Lessons from Buddy the cat

I had a very literal lesson on resource constraints adaptation this week.

I was coaching a client virtually from my home office. I have the process down pat to create a distraction-free environment that professional coaching demands. That time is basically sacred; space to focus and grow, and I absolutely do not break that commitment.

The camera’s on, we’re deep into some meaningful work, and I’m fully present for this person who’s trusting me with their growth. Everything’s going smoothly until I notice our cat Buddy has somehow gotten trapped in the office with me. I’m not worried—Buddy is just investigating the bookshelf and sniffing around my desk.

And then… there is this… smell.

Nature called.

Not for me—for Buddy. And he saw no reason to wait, so he did what any results-oriented employee would do when faced with an urgent deliverable and zero resources. He drops a steaming quarterly report right there on the office carpet.

Now I’m still on this call, remember. Can’t move. Can’t react. Can’t even make horrified faces because I’m on camera. Buddy, meanwhile, had already demonstrated textbook crisis management. No panic. No committee meetings. No endless discussions about whether this is the right strategic direction. He assessed the situation, identified available workspace, and executed the project with unwavering confidence.

Having completed his urgent business, Buddy is now casually grooming himself with the satisfied air of someone who just nailed a major presentation. Zero awareness of the workplace disaster he’s created. Pure confidence in his decision-making abilities.

Let’s Evaluate Buddy’s Quarterly Performance:

Problem identification: Outstanding—he clearly recognized the urgency of the situation

Creative solution-finding: Exceptional—worked with available resources

Speed of execution: Impressive—no delays or hesitation

Environmental impact assessment: Needs significant improvement

Stakeholder communication: Completely absent

Post-project cleanup: Fully delegated to management

Overall performance rating: It’s… complicated. He’s a cat. So it’s really mine to fix.

Other than a cat check before closing the door, I’m not going to let my cat single-handedly generate a complete workplace transformation initiative.

The Takeaway

Here’s what I learned from this aromatic workplace disaster: Sometimes your most carefully constructed professional environment can be completely derailed by forces beyond your control. And when that happens, you have two choices—panic or find the humor in the chaos.

I chose humor.

My client never knew what happened, we finished our session successfully, and I spent the next twenty minutes… well, never mind. But let’s just say I’d just lived through the universe’s reminder not to take myself too seriously.

Buddy, meanwhile, has moved on to his afternoon nap, completely unburdened by any awareness of the crisis he created.

I guess that confirms the other lesson: when you’re in management, sometimes you’re literally cleaning up other people’s *&#!. That’s not a metaphor anymore—that’s just a Tuesday afternoon