The Day the Sahara Flooded

When something unexpected happens, do we pull together or pull apart?

In September 2024, Jim and I were in Morocco on vacation. We had one nighted planned with the group we were with to head out into the middle of the Sahara and spend the night in a tent. (not your normal tents - these had AC and bathrooms).

That was the exact evening the rains came and flooded the Sahara Desert. The flood was fascinating - and terrifying, but what stayed with me long after the water receded was watching how our group responded.

None of us had planned for this. None of us could control it. And none of us knew exactly what would happen next. The power went out, the toilets weren't working and there wasn't a lot of food.

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When things don't go according to plan, people tend to reveal who they really are. The same is true in the workplace.

I've spent many years working with teams, and I've learned that culture isn't built during the easy days. It's revealed during the difficult ones.

When a project goes sideways. When a deadline gets missed. When a client is unhappy.

When the unexpected happens.

Standing in the Sahara, I witnessed something I've seen in the best workplaces.

The people shared information, they stayed flexible, they helped one another.

People found reasons to laugh. They checked on others to make sure they were ok.

Nobody spent energy looking for someone to blame for the flood. We simply focused on what needed to happen next. And we payed very close attention to our tour manager.

It reminded me that great teams aren't great because nothing ever goes wrong.

They're great because when something does go wrong, they pull together instead of apart.

As the day went on, our group became something more. We became a community. We looked out for each other. We celebrated small victories. We trusted our guide. We adjusted our expectations.

And somehow, because of that, what could have been a miserable experience truly became one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

The older I get, the more I appreciate people who bring calm instead of chaos, solutions instead of complaints, and encouragement instead of criticism.

Whether you're crossing a flooded desert, leading a team, building a business, or simply navigating everyday life, those are the people who make the journey better. All my love,

Ruthie 🩶