I just read an article by Devin Maddox called “9 Ways to Work Efficiently from Home”, and he offers nine ways for people to work more efficiently from home as we face the COVID-19 crisis.
I would also suggest taking this time to reflect on your life, career, and family. It’s a great opportunity to identify the areas that require your attention which will help you to start planning and make new positive changes during this “Global Social Isolation”… I’m calling it “Global Pause” from our busy lives.
Perhaps reading a book, finding a mentor, and/or a coach to help you grow in a particular area of your professional and personal life could be part of your new strategy and good use of your time.
For you, Business Leaders, who have a family of your own, perhaps this is a perfect time to reflect on how involved you are in your kids’ lives and family. Have you been building strong and meaningful relationships with them? Take it from someone who understands the impact of focusing mainly on career growth and failed to balance professional with personal/family life.
The reason I’m sharing this with you is that I recognize myself in many of you, as leaders. Today, I would like to encourage you to capitalize on this “Global Downtime” and reflect on what’s truly important to you. Take this opportunity to raise your level of awareness and ask yourself these questions:
- What motivates you to work so hard?
- What is driving you to get up each day and work long hours?
- Why do you want to achieve all of this success in your career?
- And then, be honest with yourself, which relationships are suffering the most in your life?
I wouldn’t be surprised if your answer was FAMILY to all of them.
I will also adventure to say, that most of us are motivated, driven, and focussed to achieve success because we want to provide financial stability and opportunities for our families, right?
Yet, this same drive, focus and motivation to provide for our families are actually hurting your relationship with your bride/spouse and children.
I know that many of us are stressing about the future and how long the current COVID-19 crisis will last, and what the impact will be on our finances, career and future? All of these are valid questions, but I believe this too shall pass.
In moments of stress and crisis (storms) in my life, I often read this passage “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). This verse has certainly helped me to focus only on the things I have control over and not stress about the things I can not control at that moment. I’m able to find peace and comfort as I face these storms while responding to them in a more productive, constructive and methodical way. Despair often leads to making more mistakes.
You see, we can’t change the mistakes we made in the past, but we can certainly learn from them. If we keep looking too far ahead and stress about our future, then we end up missing what’s going on in our present. Since we have no control over our past or future, nor do we have control over external factors such as what’s happening around the world with this virus, then the only thing we can control is how we react and respond to our today!
My wife and I struggled with this for 19 years of our marriage. She was so focused on the past and my mistakes (with reason), and I was so focused on our future and financial stability and growth. Unfortunately, we were both missing the importance of living in the present. She was looking back and I was looking too far ahead, and we kept tripping on the things that were right in front of us. (more me than her 😊)
This new mindset change, of focusing on today, has certainly helped me to experience life from a different perspective, and to live a life with greater meaning and purpose. By the grace of God, I woke just in time to be able to make the necessary changes and adjust my focus and priorities.
In the last 6 years, the usual communication breakdowns and conflicts at home have changed dramatically, and my bride and I are getting ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary in July. I’m happy to say that this took some willingness to change in my part, otherwise we would have been another statistic.
I hope by sharing this personal story with you it will be inspire you to take advantage of this pause and reflect for a moment. Take inventory of your achievements thus far and of the quality of the relationships you have with those around you. Again, take advantage of this “Global Pause” and reflect on the things and on the people that really matter the most to you.
I know that this is not an easy process, especially for men. That is why I encourage you to pick up a book to read or find someone who you can trust and is able to guide you through this very important change and transformational process.
Stay Strong, Be Safe, and Take Care of those around you!
OTR Website: https://otrconsulting.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/transformational1coach/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otrconsulting.ca/
