Sometimes a “funny” thing can happen after the transaction is completed.  A national computer firm had successfully concluded negotiations to lease space for a new office.  The lease was signed.  The space was fully designed.  A building permit was issued to begin the construction.  The contractors walked into the space to begin work.

That’s when the fireworks began.  The adjacent tenant came running into the space, red in the face, shouting, “What are you doing?  My company has the option to expand to this space in our lease.  We’re calling our lawyers!”

Of course, all work was stopped.  It turned out that the tenant, indeed, had the option and the landlord thought he had handled this, but somehow he missed it.  Oh well, back to the drawing board.  It took another 45 days before another piece of space could be designed and new building permits issued.  What would you do?  Call it human error.  Call it what you will, the project was delayed and the tenant had to wait an extra month and a half to move and pay a holdover penalty of twice the monthly rent.

How can you learn to handle this?  Plan for it.  While everything is going perfectly, mentally prepare yourself for something to go wrong.  The process of planning and negotiating office space, and executing the arrangements of moving an office is a process fraught with peril and aggravation.

Somebody screwed up the phone order.  The furniture won’t be ready for another 30 days.  The carpet you want isn’t in stock.  The president’s office is two feet shorter than it says on the plan and now his built-in furniture won’t fit.

With all the best efforts of human beings, I can promise you that things will happen that no one can predict.  Those who do best in our changing business world are those individuals who can cope with the ever-increasing pace of that change. Be ready to be flexible.  You’ll live longer!