What Will Our Story Be?

Posted on April 16, 2020July 12, 2020 by Emily Wong

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we’ll have evolved when this is all over.

Will more people decide that they’re actually just as productive if they work from home? Now that they’ve staked out their own workspace and have invested in new equipment, will they discover that it’s not so bad, after all?

Will we learn to relax a little if those on the other end of the call hear the occasional dog barking, baby crying, or inappropriate comment from our partner or teenager? And are we more likely to reserve judgment from our end?

After seeing how the skies have cleared in some of our big cities, will we decide that a video call works just fine as an alternative to jumping on a plane several times a year? As for public transportation, will companies move toward a more staggered work schedule to avoid overcrowding, even after the threat of this particular virus has long passed?

Most of all, I wonder what stories my clients will share about how they navigated this unprecedented period of uncertainty.

Over the years, my favorite client stories have been those that show perseverance or helpfulness through a difficult time — specifically, during 9/11 or the 2008 recession.

I’ve been inspired by leaders whose feats ranged from rebuilding the technology infrastructure (in record time) of a company that was all but lost to the 9/11 tragedy, to reworking their supply chain to accelerate delivery of fresh water after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Several of my clients got creative to mitigate financial losses while avoiding layoffs and driving profitable growth through the recession.

I’d like to look back and say I handled the year 2020 with such aplomb. At a minimum, I hope I’ll be able to say I helped lift someone up.

This is a difficult time, but you’ll be surprised at what you’re able to achieve, and I recommend keeping a diary of your successes. It’s likely you’re doing something for your colleagues, community, or family that exceeds even your own expectations about your abilities. You’re drawing on creativity to write your story in real time.

Be well!