When You Feel As If You Are Falling Short
I know so many of you I frequently engage are coping with job loss. The variety of ways you summarize your experience shows the varying ways companies deliver difficult news (or spectacularly fail in doing so) to their employees during these challenging times. Some of your descriptions shared include furloughed, laid-off, unplanned vacation, and “whacked”. Regardless of how you view it, you are left with the feeling of having lost control of where you were headed before our world changed.
With the new reality setting in, many of my friends are struggling with the feeling of not being productive or valued like they used to be. The feeling of making a contribution can be fleeting right now. Feeling valued is a human need we all experience when we are doing a job. However, when the normal work routine is gone, we feel a tremendous void in our life. It’s an emptiness inside.
Maybe you are feeling unsure of what your future holds, and the uncertainty can be crippling.
The reality is that we are dealing with two pandemics: COVID-19 and FEAR.
I too have questioned what will become of my business and how will I continue to build it when it is so hard. Sometimes I have even felt that I am falling short and failing because I can’t control how fast things are changing.
After much soul-searching I want you to hear me and hear me good!
I did not come this far to give up now AND neither did you.
When we feel like we are falling short in any area of our journey, it is time we stand up tall and face it. You must believe and tell yourself you can do it. Suppress that other voice talking you down and opt for the healthy voice lifting you up. Think of it as a radio station, what do you want to listen to during this time? You control the dial, tune your thoughts to the positive station in your head.
We may not be in control of our future or what will happen, but we are in control of one thing: Ourselves and how we deal with the current situation. Notice I said current, not to be confused with a permanent situation.
I am working harder than ever, yet I find myself at home 24 hours a day. It’s an interesting and stressful mix of supporting my boys with their online school (I am failing algebra once again in my life), and recreating how I run my business. My company was initially built around delivering learning and development workshops and keynote speaking at conferences. All of this content has migrated to an online platform.
Obviously, no live conferences or on-site company workshops are happening at this time, so I had to innovate and turn adversity into advantage.
In a matter of one week (I forgot how much I dislike all-nighters!), I moved all of my in-person “live” workshops to a virtual setting. I also developed two very relevant leadership development programs and one keynote which are packaged together to deliver to associations, organizations, and leadership teams dealing with leadership through crisis.
If you are feeling that you are falling short, here are three tips I am sharing with you that I have adopted in the recreating of my business:
1. Give yourself grace. I put so much pressure on myself to be a high performer in everything I do, but at this time there are so many other things I am juggling that are adding even more pressure. I have forced myself to take a breath and realize that I have been working harder than ever before. I am making progress, even if it is slow, I give myself grace and time to regenerate. Nothing has to be perfect and what matters most is that I am healthy and my family is healthy.
2. You don’t have to do it alone. Although we are social distancing, it doesn’t mean we have to socially disengage. It is important to remain connected with people to share thoughts and ideas that others can offer to help you as you look for new ways to regroup. Everyone knows something that you don’t. As an example, I began a virtual coffee shop called “Coffee with Kelly” four weeks ago where I host three coffee meetings each week for my community to come and feel like they are part of a community. Out of this concept, I have been able to help connect people to job interviews, new friends, and others who can relate to what they are going through. It has truly given me purpose during this hard time. I hope I will see you at my virtual coffee shop soon!
3. Be nimble. Everything is moving so fast right now and constantly changing. It is important that you are adaptable and fluid through this situation. Expect to get things wrong the first time. It goes with the territory and that is perfectly ok. The more flexible you are in your job search or how you can keep your business going will be important. You may have to try something that you have always been afraid of, but it could be the one thing that gives you a breakthrough.
Getting things done versus perfect should be a strategy.
When was the last time you tried something for the first time?
All of these tips have helped me push forward and keep my business moving. It is definitely not the same pace as it was one month ago, but at this time, I am pretty confident that any progress is a step in the right direction.
Just know, I am thinking of you and I am fighting hard with you. I am here if you want to share any ideas that you want to run by me or jump on a ZOOM call — let’s make it happen!
Peace and Love,
Kelly