Leadership Lessons From an Event Gone Wrong

Leaders of all stripes could learn from the epic fiasco that was Saturday night’s Cattle Baron’s Ball at the Star Brand Ranch in Kaufman. (See our SweetCharity blog for a complete report.) First, insiders tell us that–unlike in years past–the organizers had no backup plan for the bash in case it rained, which of course it did, turning the site into a world-class mud hole. Second, experts tell us they advised the ball honchos as early as last Wednesday that, if they proceeded, chaos and confusion would result. For whatever reason the bigwigs ignored the advice and plunged ahead, come hell or high water. It was only due to good samaritans like Web entrepreneurs Joe and Katie Tauscher (pictured) that attendees weren’t sleeping all night in their mud-stuck vehicles. The Tauschers toted four D folks, including yours truly, back to Dallas in their pristine BMW after the D car, like scores of others, got bogged down up to its wheelwells in the soggy pasture. (Joe and Katie had wisely parked on higher ground, foreseeing the fiasco to come.) The lessons to be learned? Listen to the experts when they tell you something–and always have a backup plan in place. And, when all else fails, make fast friends with cooler heads like Joe and Katie.