

The R³ Method in Real Time

In that moment, I unconsciously applied my R³ framework:

Realign – This definitely wasn’t the presentation I thought it was going to be, and that is what it is.

Reclaim – Whatever. I’m still me, and I know my stuff.

Rebuild – This is something I’ve wanted to do anyway. It’s almost like a free practice run. If I mess up, they can’t be too upset since this wasn’t the original plan. If I nail it, I’m a legend. I can’t lose.

The Power of Mental Rehearsal

Here’s why I wasn’t scared. I had been daydreaming about delivering a “one man show” without slides instead of a typical keynote. One that mixed education with moving stories and carefully timed dad jokes. I just want to keep leveling up.

That mental rehearsal saved me.

Research shows that visualization activates the same neural pathways as actual performance.

Your brain literally can’t tell the difference between a vividly imagined experience and a real one. Athletes use this. Surgeons use this. Navy SEALs use this.

But even if you think visualization is mystical nonsense, there’s no harm in preparing for the hard thing before you have to do the hard thing.

How It Played Out

When I got on stage, I knew I had to warm up the crowd differently. So I started with:

“Have you ever sounded like you were lying about your own story when you were actually telling the truth? I’ll give you an example. We’re in Washington DC. Technically I was born here, but I moved to Chicago when I was very young, then Rochester, NY in second grade, then Brooklyn in my late 20s. So when people ask where I’m from, that story gets a bit clouded. But I’m back here in Washington DC today, and my goal is to make sure you know how to tell your story in a way that doesn’t sound like you’re making it up on the spot.”

They burst out in laughter. I had set the tone for the rest of the event.

Guest Insight from Nir Eyal, Bestselling Author of Indistractable

Whether it’s unexpectedly performing a one-man show or begging my kids to put on their shoes so we can finally get out the door, one way I’m able to stay focused during periods of high stress is to control my internal triggers.

In that moment backstage in DC, I could have easily spiraled. Have you ever caught yourself spiraling after a mistake, replaying it over and over in your mind?

Here’s what Nir teaches: Most distractions don’t come from our phones – they come from within. There’s a crucial difference between reflection and rumination. Reflection asks, “What can I learn?” Rumination traps you in self-blame.

Instead of letting anxiety hijack my focus, I had already mentally rehearsed this scenario. That preparation allowed me to block out the internal trigger to panic and respond strategically instead.

Want to go deeper? Download Nir Eyal’s free guide, The Inner Trigger Decoder, and learn how to spot emotional triggers and replace them with traction habits.

This is why I mentally rehearse difficult scenarios. Not because I’m pessimistic, but because I’m strategic.

Your Turn: The Crisis Question

Ask yourself: “What’s one challenging situation I might face in the next 90 days, and how would I handle it if everything went wrong?”

Then spend 10 minutes visualizing yourself navigating it successfully. Not the fantasy version where everything goes perfectly, but the messy reality where you adapt, recover, and still deliver value.

Drop this into ChatGPT for a more detailed scenario: “Here’s a challenging situation I might face: [describe situation]. Help me visualize 3 ways I could handle this if my original plan completely falls apart, focusing on how I’d stay calm and add value anyway.”

The Bottom Line

The goal isn’t to expect disaster. It’s to be so mentally prepared that when things don’t go according to plan, you’re not scrambling to figure out who you are under pressure.

You already know.

Because you’ve been there before, in your mind.

Stay prepared. Stay bold. Stay Savage.

—Terry

PS: What’s one scenario you should be mentally preparing for in your business right now? Hit reply and let me know, I’ve blocked off time this week to respond personally. No joke, I actually want to hear from you.