"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights." - Maya Angelou

If you are reading this and we’ve worked together, you know most of what is coming because the metaphor of Buying an Umbrella has been at the core of my personal messaging to staff for decades. I rely on it to illustrate the fact that the same act can have significantly different outcomes depending on ‘when.’

It doesn’t matter whether it is shopping, exercising, eating, leading, reading, seating, driving, diving, singing, clinging, paying, borrowing, loaning, smelling, selling, wheeling, dealing, stopping, or popping, the ‘when’ of taking action has an enormous impact on the outcome. 

To illustrate, I like to use the simple act of buying an umbrella when you need one.

You only have three choices and there are only three times you can buy one.

• You can buy an umbrella before it rains.
• You can buy an umbrella while it is raining.
• You can buy an umbrella after it rains.

The same simple act or activity has very different consequences that are worth understanding.

Let's take a look at each one in a little bit of detail.

BEFORE IT RAINS

What if you are looking for an umbrella the day before the weatherman predicts you will need one. (Editor's note: meteorologist is the only occupation where being wrong is 100% blame-able on the computer model or the Great Lakes.)

Availability? = Unlimited

No lines, umbrellas everywhere: Macy’s, Kohl’s, Walgreen’s, CVS, and more. Walk in decide on the color and style, grab what you want and get safely, and dry, to your car. Sweet. No one will look at you funny, and you will probably have a smirk on your face because you took action.

Expense? = On Sale

There is no guarantee, but if an umbrella is ever going to be on sale, it will be a dry day when the merchant wants to deplete the supply of those damn umbrellas. Now, of course if the merchant watched the same TV weather as you did, they might be full price, but probably not.

Dryness? = Totally Dry

Logic tells you that if you buy the umbrellas before it rains, you’ll have it handy when it rains and voila! You’ll be dry. (I used to know what voila meant, can anyone help me?)

Anxiety? = Low

No hurry, no lines, no water on your hair. What could be more relaxing?

Reputation? = Good Planner

“Oh, look, s/he planned ahead and has an umbrella. Obviously, a good planner.”

Leadership? = Commended

Maybe not additional accolades, but surely any criticism of your leadership has to be put on hold. You already have your umbrella? Wow! Remember 'lead' means being in front, showing the way, etc. etc.

Efficiency? = High

No hurry, no lines, very little time spent.

Choice? = High

The selection will be maximized since no one else has bought an umbrella or is looking for one. What could be better?

Quality? = Possible

Depending on where you go, you can buy the most expensive or least expensive umbrella you want: your call. You want a cashmere umbrella? Look for one before it rains.

WHILE IT IS RAINING

What does this look like when it is raining? It is very different, and not as much fun.

Availability? = Depleted

There is no guarantee that there will be any umbrellas left at your first stop and you may have to make additional stops to find one. Each stop gets you a little bit wetter.

Expense? = Not on Sale

Anyone who discounts umbrellas while it is raining is not part of the capitalist system and has probably never heard of the concept of ‘supply and demand,’ and will never attend a Taylor Swift concert as a result.

Dryness? = Partially Wet

You may enjoy being partially wet or not. The alternative is to search for a store in a covered mall or with underground parking. Good luck.

Anxiety? = High

There is a double anxiety factor when buying an umbrella in the rain. First, you might be anxious about getting wet on your way into the store, and then you might be anxious about the store selling out of umbrellas. Ouch.

Leadership? = Questioned

It is hard to look graceful, or like a leader, running in the rain. Of course, if it is a romantic walk in the rain, that’s different. But running in the rain into Walgreen’s without an umbrella? Not a good look for a leader.

Efficiency? = Lowest

Both before it rains and after it rains you can sort of take your time, but when it is raining, you lose all sense of focus and priority. Nothing matters except getting that damn umbrella, no matter how many stops it takes.

Choice? = Risky

During the rain, you get what you get. There is no chance of resupply with a more appropriate color or design. You are concerned only with function and not style, so whether there is a poodle on the umbrella or Superman logo on it, doesn’t matter.

Quality? = Secondary

So, you run into the store, getting wet on the way. You find the cheapest piece of fabric with the flimsiest frame holding it into umbrella shape. Are you going to leave it there and get wet again going back to the car? I don’t think so. You are out of luck and need to take what you can get.

AFTER IT RAINS

Ok, so it rained, you were wet, and now you have woken up and are planning for the next rain event. Good for you. Here's what to expect.

Availability? = Limited

 If you are looking for an umbrella after it rains, there may not be one readily available, depending on the rain and the number of other people who didn’t plan ahead. It may cost you more time to find the one you want.

Expense? = Maybe on Sale

 Immediately after the rain, it is unlikely that umbrellas will be on sale, unless the ones with purple polka dots didn’t sell well. It may cost you more out of pocket to find the one you want, or even one you don’t want.

Dryness? = Very Wet

The purpose of obtaining an umbrella was to be dry during the storm but buying an umbrella after the fact is right there with missing the boat and locking the barn door. 

Anxiety? = Too Late

You can’t get the feeling back of those anxious moments when you knew you were about be drenched but had no choice but to run in the rain to the car or the store or the school. Anxiety takes a toll on anyone.

Leadership? = Ignored

Let’s face it, you don’t look very good to those who look up to you when you go through a storm getting wet. It is hard to look up in the rain anyway. It may cost you some credibility if you don’t protect yourself in a storm.

Efficiency? = Low

It is hard to make a case that your behavior was efficient. I believe that an earlier metaphor involved locking the barn door. Since I don’t have a barn, and have never been on a horse, I don’t use that one, but you understand.

Choice? = Variable

As referenced, you may have your choice of purple polka dots or football graphic or Mickey Mouse on the umbrella or more. This is for sure: your choices will be limited after the umbrella stand has been picked over.

Quality? = Limited 

Is the best quality the last one selected in pick-up sports or for a committee or for a political office? Getting to choose late always means quality is a crapshoot.

The soon to be world famous matrix is filled in above. Comparing the options, it would appear that one of the choices makes the most sense. Not only that, it makes the most sense 100% of the time.

The next time you get wet, remember, 'when' you do something can have significantly different outcomes, and try to do your umbrella shopping before it rains.