This weekend, between idyllic sun-kissed park hangs, ocean views, and coffee shop chats, I finally faced the reality that my LA home is also host to wildfires and potentially an earthquake so devastating that it simply goes by, “The Big One.”

I wrote out my emergency plan and packed a go bag.

Some of my friends lovingly roll their eyes at my “prepper” behavior. Others plotted their exit routes immediately after the 2025 wildfires, and are shocked it’s taken me this long.

Ultimately I chose the approach that was right for me. It took a recent 4am false building alarm driving me, bleary eyed out into the streets (with my cat frantically shoved in her carrier) to realize how woefully unprepared I was. And the level of attention and care I put into my plan has lifted a weight I didn’t realize I was carrying, and has helped me sleep a little more sweetly.

As I loaded gallon #7 of potable water onto my shelves, it hit me: this is exactly the work I do with my clients who are understandably nervous about how labor market swings, shifting economy, political uncertainty, and the rise of AI will impact their livelihood.

We don’t panic.

We don’t put our heads in the sand.

We understand the risks and make a plan to mitigate them.

The goal is obvious: to be prepared if the worst happens. But the real gift is what it gives you right now: the quiet confidence that you have your own back.

I know that the last thing you want to do when you feel stressed or overwhelmed is figure out how to tackle it. I help people find their risk-safe, relief-filled paths forward in their careers every day, so let me share some of the elements of emergency planning that help most:

Understand the actual risks. Risks loom large in our imagination until we look them in the eye. Is AI coming for your job? Maybe! But the answer looks very different depending on your field, your role, and how you choose to adapt. Headlines are designed to get our hearts beating (and fingers clicking). Part of our work together is cutting through the noise—identifying the data sources, experts, and communities actually worth trusting—so you can land on a perspective and a strategy that's truly yours.

Stay connected. We don't weather emergencies alone, and we don't navigate career uncertainty alone either. Make sure you know who's in your corner: people to vouch for, refer, and even hire you. And stay plugged into what's happening in your organization, field, and industry—whether that's someone on the inside who flags trouble early, a newsletter you trust, or a professional community talking honestly about the future of your work. Don't wait for the storm to assemble your squad.

Be prepared. If the worst happens, where will you go? Which organizations need what you provide? Who in your network would love to bring you into their work? Have a few backup plans that sound both viable and—dare I say—exciting. Keep your LinkedIn and resume current, or at least capture your wins, case studies, and proudest moments as you go. And know your financial runway, so whatever you decide next comes from a place of empowerment, not scarcity. Maybe the downfall of your current path is a welcome invitation to build the next great thing.

Here's to blue skies—and the quiet confidence that comes from having a plan for the storm clouds.

Onward!
Grace

P.S. Here’s the LA County Emergency Survival Guide that I used. Genuinely useful whether you’re an LA local or just emergency-planning-curious.