What Can we Do Now?
I, like many of you, am concerned about what our current situation means for my family and my business. The situation is constantly changing, and that means new information to interpret and react to.
In my case, I've been torn between when to circle the wagons, when to press the accelerator, and when I should just shut the world out for a few hours or even a few days at a time to spend with my family because I believe there are actually some gifts in disguise here.
I'm quite certain that there is no right answer. I'm equally certain that I can't do everything, and that trying to is not helping the situation. So the key, as usual, is to set some boundaries along with some attainable objectives to keep things moving in a positive direction. All you can do is all you can do.
When will things start moving again?
A few weeks ago, most people and businesses were still trying to decide how significant this situation was going to become. Did they even need to be concerned? Conversations and sales processes were paused to wait and see how things shook out.
More recently, many of us were told that we shouldn't leave our homes unless absolutely necessary. Companies needed to pivot to remote working strategies and reorganize, along with the growing realization that we were, in fact, facing something much more substantial than we had previously realized.
Over the next couple of weeks, companies are going to need to make decisions. They will decide to move forward with their projects, or maybe to withdraw completely, but indecision doesn't typically lead to success. I believe that there will be some real opportunities created for a lot of companies because we can't sit still forever.
What can we do now?
Now, as always, is the time to play the long game. To connect to other human beings as human beings, not just opportunities or prospects.
Now is also the time to...
recognize that you can be remarkably productive in a short amount of time if you're disciplined
time block like hell
teach your kids about hand hygiene and table manners
think about planting a vegetable garden
learn to cook
invest in yourself with the wealth of professional resources available online
reach out and connect with an old roommate or colleague
give blood
tackle a project around the house
devise a plan for that business project you've been putting off
take stock of what's really important to you and what you need
recognize how much you already have
write that book
start that podcast
check in on your neighbors, especially the ones who you don't normally see outside their homes
take care of your immune system (maybe that means fewer Zoom happy hours)
come up with a better theme than 'Happy Hour' for your Zoom meetings
connect your small business customers in a Zoom meeting and help them think of creative ideas that will help them pull through this
send thank you notes- add a square of toilet paper (and some humor) to the envelope
re-evaluate your sales process- find the gaps and strategize how to fill them
read a book (nonfiction)
read a book (fiction)
Get the whiteboard out and dream big about something
take a deep breath (repeat)
These are obviously just a few suggestions, but you get the drift. There's no playbook for situations like these. That means there's no right answer to look for. I believe in the long run, your customers will judge you more by the way you make decisions than the outcomes of those decisions. As usual, focus on process rather than results.
Are you laughing every day?
As a whole, this situation isn't funny. People are dying. With that said, there is still humor to be found in the other parts of life. Kids are photo-bombing video calls, and otherwise being kids. Mine are totally ridiculous and adorable, and I can't let what's outside my house and outside of my control take me too far away from the things happening right in front of me.
232 is a palindrome. I think that's a funny word. "Musing" too... Who talks like that? 😃
If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong. There are lots of reasons to laugh, and just like prospects, if they're not presenting themselves right now, then you should seek them out.
The thought process and the conversations I've had have led to some really productive ideas though. While some of you have contacted me specifically to tell me to keep putting things out there, it seems that I have more ideas than places to put them. It's not fair to bombard your inbox on a daily basis, because that's not what you've come to expect from me.
So in a slight pivot, I've created an online platform. It's kind of an interactive version of this mailing list where you can connect with each other as well as my ideas and content. It's a free extension of the premium platform I soft-launched last fall, and I'd like you to check it out.
Jeff Bajorek
Real. Authentic. Experience.
There’s a big difference between knowing how to sell and being able to. Jeff Bajorek spent over a decade in the field as a top performer. He’s been in your shoes. He knows what it will take. He can help you succeed.
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