Oregon is going to start opening up again.
Friday last week, Governor Brown outlined the testing strategy being implemented to allow a phased re-opening of the state. From earlier statements, it sounds like with these guidelines in place, the reopening plans will be outlined this week.
I don’t think anyone can predict this ‘correctly’, but I do think people are doing the best they can with what they have in front of them; from the business owner, to the teacher, to the city official, to the parents out there.
Here is a good visual a friend shared with me, and I think it does a good job of explaining the spectrum of the issue depending on how the pandemic proceeds. This is a complex, changing situation and it is hard to pin down where it lands!
Life won’t be the same after this
This is just the reality of the situation; the world changed after 9/11. The world changed after the financial meltdown of 2008. The world has changed through COVID-19.
Things won’t go back to how they ‘used to be’, that’s not how the world works. History shows this time and time again.
The only constant in life is change.
Stop looking back; start looking ahead!
When I talk about life not being the same; I don’t mean that in a negative sense at all. While there will be many trade-offs, I think there are also many positive things that will come of this!
Personally, I am glad that we don’t travel across the country in a covered wagon (shout out to the Oregon Trail though!); we can travel via car, airplane, etc. I don’t know what incredible inventions, creations, technology is going to come from this time, but I can’t wait to see and be a part of it!
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on…
What is life going to look like for YOU moving forward?
We are all headed into an unknown; what is this going to look like in a week or month or year from now? No one knows that answer to that question; so let’s change the question.
What do YOU want life to look like in a week or month or year from now?
Change isn’t comfortable, but what changes are you needing to make now to set you on a path for the future that you want?
- What are your growth goals?
- What training would you like to attend (virtually, in person)?
- What training could you teach to others?
- What new skills would you like to acquire?
Who is in your ‘inner circle’, helping you, pushing you, cheering you on to get better?
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that I need help following through on my goals.
It’s probably just human nature; it’s a lot easier to go to the gym when you know you have a friend waiting there for you. It’s a lot easier to change your diet when you have people who are doing it with you.
This season of life we need help changing and pushing forward as well.
Who to look for in an ‘inner circle’
When I refer to the ‘inner circle’ I am talking about people that are in your corner and have your back. They care about you doing the very best you can in life. I like to break it down into 4 categories; Mentors, Coaches, Teammates and Cheerleaders.
Mentors
These are the people who have gone ahead and have some wisdom and insight into an area that you want to grow in. I have had mentors that have helped in all areas of my life; my professional life, business life, family life (raising kids is tough, it’s good to get advice from people who have done that well!)
An example of a mentor of mine (who passed away a few years ago) was Alan. Alan was an incredible business leader, husband and father. I would take him to lunch and pick his brain about how he raised his kids. These lunch meetings were before we even had kids, and the lessons he taught me in those lunch meetings have stuck with me. I am so grateful for Alan and I draw from those lessons every day.
Coaches
Many people think that a mentor and a coach are the same thing. At times, they can be the same person, but they have different functions. A mentor pours wisdom in someone, a coach draws the best out of a person.
I played sports growing up and have had some great coaches. Some of my best coaches were the ones that made me mad. They saw potential and greatness in me that I didn’t see and wanted to help draw that out of me. I’m forever appreciative of the coaches I’ve had in my life.
Teammates
These are the ‘brothers-in-arms’ of those that are on the same path, working on the same goals, together. This is the friend who is going to the gym with you in the morning; pushing you to get better and to grow!
Cheerleaders
These are the people that aren’t on the same journey you are, they are not mentors or coaches. These people love you and want to see you win. We all have these people in our lives and it is nice to know they are there cheering us on toward our goals!
Where do I find these people to put in my ‘inner circle’?
I would start with making a list of people that you admire. Who you would like to emulate in one area of life or another? Put them on a list of potential mentors or coaches. The next list would be of people that you are on your team or you want them to be on your team who will help encourage and/or go on a growth journey with you.
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
There are so many more things to touch on here, but hopefully this is a good place to start!
Alyrica is putting on a webinar series for people that are looking to grow through this challenge.
It doesn’t matter if you are a business owner figuring out how to adapt your business to stay relevant and profitable through these changes, or you are a stay at home mom now turned full-time teacher.
Adapting, growing, changing is required for everyone these days; so I encourage you to be intentional about it!
I encourage you to share this with friends, co-workers, teammates that you know are desiring to be more intentional in changing and growing.
Join us; together we can create the community that encourages and inspires one another to become who we desire to become!
UPDATE 5/8/2020: Governor Brown Released the Reopening Framework
Here is a well put together sector by sector breakdown, courtesy of the Albany Chamber of Commerce. Also see another post related to this topic, Adapt: From the Old Routine to a New Frontier.
Let’s see if you’re covered.
You’re in Our Coverage Zone!