How to Prepare for the Unknown

👋 Welcome to ✨The Launch Code✨ Your weekly dose of human performance insights from Charlesworth Human Performance.

Hey,

Since this is the first edition of the 'new' newsletter, it feels like the perfect moment to share some exciting news…

🎤 I’m speaking at TEDxBrighton 2025! 

I love watching TED talks—I’ve always wanted to do one, but I didn’t think I was ‘there’ yet. Then I realised… at some point, you just have to go for it!

I’m so excited (and a little nervous!) to get up on that stage and share ideas shaped by years of working with people who operate at the edge of human capability. So what is my 'idea worth sharing'?

Preparing for the Unknown

What do astronauts, Antarctic explorers, and high-performing leaders all have in common?

They operate in environments where uncertainty is the norm. Every decision counts, but it’s often the mistakes, adaptations, and recovery from failures that lead to success.

Astronauts don’t just train for specific scenarios—they train for the unknown. Alongside years of planning and preparation, they develop mental flexibility, teamwork, and creative problem-solving—so when the unexpected happens (because it often does), they’re ready.

But this isn’t just about astronauts. It’s about all of us.

🛰️ What if more people were taught to think this way?

🚀 What if our schools, workplaces, and leaders valued creativity, problem-solving, and resilience as much as technical knowledge?

🌍 What if we prepared for the unexpected—not just in space, but here on Earth?

That’s what I’ll be exploring at TEDxBrighton, and I’d love to hear what you think…

How Do You Handle Uncertainty?

How do you handle novel and uncertain situations? Was there a time when you had to be creative in solving a problem? 

Hit reply - I'd love for you to email me back and share your stories and thoughts.

And if you’d like to come along, I’ve got a 20% discount code just for my community: TEDXSPEAKER20

Have a great weekend,

Susan

One more thing:

I kicked of my Launchpad programme this month. A 12-month course for mid career professionals to become better leaders, team-mates and problem solvers, at work and in their personal lives. If you’re interested in developing these areas, you can check it out here: The Mid-Career Launchpad.