That’s it. One week down in confinement.
First off, I hope you and your family are in good health. And also in good mental health.
Second, I want to pick up the pieces with you and start building. Today. There is a time to feel the shock, be blown off your feet, and take the time to let it sink in a bit.
It is even okay, for a short while, to be scared as hell. But then, you stand back up, get on your feet, and find a new balance. There is no other way.
Remember, the only reason you are alive today is that your ancestors did the exact same thing. They survived. It might be that your parents didn’t have such a hard time, but previous generations certainly did.
And It’s impressive to see what a change so many people already made in a week! It fills my heart with joy to see 2 major patterns arise: First, I see the adaptive muscle of people working.
For example, I’ve learned my kids to bake their own bread, make yogurt from milk, Nutella from milk, cocoa and hazelnuts, and real sausages (yes, from a whole pork’s belly). We’ve taught them how to build a fire and make wrapped bananas on it. It’s good to go back to basics from time to time. I personally believe that’s a way kids get more respect for nature as well.
That’s where the second part comes in: I see humility. I see a lot of people understanding again that man is very tiny. We’ve thought for a long time that we could master Nature. That we could exploit it. That we would keep it under control.
Some social media posts are now screaming that mother Nature is taking revenge.. and that we earned it!
That’s complete BS in my opinion.
Nature is not trying to take revenge; nature doesn’t work like that. It does not know good or bad. But it does show us that we are not the masters of the universe. That something small like a tiny virus can put the world in lockdown.
The events happening right now remind us that more than ever, we should live alongside nature, and respect its ways more.
On the business side, I’m going to tell you what I am telling all our people in our companies.
Last week, we gave people a break last week and just told them that they were allowed to freeze. There is no need in telling someone to move when he or she is scared.
This week, we told them we had a plan to weather this crisis and turn it into an opportunity for all of us. Times ahead might be harder, but the most inventive businesses will flourish like never before. Because people will still need food, electricity, advice, printers, laptops, holidays, cars, and love.
Then we went back to work. From home, with a completely new set of tools.
And, believe it or not… we are selling! Orders are coming in.
It’s too early to call for victory, but it definitely is encouraging.
With that example, I want to encourage you as well. The world is not coming to an end. Technology has never been better to weather a crisis like this.
If you act now, by studying, adapting or actively going out there in search of new clients, you will make the difference over the next 6 months.
We just made a plan of action with one of our private 1 on 1 clients, to kick off a new business in, you never guess it: tourism. Because in 6 months, a lot of people are going to need a break. Maybe on a budget, but they will need a break.
What can you do in the meantime? If nothing else: study.
I am going to give you 3 extraordinary books on business to read. They are one by one a masterpiece and can tremendously help you with improving your existing business or when starting a new business.
1. Can’t hurt me by David Goggins
2. Confessions of a pricing man by Hermann Simon
3. The 4-hour workweek by Tim Ferris
These three are books that are not randomly chosen. They will show you the courage, the knowledge and the habits you can use to build an extraordinary business in the post corona world. Or even during the lockdown.
To freedom,
Wiet
