Yes, I did sleep with a snake for 3 days.
It was back in 2008, my mother had come to visit for Christmas. At that time I lived in South Africa. So seeing snakes was not that unusual!
I told my mom not to open any of the upstairs windows as the gardener had seen a snake in one of the trees near the bedroom window and that one of the branches was too close to the window. He would cut the branch down when he came back from his holiday.
So... after telling mom not to open windows. I completely forgot about it. As this was my business's busiest time of the year.
Every night I would go to bed, exhausted but happy. Sometimes I would wake up and see a green snake curled up in my bed or on the curtains. I thought I was dreaming so went back to sleep.
Then one morning I was whilst I was having breakfast my mom saw the snake coming out of my bedroom. She freaked, I freaked and because we freaked it became angry and aggressive.
Now having grown up in South Africa where there are a lot of snakes, we are taught in school what we must do.
Instinct took over and suddenly I was mentally running through the check list.
First, make sure you know where the snake is.
I went into the bedroom and closed the door.
Then I called a friend who was a snake handler. (I am big coward and no way would touch a snake, even if paid a million dollars (maybe for a million!))
He told me to remain calm and watch where it goes, don't corner it.
Also get a pillow case ready.
I had a hammer too! But I didn't want to destroy a life!
Finally, he got to my place and just got the snake quickly in the pillowcase. Took it outside and released it!
Fortunately, it was only a garden snake, so if it had bitten us we would have only suffered from a mild headache
So why have I told you about the snake story?
Three reasons, one procrastination allowed the snake to get in the first, two my mother had opened the windows in the bedroom having forgotten or not listened when I said not too, three I followed the check list to get the snake out of the property, safe for it and safe for us.
It's the same in business, we procrastinate and often miss opportunities whether through fear of failure or fear of success. We don't listen to those that have been successful in the exact thing we want to achieve we try and do it our own way often failing and struggling.
And...
Finally, we should use check lists to help complete everything in driving our business forward. They are mini blueprints that set out the exact steps in a sequenced order.
Enjoy
Kerie
P.S. No snakes were harmed in this event
