April 27 - The Ripples are Inevitable

​When a small pebble lands in a pond it makes a splash. At first, only that one point in the water is affected. But with time the ripples expand.  Soon every part of the pond has been altered.

If you are feeling a pause, then take this time to steady yourself. To strengthen and ground yourself firmly. This is just the beginning.

I'm an optimist.  We will find new ways to thrive, but here are some of the ripples I think are coming our way, followed by some of the true wisdom our moms have divined from this experience so far.

The Economy
Some are feeling comfortable right now. Maybe you work in eCommerce or software design and you are busier than ever. The ripples are coming.  If your business is still going strong that's great.  But how are your customers doing? And their customers ... and their's? When this many people are jobless, and this many businesses are closed, the eventual impacts are inevitable.  It may take years for the ripples to reach every shore.

The Value of Local
With disruptions in the supply chain, people have a greater recognition for the value of local.  Local produce, local dairy, local take out, and local innovation will be prized.

Virtual work is a Double-Edged Sword
Right now the world is discovering the value of virtual.  You can work from anywhere in the world. That also means employers can get the services you provide from anywhere in the world. Soon you will be competing against a much wider and deeper pool of workers for your job.  

If you've found a way to move your services, courses, or coaching online and you're excited about the possibility of scale, be ready. You will soon be competing head to head against the biggest players in the world.  Without local, what will set you apart?


Hunger for In-Person Connection
A lot of people have learned they can do more than they ever dreamed of from home - zoom family reunions, virtual work, even the news anchors are reporting from their living rooms.  But I believe this experience will also awaken a recognition of the true value of in-person connection.  I have been working from home for most of my career and cherish my in-person time with friends and colleagues. I'm intentional about planning in-person coffee meetings, yoga classes, and walks.  This way of thinking is becoming more widespread.  I've heard predictions that this will be the end of movie theaters.  Maybe it will.  But going to  the movie theater hasn't been just about the movie for a very long time.

What the Wisest Moms Can Teach:
We host a daily Spartan Up Podcast Zoom call with some of our podcast hosts and featured guests.  Today, through a series of mistakes and coincidences, Johnny Waite, Sefra Alexandra and I found ourselves on the call with our moms!  Michael Aspinall showed up and after a little catching up he asked the 3 moms - with all of your wisdom, what have you learned from the pandemic?

The answers:
* The importance of family and of recognizing the good moments.
* That being alone is Ok, in fact, it can be good for creativity and self-development
* That people are more intentional than they've ever been and are paying attention to what is most important. 

The refrain - we are staggered by the blessings.