The Crowdstrike Cyber Security Update Canceled My Flight And All I Got Was This Incredible Road Trip
“We’re sorry that your flight DL 0634 from PDX on Jul 21 has been canceled.”
Meg and I were sitting together when I received the text from Delta. Our flight had already been delayed, and the news regarding Crowdstrike’s cybersecurity software update — one that had inadvertently hobbled banks, public transit and health systems, airlines, and more — had us anticipating the worst.
The text message continued:
“We have been working to find a good option for you, but unfortunately, we have been unable to find comparable flights. You may be able to find alternative airports and flight options that are acceptable to you by visiting delta.com/rebookingoptions and selecting ‘Find Other Flights.’”
We clicked the link, hoping to find the next, most convenient option for our flight from Portland to Detroit. Instead, it brought us to a blank screen. Nothing.
Let me put this into perspective: Over 8.5 million Windows devices were affected by this update. Over 38 thousand flights were canceled across the globe, with about 7 thousand of them being Delta’s. In this regard, we were not special.
I have no doubt that their entire Delta organization was scrambling to rectify this situation behind the scenes. But their communication was poor, and their ability to serve their customers, many of whom were already stranded at the airport, was severely lacking.
Turning a Travel Setback Into a Road Trip Adventure
It quickly dawned on us that rebooking our flight was next to impossible. Was our trip over before it began? We sat in silence for a few seconds before Meg said, “Why don’t we drive?”
Folks, this is a nearly 2,400 mile, thirty-six hour drive. But without hesitation, I said, “Yes!”
A situation like the one we were facing is a perfect example of what some might call “controlling the controllable.”
Because there were a few things we knew we couldn’t control:
- We could not rebook a flight with Delta
- We could not book a flight with any other airline
- To our knowledge, there are currently no portals connecting the Pacific Northwest to Northern Michigan
But what could we control? Our options were to either cancel or postpone our trip, or to drive, and the former option wasn’t an acceptable one, so we went with the latter.
Within the hour, we had rented a Chrysler Pacifica van and ran to the grocery store, where we bought a new cooler and filled it with water and food for the drive.
Now, we just needed to tell the kids about our change of plans.
Why Flexibility is Key During Travel Disruptions (And Just About Every Other Aspect Of Life)
I believe that in life and in business, that this sort of attitude is the difference between success and failure. Because it’s the difference between what you think your pathway is going to look like vs. what actually happens.
There will always be hiccups along the way, no matter how big or how small your goals are, and a true test of your resilience lies in how you choose to react to those challenges. It’s okay and it’s normal to be frustrated and disappointed, but if you let yourself get stuck there, then the journey is over.
But if you can see what’s past those feelings, you start to see that you have some options. The trick is to keep going. Eventually, you begin to realize that the journey is often a non-linear one, and there’s always an unexpected lesson or two along the way.
Both Meghan and I are from the same small, northern Michigan town, and since our children were very young, we’ve spent a good portion of our summers there. It’s become tradition.
It’s incredibly beautiful there, a seemingly endless view of dense forests, countless inland lakes and rivers, and of course, the overwhelming stature of the Great Lakes. There’s nothing like it.
But even more special than the natural beauty is the time we get to spend with family. This trip represents one of the few times throughout the year where we see our parents and loved ones — the idea of missing out on those connections felt unthinkable.
Our daughter downloaded several movies onto the iPad. Our son invited a friend. I picked up the dog from the boarding facility. Early the next morning, Meg and I packed up the van, loaded up the kids and the dog, and hit the road for Michigan.
Creating Order Amidst Chaos In Life And In Business
Though we weren’t given much time to prepare, Meghan and I quickly brought a sense of order to our trek, from the way we packed the car to the cadence of our rest stops. It helped create a sense of predictability for everyone and threw cold water on any potential chaos.
In this way, it was much like a business. We had a clear mission. Set expectations. We had goals. We had roles. And we made sure that everyone was rewarded for their contributions to our success.
Thirty-six hours in the car gives you plenty of time to reflect. To converse. To take in how truly vast the United States is.
As I drove across I-90 and I-94, I couldn’t help but think about how grateful I am that we’ve built a business that allows us the level of flexibility we get to experience. But it’s about more than building something that provides us a sense of accomplishment, security, and freedom.
There were times when we were all working our corporate jobs — all of which provided us incredible opportunities, experiences, and relationships — where we would think, “If I had it my way, it would do _______.”
And now we get to do that. The responsibilities lie directly on our shoulders, and while that creates a different sort of pressure than what we were experiencing in the past, I don’t think any of us would consider going back to the way things were.
Six years ago, Formada was a leap of faith. It was an idea. Now, it employs a robust team and serves a roster of clients that we only could have dreamed of back in 2018.
Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Destination
There’s a rhythm that you fall into when you’re on the road. And there’s a very similar rhythm to the way a business moves and evolves. Sometimes you’re the driver. Sometimes you’re the navigator. And sometimes you just need a little break.
But if you’re lucky enough to take the journey, there’s so much to see and experience.
There will be times where it feels repetitive and even a little mundane, but if you choose to stop when you’re faced with those moments, you’re going to miss out on those extraordinary things that you never saw coming — and you’re certainly never going to get to where you wanted to go.
Sometimes you just need to hit the road. With the right team, talent, and drive, the road will reveal itself.
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