As a business owner, especially in the online space, launches can feel like a delicate dance. You've got your product or program ready, you've meticulously planned your sales funnel, and you're excited to see the sign-ups roll in. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of launching, it’s that something will go wrong. This is not a pessimistic view; it's just the nature of the beast. Even with the most well-thought-out plan, hiccups happen.

Just last week, I launched my Stylepreneur Accelerator Program for the first time. I was excited to see how it would be received because I know the incredible value it brings to personal stylists looking to earn consistent 3-5k per month. I’ve done many launches before, so I wasn’t a newbie to the process. But—surprise!—this launch had its own set of challenges.

The Time Zone Mix-Up
One of the biggest things that went wrong this time was a time zone mix-up. In different parts of my funnel, I had conflicting times. This led to my webinar replay being sent out a day late, and my follow-up email sequence was also delayed. Not catastrophic, but in the world of online business, timing can be everything.

I knew this was going to affect sign-ups. People who were ready to make a decision had to wait longer for the information they needed, and when they didn’t get it right away, some of them moved on.

But here’s the thing—I didn’t panic. And that’s the wisdom I want to share with you today. Because launches never go perfectly, and the most important thing is how you handle those inevitable bumps in the road.

Why You Should Expect Things to Go Wrong in a Launch
First things first: expecting things to go wrong is not about being negative or “attracting” bad outcomes. It’s about being realistic and prepared. Every launch, no matter how well planned, involves a lot of moving parts. You’ve got emails, social media posts, webinars, sales pages, follow-up sequences, and the all-important time zones to manage.

There are always a few variables that can slip through the cracks, and unless you’re launching the same thing over and over, there will always be new learning curves. In my case, it was a time zone issue, but I’ve had other launches where links were broken, payments didn’t go through, or tech platforms went down at the worst possible time.

The point is, something will go wrong, and when it does, your job is to remain calm, assess the situation, and take action to fix it as soon as possible. No launch is perfect, and understanding this will save you a lot of unnecessary stress and frustration.

Panicking Doesn’t Solve Problems
When I first started launching, I would feel that wave of panic wash over me as soon as I realized something had gone wrong. I’d think about the potential sales I was losing, the people I was letting down, and whether this mistake would damage my reputation.

But with experience comes perspective. Now, when things don’t go according to plan, I don’t panic. I step back, look at the situation, and ask myself, “What can I fix right now, and what can I do better next time?” In this case, once I realized the replay and follow-up emails were delayed, I made sure to send them out as quickly as possible. Yes, it was late, but getting it out late was better than not getting it out at all.

Here’s something I’ve learned: panicking doesn’t solve problems. Action does. So instead of focusing on what went wrong, focus on what you can do to fix it. And more importantly, how you can prevent it from happening again in the future.

Chalk It Up to Experience
Every launch is a learning experience. After years of doing this, I now approach launches with curiosity rather than fear. What am I going to learn this time? What system or process can I improve? Even though my recent launch didn’t go perfectly, it’s taught me something valuable: double-check those time zones!

Instead of beating myself up about the potential sign-ups I lost, I’m choosing to chalk it up to experience. And that’s something I encourage every business owner to do. Don’t see mistakes as failures—see them as part of the learning curve. Every misstep brings you closer to mastering the process.

Plan for the Unexpected
One of the best ways to handle launch hiccups is to plan for them. No, you can’t predict exactly what will go wrong, but you can create buffer time and systems to minimize the impact of any issues.

For instance, when I create a launch timeline now, I always build in extra time for things to go wrong. I assume there will be tech glitches, so I give myself a buffer. I plan my emails and social posts in advance, and I leave room for last-minute changes.

By expecting the unexpected, you’re not caught off guard when something does go awry. You’re ready to act swiftly and keep moving forward.

Celebrate the Wins, Big and Small
It’s easy to focus on what went wrong during a launch, but don’t forget to celebrate what went right! Even though my follow-up emails went out late, I still had people signing up for the program. I still got amazing feedback from those who attended the webinar. And I know that the next time I launch, it’s going to be even better.

Every launch has its wins, even if they’re not immediately obvious. So celebrate those wins—big and small—and use them as motivation to keep going.

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
After every launch, I like to do a post-launch review. I ask myself:
What went well?
What didn’t go well?
What can I do better next time?
For this recent launch, the biggest lesson was the time zone mix-up, but I’m confident that next time, I won’t make the same mistake. Launches are iterative. Each one builds on the last, and over time, you get better and better at managing all the moving parts.

If you’re planning a launch soon, remember this: things will go wrong, but that’s okay. It’s how you handle it that matters. Keep calm, take action, and learn from the experience. And don’t forget to celebrate your wins along the way!

Launching a program or product is always a mix of excitement, nerves, and the unexpected. But with each launch, you gain more experience, and you get a little better at handling whatever comes your way. So if you’re in the midst of a launch right now, or if you’re planning one soon, take heart. Yes, things might go wrong—but you’ve got this!

​Just remember, the most successful entrepreneurs aren’t the ones who have perfect launches—they’re the ones who learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. Want to join a community of personal stylists learning how to launch, then pop me a DM through the speech bubble💬 to the right of this blog post.