Bad News Doesn’t Get Better With Time — On the Water or in the Boardroom

There’s an old saying in both sailing and business:

“Bad news doesn’t get better with time.”

It’s a truth that slaps harder than a surprise gust on the downwind leg — and yet, too often, people wait, hoping rough situations will somehow smooth themselves out. Spoiler alert: they don’t.

In Sailing, Delayed Decisions Lose Races

Competitive sailing is a game of constant adaptation. Conditions shift. Tactics evolve. Boats break. If a halyard starts fraying, a sheet chafes, or someone spots a crack in the gooseneck, the worst call is to do nothing. Every skipper knows that ignoring a small problem can quickly turn into a race-killing catastrophe.

Same goes for the tactical side. If you see you’re on the wrong side of a wind shift, the longer you wait to tack, the worse your position becomes. Hesitation isn’t strategic — it’s expensive.

Crew communication is the same deal. If something’s off — someone’s unclear on the plan, confused about their role, or just not in sync — brushing it off for “after the race” guarantees the problem festers. Address it early, fix it fast, move on.

In Business, Silence is a Killer

Now zoom out to business. Different setting, same current.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing clients, or steering your own company, ignoring bad news — or sugarcoating it — is a recipe for bigger fires. Sales slipping? Product not delivering? Team morale off? The longer you avoid confronting the issue, the more damage it does.

Transparency isn’t just a value; it’s a tactical advantage. Customers appreciate honesty. Teams rally when they know the truth. And leaders earn trust when they don’t flinch at reality, even when it’s ugly.

Rip the Band-Aid. Make the Call.

Strong sailors and sharp businesspeople have one thing in common: they don’t wait. They rip the Band-Aid. They make the hard call. Not because it’s fun, but because it’s necessary.

That crew member who isn’t pulling their weight? Have the conversation.
That vendor who keeps missing deadlines? Change course.
That product idea that sounded great but isn’t landing? Cut it loose.

Fast decisions don’t mean reckless ones. They mean honest ones. Decisiveness creates clarity, and clarity fuels momentum — whether you’re charging upwind in a tight fleet or navigating a tough quarter in business.

Final Word

Both on the water and in business, the conditions are rarely perfect. But the teams that rise — the ones that win — are the ones who address the truth head-on and adjust quickly.

Because here’s the bottom line: bad news doesn’t get better with time.
It just gets more expensive.

Fat Bottom Girl
USA 30812
Give it all you got! 

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