Covid-19: The OBSTACLE and the WAY

It's Decision-Time

You don't need me to tell you what's going on. It's all we hear from every corner of the internet, and things are changing at such a rapid pace, that we never know from hour to hour (or from minute to minute) what the next Google search for Coronavirus updates will bring.

Last year I wrote an article on LinkedIn called The Obstacle is the Way, and while I've always felt that I've been through hardships and have come through to the other side a stronger person, I don't think that any of us can honestly say that they've seen anything of this magnitude.

Our past hardships seem trivial now, because of what's at stake.

Call this pandemic what you will:

• A media-generated panic if you listen to the people on Facebook who love to show off how they're smarter than the room when they share their snarky memes
• Nothing to panic about if you listen to the politicians who desperately need to project a sense of control to their constituents
• Or an epidemiological disaster if you listen to actual virologists with lab coats and the thousands of medical professionals on the front lines watching the elderly die with no available beds or ventilators

Look, I'm no medical expert, but I understand people, and I understand what drives us and how that guides our individual reactions to this event.

So call this what you will, but we are about to experience one of the great events in modern history that will be talked about for generations. We will be ok. I know this. But NOW is the time all of us to rise to the occasion.

THIS is the Obstacle. And we MUST lean in. The OBSTACLE is the WAY, and the only way forward.

Otherwise, what's the alternative?

I think this quote from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is even more relevant now: 

"Our actions may be impeded, but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting."

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

There are three types of people in this world, falling on a continuum between those who are pro-active versus being re-active.

• The panicked masses. These are the Chickens, those who fall back on complete reaction mode, and much of what they do only exacerbates the underlying problem.

• The "smarter-than-thou" Ostriches. Those are the bystanders, who often-times try to downplay the situation because they think they're smarter than the masses of sheep.

In reality however, they've got their heads in the sand because they don't want to hear what they don't want to hear. It's classic optimism bias, and when that optimism bias fails, they quickly turn into Chickens.

• The Leaders. Like Eagles, Leaders are rare. They people who rise to the occasion and take action. Those who lean into the obstacle, by taking action to mitigate the damage wrought by this disaster, and who don't wait for someone else to take the lead.

They're out there, and they are getting ahead of the problem...RIGHT NOW.  

The question is, which one are you?

There's not much we can do to control the crisis as it unfolds, but we can decide which group we belong to. Whether you're a grizzled old veteran in the search business, or this is your first week out of recruiter boot camp...it doesn't matter, as history has shown that many young soldiers have risen to the occasion when they were unexpectedly given battlefield promotions out of necessity.

It's important for us to be the leaders our industries need. We are the experts in our markets. Yes there will be leaders in our industries who will be showing the way through this crisis about how to best react to this crisis, but we need to be the ones who lead the way when it comes to recruitment and careers in our respective niches. 

Remember, a company is only as good as the people that make up its DNA. A leadership career is only as good as that leader's ability to attract that DNA. ...and for the people who are that DNA, they need your guidance right now more than ever if they are to come together with other like-minds in companies that will move the human race forward.

That's why, more than ever before, you need to be that leader NOW. Not just for your family. Not just for your friends. Not just for your office and employees. But for the entire industry that you serve. It's time to step up NOW, because you can't count on someone else doing it for you.

Some of us saw this coming (I spoke about a recession in my Lighthouse Method guide about a year and a half ago), but very few of us saw things playing out like this. But in truth, reality has caught up to the world economy.

But know that regardless if you’ve been ready or not, it is NOT the end of the world, and we will end up stronger because of it. Some amazing shifts in the market are coming.

But we must first ride the storm. 

So what can you do right now?

Step up. Be an Eagle. Be a loud voice. Give your perspective. Give your advice. Give freely of your time. Do business fairly and compassionately. Don't lose sight of the larger picture by chasing pennies.

Many may not want to hear it, and we can't control that. Many in our markets are chickens and ostriches, and they will not want to hear we have to say. But lead you must. Lead for those clients and candidates who can see past the crisis and who want to position themselves and their companies for success once this has passed.

 They're out there, and they want to find us as much as we are looking for them.

So during this time, make a decision. Be the eagle. Be the calm eye in the middle of the raging storm. Because of your actions over the next few weeks, you can help your client-companies to continue to grow with the best and brightest your industry has to offer, while profoundly impacting (and saving) many careers.

...and yes, you will still make placements and feed your family.

But don't you dare ignore this. Don't you dare message your clients and candidates oblivious to the elephant in the room.

It's time roll up our sleeves and get to work. For those of you in the #HERC, The Accelerator, or in the DYC Challenge, this is what you've trained for. Yes, you will rise to the occasion, but you will do so by falling back on your training.

Stay tuned, as I'll be posting a lot more on this daily.

For Those Who Ride At Dawn

Lastly, for those healthcare workers in your life, give them all the support you can. These are our front-line soldiers, and many of them will be putting themselves and their families at risk to save the lives of others. 

I just heard breaking news this morning that two ER doctors are in critical condition right now. But this isn't just about the doctors. It's the nurses, surgical techs, support personnel, cleaning staff, and even the hospital volunteers. They're going to put it all on the line for us.

I've seen different variations of these memes from healthcare workers who are keeping their spirits up as they gird themselves for trying times ahead.

Healthcare workers are known for their dark humor as a coping tool, and they'll need plenty of it.

We in the business world will do our part to keep the economy moving, while they do theirs in the coming weeks. They need everything ounce of love and support we can give them, because they Ride at Dawn Bitches.

Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for holding the line. God speed.