Season 2 Episode 7 - When Plans Fall Apart (Switchbacks)

When Plans Fall ApartA routine drive home turned into a hard lesson about symptoms vs. causes. East of Peoria, my F-150 overheated—oil added, coolant topped, hazards on—and a parade of helpers (thank you, Michael with the scan tool; Ryan the tow driver; Matt and Butch at the dealer; Bonnie at the rental counter) stepped into the story. The codes said “over-temp,” the cabin heater stayed cold, and the real culprit emerged: not oil or coolant, but ultimately, a blown head gasket.At the same time, my family’s plan shifted as my mom—who recently moved to assisted living after an MDS diagnosis—was hospitalized with pneumonia. We’d been treating what we thought it was, a cough, not what it was. In both moments, the lesson was the same: pause, widen the lens, ask for help, and change plans sooner.This longer episode is thoughtful and personal. It’s about leadership when the map no longer matches the terrain: naming a “tow threshold,” supporting dignity in hard choices, and carrying gratitude for the people who help us pivot. Not medical advice—just one family’s honest trail notes.What’s your “broken down truck” moment—when you realized it wasn’t what you first thought? What's your "tow threshold" for changing plans?