Assess Progress—Test What You Think You Have
Taking action is essential, but action alone does not guarantee readiness.
Many leaders feel more confident once tasks are completed, documents are updated, and responsibilities are assigned. Yet confidence built on assumptions can disappear the moment reality puts those efforts to the test.
In Chapter 6 of Why Plans Don’t Prepare You: What Real Readiness Looks Like When Leadership Is Tested, I explain why testing is one of the most important disciplines in leadership.
A contact list may exist, but does it work? Roles may be assigned, but do people understand them? Systems may be in place, but can they perform under pressure?
Real readiness is created when leaders replace assumptions with evidence.
Listen to this exclusive pre-release reading of Chapter 6: Assess Progress—Test What You Think You Have, and discover how simple exercises and honest evaluation transform effort into confidence.
Previous Chapter: Take Action—Motion Defeats Anxiety
Link back to the Series Hub (Introduction post)
Till next time.
Stay Informed & Stay Safe

Daniel Kilburn
Founder – Emergency Action Planning LLC
P.S. The best time to test your readiness is before the stakes are real. If this chapter resonates with you, you can pre-order Why Plans Don’t Prepare You today and be among the first to receive the full book when it launches on June 1, 2026.
Pre-order on Amazon: Why Plans Don’t Prepare You
To learn more about leadership, preparedness, and resilience, visit https://www.whatstheplandan.com.
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