Plans fail when they assume a perfect world. This chapter argues for buffer: extra time, space, and margin built into commitments so reality doesn’t destroy your priorities.
Buffer is not pessimism. It is accuracy. Projects expand, people get sick, meetings run long, and energy fluctuates. When you schedule as if nothing will go wrong, anything that goes wrong becomes an emergency.
The essentialist builds slack so the vital few remain protected even when surprises arrive. Buffer turns chaos into inconvenience instead of catastrophe.
This is called an “unfair advantage” because most people run at the edge of capacity. They leave no room to absorb shock, so they constantly sacrifice what matters to handle what’s immediate. Buffer makes depth possible—and makes your promises more trustworthy.