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Tomorrow kicks off the first work day of 2021. Have you thought about your goals for the year? We’re still in the midst of the greatest disaster of our lifetimes. Here are some thoughts.
The pandemic has forced everyone to transform their lives. This forced transformation has caused massive stress and survival mode to kick in, and many aren’t aware of just how much stress they are under. This makes sound decisions harder to come by.
Transformation has three parts: Separation, metamorphosis, re-entry. We’re all still in metamorphosis, which is the hardest part. Simple analogy is the stress of moving when our lives are in boxes. It feels unsettling, no order. Others are divorce, treatment, etc. Not fun
But we go through many transformations in our lives to get to a desired state, or place. But in this case, the virus has thrown us all in the pool together. That was 2020. Some strong swimmers, but the water was cold and the edges seemed distant and slippery.
If you didn’t feel like celebrating your accomplishments in 2020 you were probably aware of this, even subconsciously. Surviving became the accomplishment, and recognizing this and celebrating this for everyone we know and don’t know was good enough. Business wins, less so.
So, how does the realization that we’re all still in the midst of this massive transformation impact your plans for 2021? For me it’s about three things. 1) Simple goals. Break things down to achievable milestones. Applies to business, health, family. Don’t over shoot.
2) Expect the unexpected. If we’ve learned anything from the first ten months of the pandemic is that any predicted improvement has been washed away in grim reality. 2021 is the start of the recovery, but we don’t know what lies ahead. Keep post pandemic plans in check.
3) Realize that those around you in business and family are in the pool. At no time in your life is empathy more important. When things don’t go as you planned or someone let’s you down? They are trying to survive, literally. We need each other.
So tomorrow starts the first day of work for 2021. And I’ve been anticipating this day for the past few weeks and building it up as an important new beginning. It is. But it’s also not the re-entry into a transformed life. It’s a fresh breath and an eye toward the edge pool.
Go easy friends. Help those around you. There’s plenty of oxygen if we go slow and keep moving. Good luck and let me know how you’re feeling. I’m hopeful that 2021 will be the re-entry point for most of us.
