The world is the weirdest place right now. I don’t even know what’s going on honestly. I just told someone over the phone who asked me what day of the week it was, that is was the 31st Monday of March. That’s how it feels. I’m fortunate that I can actually come to my office while keeping with social distancing guidelines and have some semblance of a workday. It’s not the same, but at least it helps me.
Time to Reflect
I tend to stay very positive during things like this, but I do get a little time to reflect. I see the impact on nearly every industry around me. The downtown square is quiet, whereas 30 days ago it was bustling with people. Our business has suffered. Businesses that I helped start are suffering. It’s got me thinking, “what’s next?”
- Are we the same company after this pandemic?
- Are our offerings different?
- How can we help people going through this?
- How do we pull together and create stronger businesses on the other side of this?
You get my drift. I know I’m not the only one going through this type of thinking.
Teamwork…Apart
I don’t have all the answers to all the questions. What I do know is that I’m using my network and we are going to get each other through this. I’m going to lean on my personal and professional advisors, and my company will be stronger on the other side. I’m going to take the time to innovate and/or create. This might just be the pause button I needed to do something great. But I will not be alone. I have a great team of people and a growing network of colleagues who are in the same situation and who also want to do great things. We are going to have to support each other. So that’s what we are going to do.
What do we look like on the other side? We look stronger.
Business Has Suffered – Let’s Talk
I have a great group of advisors, even though they might not know they are, around the world who have always given me very honest guidance AND support. I’m trying to stay in touch with them more frequently, bouncing ideas off of them and talking to them about my issues and concerns. Most of them are dealing with critical supply chain issues, so our time is spent chatting at night on text, Whatsapp, or any other method.
I am spending more time talking to, and collaborating with, colleagues who have their own firms that are different than Orion Global. We’re discussing what opportunities exist to work together and how we can add each other’s respective tool chests. Their business has suffered, our business has suffered, everyone as suffered to some degree. Can we help you grow your business and can you help us grow ours? You never know what innovation might pop up out of these discussions.
I’m also trying to spend more focused time looking at the problems that exist within this crisis that will continue to exist after this is over. How we might be able to bring some solutions to those problems?
Lastly, I’m trying to just take some time to sit in a chair and stare up. This is my thinking process. It’s where my ideas come from. We all have that place we think better than others. Where is yours?
P.S. – I’m here if anyone needs to just chat. Let’s keep in touch.