Persistence matters...

“Continuous effort–not strength or intelligence–is the key to unlocking our potential.” Winston Churchill

On March 12 I pivoted and started focusing these daily messages on Covid-19: 45, so far, and counting. I’ve tried to add a human side to these and today will be no exception. Yesterday was Mother’s Day, a holiday celebrated by children everywhere in honor of the women who raised them, and local florists reported that this year’s holiday sales were nearly the best ever: these past 10 weeks have shown us what’s really important.  Yesterday I also participated in my granddaughter's drive-by birthday party, a very creative effort on the part of her mother to not let these current circumstances ruin the day: it’s nice to see the term “drive-by” have a positive impact and  connotation. And today, some businesses are slowly and carefully starting to re-open: leaders need to remind their employees that smart and steady can indeed win the race. We’ve had to be strong and smart during these past two months and now we have to be persistent, because playing it safe is the key to continuing to slow the spread of this virus and getting back to relatively more normal times. Thankfully, things are loosening up: continue to be safe, for yourself and others, today. 

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (1874 – 1965): British politician, army officer, war-time strategist, and writer.

Do the math...

Another week in self-quarantine and the support that this had back when we started is clearly starting to fray. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what’s best – from continuing to stay safe to questioning whether any of this was worthwhile. In times of crisis people want clear leadership, not a lot of speculation. There are clearly some areas where a loosening of restrictions is warranted, and others where it’s not, but it’s hard to fathom that some people seem intent on denying the seriousness of this virus and how easily it can be spread. Even if they care little for their own safety, society, communities, and even companies must always have a collective concern for each other: absent that, there’s little left to hold us together. All the speculation that the 24/7 news cycles keep repeating can only serve to confuse us, or worse… because when speculation has done its worst, two and two still make four: the science will not be denied. Don’t try to change the math: be smart and stay safe today.

Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784): English writer who is often referred to as the most distinguished man of letters in English history

Stay smart and safe...

Most of us learned about Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ and ‘natural selection’ theories in school as kids. If those theories are applied to this pandemic, then it’s likely that those who adapt appropriately will be the survivors. But it’s not just about social distancing and wearing masks, it’s also how companies re-organize their policies and practices, how leaders re-orient their thinking and styles, how employees re-prioritize their lives, and how each of us collaborate and improvise in ways that will keep us and others safe. There are lots of people saying that the government’s efforts to regulate our actions – closing non-essential businesses, restricting assembly, wearing masks, social distancing – are not right. Like them, I’m not sure what’s right, so I listen to the science and the experts who know about it and say this isn’t over yet. I want to survive – I don’t want to get this virus and possibly die, or maybe give it to others. Call me crazy, but if these measures are what it takes then I’m still in. Keep adapting and continuing to do what it takes for you and others to survive today.

Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882): English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution

Emotional well-being matters...

Trying to do what’s right these days can get pretty disheartening: recently released internal FEMA documents project a worst case scenario of 200,000 new cases and 3000 deaths per day by June 1. We all willingly self-isolated for all these weeks thinking that by now the numbers would be starting to decrease, but this latest information sounds much different than what we were expecting. Even if it turns out not to be that bad, people are starting to get discouraged and antsy, and leaders are having to deal with their employee’s apprehension and growing depression. Most managers were never that good at (or, in many cases, discouraged from) dealing with emotional well-being: it wasn’t one of their core competencies. But now that this door has been opened, asking “are you okay” is part of the new appropriate and, once you go there, you have to be a supportive listener to further rapport and trust. And too, you also have to then (1) be consistent in this approach and, (2) keep a constant pulse on your people now and probably long after a return to something more normal. Even though this may be challenging, just remember that if you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else today.

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): American Political Leader, Author

Keep your chin up...

There’s no getting around the fact that this sucks; unfortunately, we don’t have many options: stay safe or get sick, and possibly die. Of all the stuff we’ve lived through in my 70 years, this takes the prize. One thing I’ve learned: our attitude towards this, or any, problem is the most important factor in overcoming it. In this current situation, there’s no good to come of complaining about whether ‘they’ can or should close businesses, quarantine us, force us to distance ourselves socially, or require us to wear masks. If it’s what the doctor orders – we should all do it. I suppose some might argue that if someone wants to endanger or kill themselves, then nobody should be allowed to stop them; I just think that when that puts me in danger of dying then they’ve gone too far. I think we have to make the most of this time out, and our government should do all it can to keep us safe and secure. People should get over thinking somehow they’ve been wronged: it’s a pandemic and there’s nothing personal about it.  The moral of this story: stay safe and keep a good attitude today.

Napoleon Hill (1883-1970): American self-help author

Play safe with and for others...

I had to go back and look at my calendar to see how long it’s been since we’ve been self-quarantined here in our Las Vegas home: it’s easy to lose track of time.  Back on March 12^th(that’s when we started) I thought there was no way we could stay isolated for 8 weeks: I didn’t think we had the patience, strength, or discipline to do that. But now that we’re faced with the prospect of more weeks of this, we now know we have the strength to overcome things we once thought we couldn’t.  I understand the natural urge to want to get out and back to some kind of normal, but I also see the number of new cases here and realize that it’s not yet safe to stop this social distancing. As things start to loosen up, I believe that if everyone would respect everyone else and wear a mask when going out, the world will more quickly and safely get back to some forms of normal. If you’re going back out into the world, be a team player and have the strength to overcome your objections to wearing a mask today.

Rikki Rogers: Writer and Marketer in Washington, DC

Be patient and prudent...

There’s much debate these days about when and how to begin rolling back the restrictions we’ve all been living with for the past several weeks. I think most people want to survive this pandemic and are willing to do nearly anything reasonable to do so. If reasonable means staying healthy by self-isolating for longer than we thought, then that, however unpleasant, is probably ok.  But if reasonable means suffering economic ruin – losing a job and/or a home – that’s not ok. And it’s these two seemingly opposing options that is starting to make people act out. If you’re beginning to go stir crazy – I get it; if you need to go out to find ways to avoid economic ruin – I get that too. But if you just want to go to the beach or out with friends, I think you have to suck it up until the science tells us when and how it’s ok to do so. But, there’s no mystery about this – we all just want to stay alive and have something left to live for.  A leader’s role is to help their people find a light at the end of their tunnel, and to encourage them be patient, reasonable, prudent, and safe while doing what they have to do today.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821 – 188): Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist