“Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp,
but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
— Nathaniel Hawthorne
Greetings!
Rather than simply obsessing over the unearthly challenges and problems associated with the COVID pandemic, I am hell bent on seeking out the deeper lessons, both for us as individuals and our families, as well as for all of humanity. This means reframing and retooling our mindset, heart set and skill set for current times.
At home, it is about creating some semblance of normalcy while navigating the disruption of all our familiar routines and outlets, and addressing the close quarter social pressures most of us are facing.
At work, it is about effective communications, maintaining positive morale, and ensuring we are giving back to those who have it a lot tougher than we do.
In community, it is about staying virtually connected with all the social networks and groups that have contributed to our betterment and ensuring we support those that are taking care of us, including our first responders in all walks of life, including our educators, and the nonprofit organizations that strengthen the social fabric of even our most marginalized stakeholders, especially in times of need.
To that end, please join me next Wednesday, April 22 at 1pm PST, as part of the Better Business Bureau Webinar Series, where I will be hosting a zoom webinar on Wellness Wednesday-taking care of yourself and your business, entitled: Reframing Challenging Times with Resiliency & Authentic Connection
Resiliency and effective communications are new meta-competencies in the post COVID era. This wakeup call has helped us to recognize implicitly that we are better together. Antiquated mechanistic models of yesteryear are replaced with dynamic living systems frameworks. Ego-systems have taken a back seat to eco-systems.
We > Me.
Today, there is no turning back, any more than when we realized that the world was no longer flat, or when we realized that bloodletting was not a best practice anymore…
Now we must:
- Retool new resiliency and new connection systems
- Redesign how we foster authentic connection- often virtually
- Reimagine our work selves & workspaces
Together let’s reframe these challenges and turn our stumbling blocks into stepping stones to a brighter future, both for ourselves and our valued stakeholders.
Please register here to lock in your spot and add to the conversation: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lUY3sji3QDC8gC6EcGUgqQ
Note: You don’t have to be a BBB member to register for these webinars. These are made available by the BBB as a public service to all leaders and organizations in the community, far and near.
As part of navigating how we show up better in the post Covid era, I stumbled upon this fantastic article in The Atlantic that I felt compelled to share with you, especially if you have filed a similar flight plan to mine.
Here Arthur Brooks cites three powerful equations to help us both understand and enhance our happiness or “subjective well-being”.
What are the components of happiness and what role do genetics, circumstances and habits play in that equation?
What habits serve us best? Do faith, family, friends and work play instrumental roles in our happiness?
What is the role and purpose of our work which Arthur defines as productive human endeavor and “the sense it gives you that you are earning your success and are serving others”?
Is satisfaction based on the relationship between what you have and what you want?
If you want to regain more control over your circumstances, and move the needle toward happiness and fulfillment both for yourself and others, then this article is for you.
The Three Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic:
“How to Build a Life” gives you the tools you need to construct a life that feels whole and meaningful with Arthur C Brooks
We’re stuck at home; our lives on COVID time have slowed to a near halt. This creates all sorts of obvious inconveniences, of course. But in the involuntary quiet, many of us also sense an opportunity to think a little more deeply about life. In our go-go-go world, we rarely get the chance to stop and consider the big drivers of our happiness and our sense of purpose. Here is a fantastic article based on a class on happiness that Arthur teaches at Harvard Business School…
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/04/how-increase-happiness-according-research/609619/
For Leaders-
LEADING THROUGH A CRISIS with Jon G:
We’ve been through challenging times before, but we’ve never been through THIS before. There is no playbook on how to deal with a global pandemic combined with a shutdown of the economy. There are, however, guiding principles on how to lead through a crisis, regardless of the cause. These principles don’t change based on the circumstances. They steadily guide you and your team to help you overcome your circumstances.
1) Tell the Truth and Communicate the Facts – In any crisis it’s essential for the leader to be honest and transparent about the situation. Explain the challenge you are facing. Communicate the facts. This is what we know. This is what we don’t know. This is where we are as a team, company or organization. These are our numbers and forecasts and while they don’t look good, we must confront the reality of the situation. I’ve found that even if you communicate bad news it’s still better than the negativity and uncertainty that comes with poor communication.
Remember, where there is a void in communication negativity will fill it. And whatever you do don’t sugarcoat the situation or lie. I once saw a superintendent of a school district get a standing ovation even though he had just announced that they were having to lay off 10% of employees. He spoke with compassion, he shared the facts, was always truthful and had earned their respect.
2) Lead with Optimism and Belief – Even when you are in the middle of a crisis and your circumstances are not positive you must stay positive and lead with optimism. After all, pessimists don’t change the world and neither will you if you let your circumstances define your attitude. This doesn’t mean you ignore the reality of the situation. It means you believe you will find a way to overcome your situation. Leadership is a transfer of belief and the optimism and belief you share with your team plays a big part in how you work together to overcome adversity.
3) Share the Plan – When Alan Mulally took over as the CEO of Ford in 2006 they had lost 12 billion dollars. He turned the company around in a few short years and many say it was one of the greatest leadership feats in history. He told me that everyone had to know the plan, embrace the plan and relentlessly work towards the plan. It’s essential that, as a leader, you share the plan and explain why the plan will work and how it will be executed. This brings clarity and clarity leads to focused action. As I think about what our country is going through, one thing I would like to see is a comprehensive plan that explains how we will restart the economy while saving lives. I suspect it is coming soon and it will be very helpful when it does.
4) Point Towards a Positive Future – After you tell the truth and communicate the facts, share your optimism and plan to succeed, you then want to share a vision of what success looks like in the future. “Yes, this is where we are now. This is our situation. But here is where we are going. This is what we are working to create.” What success looks like for each team and organization is different. The key is to define it and share the vision with your team. We all need something to hope for and work towards and when you share a positive vision for the future it engages, ignites and rallies your team to create the vision together.
For Educators-
Three Core Principles For Higher Education As It Prepares For Its Pandemic-Uncertain Fall
- Share Best Practices
- Stay Close to Students
- Focus On Competence
“The world without music would be a mistake.” -Nietzsche
Music to Make Up for Easter and Passover Restrictions:
Andrea Bocelli- Music For Hope – Live From Duomo di Milano
https://youtu.be/huTUOek4LgU
Humor-
Subject: Dealing with Sequestration:
I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.
I need to practice social-distancing. From the refrigerator.
Still haven’t decided where to go for Easter —– The Living Room or The Bedroom
PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.
I don’t think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we’d go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone
So, after this quarantine…..will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them?
Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.
My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.
Day 5 of Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.
I’m so excited — it’s time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?
I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda. I’m getting tired of Los Livingroom.
Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.
Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said “I hope I don’t have the same teacher next year”…. I’m offended.
Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under!
Thanks this week go to the BBB, Arthur B, Devin V, Larry H, Bob C and Charles B for touching our head, heart and soul!
Please pay it forward
Love,
Neville
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“The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation,we shall harness for God the energies of love.
And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire!”–Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Happy Soul Food Friday! 