Chaos Reset checklist
Chaos Reset brings order to power cuts and cash pressure, so you don’t lose the plot when Eskom or the bank says 'not today'.
| Focus | Crisis reset |
|---|---|
| Power | Load-shedding |
| Cash | Triage |
| People | Cues |
| Supplier hub | Midrand |
Email magic@ for a tailored pack.
Also see supplier notes and projects.
Your ordered reset steps
Power cuts at the wrong time. Cash is low, cellphone is pinging, and you can't remember if you paid the UIF last week. Time to pull out the Chaos Reset checklist. For a clean crisis reset: one sequence, no guessing, no pep talks. Each step is tuned for small teams under pressure during load-shedding or cash crunch weeks, with a sharp focus on Midrand supplier contacts. If you want to add regular copes to your ops, see cadence ideas for future months.
- Check today’s load-shedding stage and block using EskomSePush before 7:30am.
- Confirm all team WhatsApp contacts are updated to reach your direct reports by 8:00am.
- Review bank balance and pending payments in online banking before 8:30am, with last cash-in reminder.
- Print Power Windows sheet and post next to the kettle in the warehouse by 9:00am.
- Text top three customers and one key supplier from Midrand with any order or delivery changes by 10:00am.
- Pull Cash Triage table and mark invoices over 14 days overdue for follow up by 11:00am.
- Email your accountant with SARS and VAT201 status if any penalties or letters of demand have arrived.
- List staff who can work offsite and assign home-based tasks or calls for the afternoon blackout.
- Book an Uber to the nearest supplier hub (Midrand) if critical equipment or collections are needed before 3:00pm.
- Update your continuity note for the next day’s team handoff with decisions and what must happen first at 8:00am.
Where this checklist usually breaks
Chaos Reset is built for messy days, but things do slip. First, the WhatsApp group is always missing someone when a team member’s phone is off or lost mid-storm. Second, the Cash Triage only works if your invoices are up to date, if you haven't done your admin, you can’t triage squat. Last, supplier hubs like Midrand can get packed at month-end. If you hit a queue, adjust your plan or shift collections to another team member or hub when possible. Sometimes your power window collides with a Highveld thunderstorm, and all bets are off.
What ‘done’ looks like on paper
Ticked-off reset shows as: load-shedding windows posted in the work area, all overdue customers messaged, a screenshot of your online banking sent to yourself or partner, and a printed Cash Triage with dates and rand amounts written in pen next to each. People shifts noted, top three customers and a Midrand supplier texted, and next morning’s handoff notes ready. If an accountant needs to sign off SARS or VAT queries, you have the email thread filed. Your checklist sits stapled to the team notice board, coffee ring included. All docs are physical or digital, and tracked in your resources folder.
A real example: Centurion gutter installer
Jabu runs Centurion Clean Gutters with four staff and his cousin, Sifiso, who handles cash. Last week stage 6 hit the day before payroll. He pulled his Chaos Reset and worked through the steps: WhatsApp group was fine except for one junior who’d changed numbers and had to be called by Sifiso. Load-shedding window was 8:00 to 12:30, so Jabu printed the Power Windows sheet and stuck it on the bakkie window. Sifiso triaged six invoices overdue (totalling R14 800), messaged all, and three paid within the day. Payroll still ran, just late. No magic, just a bit of order. See load-shed ritual, handoff template, or decision trees for loud weeks for more ways to cope when the pressure’s on.
