What do cancelled flights, double rainbows, and missed alarms have in common? Turns out, they all teach you how to lead.

Four days. One cancelled flight (last year). Two alarms (this year). Countless lessons.

September 2024 — Munich (The Wonka Ticket Week)

Checked in. Sat down. Then the big neon boards flashed: CANCELLED.

Cue the usual dance with EasyJet — app open, coffee in one hand, mild panic in the other.
Luton? Leeds–Bradford? Gatwick?

“Mike… you’re going home.”

It turned into a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — getting onto any flight felt like finding a golden ticket.

I didn’t unpack for two days.

My spiritual friends told me, “You didn’t get it for a reason, Mike. The universe has something else planned for you.”
Maybe they were right.

October 2025 — Berlin (Take Two)

The night before, I thought I’d cracked it — found a hotel Park & Fly deal that looked too good to be true.

On arrival — all pre-booked and sorted, or so I thought — it was slightly alarming to discover I’d only booked the car in for one night.

After a quick negotiation, I sweet-talked my way into the last parking space and added valet parking to ease the morning rush.

Feeling organised at last, I set my alarm for 3 a.m. — except I didn’t.
I’d accidentally set it for 3 p.m.

So when I finally stirred from a deep sleep, that half-dreaming whisper — something’s not right — proved correct.

Phone check: 4:45 a.m.

Panic.
No time for a final sweep of the room. Bag zipped, out the door, heart racing.

Then came the next challenge: letting the valet parking company know I was on my way.
They needed 30 minutes’ notice.

(Cue Ted Kravitz voice:)

“Unscheduled pit stop for Mike Lawrence — timing not great, definitely not in the morning briefing, but he’s pushing on regardless. Can he make it before the lights go out?”

By the time I parked on the right floor and bay, my watch and phone were doing overtime.
Part of me thought, I’m going to make it.

The other said, Not a chance.
Still, I hoped the flight might be delayed.

Finally, the valet arrived.
I sprinted to the terminal, breathless but optimistic.
The check-in agent began processing my ticket — I thought I’d pulled off the impossible.

Then another staff member appeared and said,

“I’m sorry, sir — check-in is now closed.”

For a moment, I just stood there — motionless — watching the screens flicker with everyone else’s destinations.
Sometimes, the lesson isn’t in getting there.
It’s in what happens when you don’t.

And that’s when my woes really began.

🧮 Ted’s Notebook

Eventually, I did get on another flight — and that’s when something unexpected happened.

I sat next to someone who lives on the same road as my mum and went to the same school as me in Sheffield.
He even had a book with him to read on the trip — but we talked all the way to Berlin instead.

Funny how, out of travel chaos and missed alarms, you end up next to someone who reminds you how small the world really is.

When we finally landed, I met more delegates heading to the same hotel.
Someone mentioned Bolt, another private-hire app like Uber but much cheaper.
I sent a quick message in the WhatsApp group:

“Anyone else heading to the Estrel Hotel for Trian The Trainer (TTT)?”

Within five minutes, my phone rang —
“Yes, there are three of us.”

Shared ride. Shared relief. Back on track.

Inside the Room

Fourteen-hour days focused on how to teach and lead leaders.
We explored what most never see: session design, energy management, environment

setup, when to use slides versus a flipchart, and how to hold attention when the room — and you — are running on fumes.

Blair Singer opened Day 1 with a message that echoed all week:

“We’re meeting at a pivotal moment in history. The odds of us being in this room together are slim — and meaningful. In fact, in true Ted Kravitz style, the odds are roughly 1 in 14.8 million.”

By Day 3, the universe sent another sign — a full double rainbow over Berlin.
Rare. Inverted. Beautiful.
We used it as an awe anchor: fresh eyes, fresh choices.

What I’m Taking Home

• Left + right brain engagement: balance logic and emotion — data + story, model + movement, slide + sketch.
  
• State over circumstance: you can’t control cancellations or alarms, only your response.
  
• Energy engineering: when attention dips, you lead the reset.
  
• Connection shows up: in WhatsApp groups, shared taxis, aisle seats — use it.
  

As Blair reminded us, we don’t choose the chaos — we choose how we show up in it.

If your organisation is looking for a speaker, trainer, or facilitator who can hold energy, design impact, and stay calm at Gate 12B — let’s talk.

And if you’ve got any tried-and-tested tips for setting an alarm correctly, please send them my way — clearly, I need professional help in that department. 😅

Have you ever had your own travel disaster, missed flight, or “how-did-that-happen?” moment?
Share it — I know they’re out there!

Because resilience isn’t built in the classroom — it’s built somewhere between the snooze button and Gate 12B.

“If you want to change the world, teach others how to lead it.” — T. Harv Eker

Mike Lawrence: Your Guide to Health & Wellbeing

I’m Mike Lawrence, a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing. After overcoming significant health challenges, including brain surgery, I’ve dedicated myself to a journey of self-improvement and helping others thrive. From heart-pounding skydives for charity to soul-enriching travels in Thailand, my experiences have shaped my approach to holistic health.

I love sharing the lessons I’ve learned from these adventures and the powerful audiobooks I devour. Let’s explore the paths to better mental and physical health together. Embrace life’s adventures with enthusiasm and resilience, and remember—you’re never alone on this journey!

Feel free to email me at hello@mikelawrence.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn. For more in-depth insights and inspiring stories, read my latest blogs here. Together, let’s create a healthier, happier future!