I hear that spring cleaning is a thing. If you walked into my office today, you’d know it’s not in my vocabulary. I typically get around to “spring cleaning” right before football season—or when a hurricane hits and there’s nothing better to do than declutter in the dark.
As a Florida resident, today I got the familiar message: hurricane season is upon us, time to prepare. I can’t help but think back to Hurricane Irma in 2017—so massive, it looked like it swallowed the entire state. Yet somehow, she did less damage than some of last year’s storms. Every year, we prepare. And every year, someone says, “it was just a little wind and rain.” That’s not cynicism. That’s resilience. That’s experience.
As trainers, we have that too.
So, with hurricane season here, I say let’s ditch the idea of spring cleaning and use Florida’s storm-season playbook to prepare ourselves and our teams.
1. Take Inventory
Skip the purge and start with a pulse check. During hurricane prep, that means the basics: batteries, flashlights, gallons of water, Velveeta mac and cheese (no milk or butter needed). And of course, your drink of choice and a reliable cooler.
In training, it means reviewing what you’ve built so far this year and what’s still on deck. Check in with leadership. Remind them of your wins. This is also when budgets start to tighten—so know your value, and know your needs.
Side note: That cooler I won at the Resource Gallery at CHART 106 in Chicago saved us during Hurricane Milton. It kept our deli meats cold for three days while we avoided opening the fridge. Heroes come in many forms.
2. Assess Your Risks
Supplies are great. But what about your surroundings? Untrimmed trees become roof-busters. Lawn chairs turn into airborne missiles.
The same goes for hospitality teams. Are your people aligned? Are projects on track? Whether or not you have formal reviews, ongoing assessment and feedback are crucial. Don’t wait for problems to escalate. Be the example of accountability and foresight your organization needs.
3. Gather Supplies
Now that you’ve done inventory and risk assessment, it’s time to fill the gaps. In Florida, that’s the moment you stockpile boxed food and water—before the stores empty out. If you don’t use it, you donate it around Thanksgiving.
In business, use this moment of clarity to reprioritize spending. Make smart choices before the inevitable budget haircut. Your prep now can save you later.
Side note: I’ll admit I didn’t follow my own advice before Irma. I went grocery shopping the day before landfall—rookie move. The store was chaos; carts were nowhere to be found. A few of us started helping strangers load their groceries just to score an empty cart. Eventually, three of us gave up and shopped together, sharing one “golden” cart and helping each other load our cars before passing it along to the next person. It turned a mess into a moment of camaraderie and a great memory.
4. Update and Connect
I have lived in my house for 17 years. We were friendly with our neighbors until Irma was coming at us, ten years later. As we saw this massive storm careening toward us on the news, we all banded together and helped each house get in order. Now, we are all the closest of friends, not just for the emergencies but for the everyday joys and trials.
Professionally, it is easy to isolate. But connection is everything. Connect with friends and peers. Update contact information. Send a bad pun. Book that 30-minute virtual coffee. Your network isn’t just a safety net – it’s a lifeline.
5. Know the Peak
Storm season builds gradually. August is usually the peak. The signs are there leading up to it — lack of rain in May leads to hotter oceans, lots of jellyfish weeks before peak season, bathwater temperature beaches. You learn to read the signs.
In business, those signs come in revenue reports, guest feedback, and seasonal trends. Pay attention to the cues. Review the marketing calendar. Anticipate what’s coming so your training can stay one step ahead.
6. Lean Into the F Word: Fun
There is a strange but sweet part of hurricane season: The Hurricane Party. It is literally what we call it. Most of us are not actually partying. But the notion is so much better than “sit in fear and listen to weather radio.” When you’re prepared and the storm hits, there’s not much to do but wait. And when you’re waiting, time slows down. You notice things. You play board games. You share snacks. You talk to people. You laugh. You relax. You eat and drink (responsibly). And then you hear the birds sing and know the storm has passed.
The same is true in business. We are often exasperated around this time of year regarding budget cuts and siloed departments. If we have done the previous steps, we can anticipate this and ride out the storm, so to speak. You’ve earned the calm. You might even enjoy it.
Side note: I once drove through a tropical storm for a job interview at the new J.W. Marriott. HR didn’t even show. I could have made that drive with white knuckles or I could have looked to that drive with respect and exhilaration. I choose to remember the joy of driving on the typically busy highway and virtually no cars on the road. I didn’t get the job BTW.
If we prepare well, we can weather more than just the literal storms – we can face the figurative ones with steadiness and even a bit of optimism. And when we look back, it’s not the spreadsheets or the instructional designs we remember. It’s the stories.
In Florida, we often mark our time by the storms.
The year of Andrew (1992).
The year of four hurricanes, when I worked at three different resorts and served on the ride-out crew for Charley, Frances, and Jeanne (2004).
The year Irma came for all of us (2017).
Just last year, we saw three more – Debby, Helene, and Milton – the last two within two weeks of each other. The Mid-Atlantic region is still recovering from Helene, and Milton nearly knocked us back down. But we bounced back, and fast. Why? Because we knew what was coming. We prepared. And we leaned into what experience has taught us time and again: storms pass. Choose the fun and we can come through stronger.
So this season, forget the spring cleaning.
Stock your shelves.
Check your teams.
Brace for the unexpected
But above all – lean into the experience, the community, and maybe even the joy of being prepared.
After all, it’s not just about surviving the storm – it’s about how we live through it.
CHART Community Discussion