The state trooper pulled up alongside and gave me a look.

I began writing this on a 7:30 am Delta flight from Miami to JFK. A flight I wasn’t supposed to be on.

But there I was, the result of following directions I hadn’t understood. And having no way to get the guidance and quick feedback to get me back on track.

I’d been in Fort Lauderdale at a four day seminar. My plan was to drive to Miami International Airport, drop off the rental car and catch my flight to Heathrow.

I turned off I95 into Miami Interational Airport two hours before takeoff.

All I had to do was drop off the rental car, self check-in (no checked bags), security and board the plane.

But, wait. Where is the rental car center?

I pulled over on to the shoulder, pushed on the hazard lights and peered intently at GoogleMaps on my iPhone.

Next thing I know, a state trooper pulled up beside me. The officer was looking at me, eyebrows raised.

I rolled down my window and said “I’m trying to find the car rental center.”

“Head right over there, go down the hill and continue along the road to the other side.”

“OK, thank you!” I said and pulled out ahead of him.

So I followed his directions, slowly. Cautiously. Paying attention.

And then a taxi honks at me.

The driver is waving at me and saying something that sounds very much like “You can’t go in there!”

That’s when I realized that I’d just joined a line of taxis.

Shoot. Now what?

I’ll spare you the details of every wrong turn. But it took me about half an hour to get to the rental car center. With every passing minute, I could feel the knot in my stomach tightening.

Finally, I got there.

Now, presumably there would be a gas station right there so I could full up the car.

“Yes there is,” said the attendant.

“How far?” I asked.

I was fully ready to pay the $9 a gallon they’d charge me in order to reduce the risk of missing my flight. But if it was just a few minutes there and back, I might as well just fill it, right?

“Oh, it’s very close,” he assured me.

Remembering my most recent experience with the trooper and the taxi driver, I asked “Is it easy to get back from there?”

“Oh, yeah. Very easy.”

So off I went.

And that was another Big Mistake.

(In retrospect, I asked all the wrong questions. And didn’t ask the one question that would have ensured I make my flight. It was a break down in disciplined, structured thinking. I’ll share my analysis and lessons learned in a future email.)

I finally got to check-in 45 minutes before takeoff.

The self check-in kiosk wouldn’t respond. An agent came over to help.

He promptly informed me that I was too late and would miss my flight.

(Had I been less harried, and a more experienced traveler, I would have insisted he let me try. I had only hand luggage. Figuring 20 minutes for security and a mad dash for the gate, I probably could have made it.)

He gave me a phone number to rebook.

“Rebook? Sorry, sir. The delay was no fault of the airline. You’re going to have to buy a new ticket.”

The next couple of hours were spent examining my options. Talking with a travel agent, my sister and an uncle to figure out how to get home before the weekend.

It was near midnight when I had a new ticket for 7:30 am.

At that point it made no sense to leave the airport. I spent the night roaming the deserted terminal.

When the Starbucks at Gate 5 opened at about 4 am, I was right nearby, lying under a row of chairs.

About 20+ hours and three airplanes later I was home for the weekend.

I learned many lessons from this experience.

But first and foremost is a reminder of the value of having someone who knows the way guide you every step of the way.

It’s really no different than what I do for the coaches, consultants and other experts in my Plenty of Clients(TM) programs.

When you read a book or take a seminar or training, the directions all sound pretty straight forward.

Until you find yourself out there on the road. Alone and confused.

‘State troopers’ raising their eyebrows at you. ‘Taxi drivers’ jeering at you. ‘Rental car attendants’ assuring you it will be easy and quick. And check-in agents giving up on you way too early.

But it’s not.

The fastest way would have been to have someone hop in the car next to me and point me to where I wanted to go. (I did that once in Washington DC and it worked out great. That too is a story for another time.)

To have had a more experienced traveler whisper into my ear “Tell him you want to make a dash for the plane and see if you can make it. Don’t quit yet.”

If you’re a coach, consultant or expert of any kind and you feel you hit a ceiling as build a consistent flow of your ideal clients… Stop.

Stop trying to go it alone.

You must get yourself someone who can save you from wrong turns, wishful thinking and the significant expenses that could avoid if you had the right guidance.

I invite you to apply for a free 15 minutes “Consistent Flow of Clients” strategy chat with me.

It’s a way for us to begin to get to know each other. And determine if I can get you where you want to go faster, more profitably and with less hassle.

Dov Gordon

About The Author

Dov Gordon

Dov Gordon helps consultants and coaches get clients - consistently.