Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, which coincides with my birthday, it seems like an appropriate time to discuss audibles…and my left kidney. Stay with me in the story below to understand the relationship and what lessons there are for all of us faced with those on-the-spot decision that can be the difference between a big gain or being thrown for a loss.

Last Friday a team of doctors, and robots, conducted what’s known as a pyeloplasty to repair a blockage where my left kidney empties into the ureter..one of two tubes on the wee-wee superhighway that sends the stuff to the bladder.

Such a blockage can basically reduce the kidney’s functionality to the point where it’s useless and must be removed. Who wants that? You start with two, you like to end with two.

In the simplest of terms, it’s a matter of snipping out the blockage, sewing together the truncated tube. Going into the procedure, which takes about three hours, based on a previous MRI the doc already knew there was a little complication. Looked like a tiny blood vessel had wormed its way onto the ureter causing the blockage. If they could move it, the full pyeloplasty might not be necessary.

Now skip ahead to the big game.

Imagine Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold peering over the scrimmage line at the Patriot’s defensive formation ahead of the snap. Crap. The planned play was a play action pass but the Pats are lined up in telltale blitz formation and the Seahawk’s O-line had been leaky thus far.

That would mean Darnold would have to get rid of the ball quickly before he’s swarmed, rather than drop back in a weak pocket for a pass.

Time to call an audible. Screw the pass, it’s now  a quick handoff for a short gain. Better than being sacked for a loss.

That’s sort of what happened in operating room 2 last Friday. Just when the docs had their plan they noticed a cyst creeping up in the vicinity of the blockage. Getting to be a bit of a traffic jam in Ed’s tube!

According to my doc’s telling of the story they quickly called an audible in their sterile, hushed huddle.

It went something like this:

Doc 1: Shit…cyst  !

Doc 2: OK…bust it!

Doc 1: Cyst busted! Now what?

Doc 2: Could still be a problem. Do the pyeloplasty anyway?

Docs 1 and  2 agree that would be the best strategy for a more permanent repair.

The quickly changed plan was successful.

Major gain.

Indeed, it seems like we’re faced with calling audibles all through life. We had a plan, or expectation but something came up at the last second and we need to instantaneously change our course of action.

Some people find the prospect of a quick pivot under pressure unnerving, or even impossible. They can’t possibly call an audible to change strategy because they’re not equipped do so.

 What do they do? Often, they’ll panic, freeze, fail.

The reason my doctors, or a football quarterback, or anyone who must make quick decisions is able to call an audible under pressure with successful results is because of five major factors:

1-They anticipated more than one scenario going into the task

2-They planned in advance for all the possible scenarios

3-They communicated the possible alternative plans with team members or others responsible for completing the task.

4-They instantly leveraged training and experiences situations to help decide the best course of action.

5-They have the courage and confidence to make the call and see it through.

The lesson is never to go into a situation without flexibility, preparation, planning…and plans A,B, C or more.

You never know. Whether you’re quarterbacking the big game, complex project, or even fixing an old reporter’s faulty bodily plumbing, the ability to quickly call an audible on the spot can be the difference that results in gaining ground, hitting paydirt….saving a kidney.