During these times of uncertainty with COVID-19, it can be easy to be paralyzed with fear. It is easy to be overwhelmed with the myriad of opinions and facts in the news. It can be jarring when you go to the market and can’t find items for you home…
To make things worse, you don’t know what is true and what is not…which only makes you more afraid. Perhaps you are waiting and anxious to see what is going to happen and how it is going to affect the population, your business, and the broader economy. You have questions: Will I be safe? Will it be like another Italy? What about my job? Will my business survive?
I am not immune to these concerns but I do want to share something that works for me and will work for you: Instead of worrying about the future, I stand in the present and prepare for the future.
Note: If you are really struggling with fear to the point of panic, I want you to watch a video I recorded on standing in the truth. You can find it on my home page: http://www.richbeyondwealthsystem.com ( watch before March 17) or directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emuIKcIPvic
Instead of blaming life for what it gives you, concentrate your energy on making the best of whatever you have. A wise man once said to me: If life gives you manure, make sure you use it to fertilize the land and grow a farming business. It is another way of saying, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Another wise person said: It is not what happens to you that matters, it is what happens in you that matters. Most people survive what happens to them, but many never recover from what happens in them.
There are two things that can happen to you in this moment – fear or faith.
Fear will paralyze you with inaction, but faith will propel you to action.
I want you to choose faith.
Here are the faithful actions I want you to take to stand in the present and prepare for the future:
Stand In The Present:
- Care: Take all the personal precautions that you can possibly take – practice social distancing (make sure people work from him if possible), sanitize surfaces you touch often, and wash your hands often. For the best information, go to http://www.cdc.gov
- Communicate: Talk to the people that you lead and serve. Let them know that you care about them and also let them know of the precautions you are taking. Be authentic in your communication BUT make sure you keep them informed. Be honest if there are going to be delays in anything you promised
- Compassion: The people you are leading and serving may be struggling. If it is in your power to help and add value, do it now. This will mean the world to them. For example, if you are a landlord, you may give additional time for payment or waive the late payment fee.
Prepare for the future:
- Trim: It is time to take a look at what you are doing and trim away those things that are adding little value. Remember the Pareto Principle: Only 20% of your activities is generating 80% of the value. That means there is some fat that you can trim. Trim that fat the costs you the most and is not bringing much benefit.
- Try: Times of trouble and uncertainty unwittingly become times of creativity and innovation. You have to do things that maybe you haven’t done before. So be creative and innovative. For example, if you are a brick and mortar business with no online presence, this is the time to start thinking of the possibility of an online presence. Okay, let me be clearer…you NEED to have on online presence for your business
Hope this has been helpful. And remember, this too shall pass!!!
SuperChamp 