‘Q-time’ – the interesting experience I never imagined I’d have.
It’s been…
- Liberating – I don’t miss crowded public transport
- Sad – so many people negatively and fatally impacted by the virus itself
- Heart-warming – so many people have stepped up to help others
- Un-equal – some people have lots of chill-out time, others are exhausted risking their lives to save others
The power of Now: 6 Questions for your Quarantine
It’s taken me a while to decide what I want to blog about in these strange times.
I don’t want to sugar-coat anything. Times are tough for many and one of my own extended family members has been lost due to the virus.
However, I‘m a coach through and through. I believe as entrepreneurs we need to always look for new pathways, find the positives and especially look for how we can make a difference to others. That is what gives me strength and inspiration.
I don’t have all the answers, no-one does. How we respond to Q-time is a deeply individual choice, but here are some ‘Now’ questions I’ve been asking myself during this time.
You might want to try asking these questions of yourself. What thoughts and realisations do they bring up for you?
1. How can I make a difference now?
This is a time when we all need to pull together. What can we each do to make the best of a difficult time for many? It always amazes me that 1 in 3 children lives in poverty in the UK, a relatively wealthy country, (…and it’s unacceptable that anyone has to go hungry anywhere in the world).
I am really pleased that donations by my generous clients and friends to food banks via The Trussell Trust have reached £945 at the time of writing. If you haven’t already donated, maybe you can help our giving community reach £1,000.
2. How can I ensure my business is relevant now?
I’ve been very impressed with the way entrepreneurs have responded to new priorities in the marketplace. It’s been especially hard on ‘hands-on’ and ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses who’ve had to get online fast. I’ve run a number of low-cost workshops to support people through this time and the ideas and solutions they’ve come up with have been courageous and brilliant.
Although I have been using Zoom and similar platforms for over fifteen years for meetings and group-coaching, one challenge I personally faced was delivering to premium clients in the ‘flat world’ of online instead of in gorgeous 3-D settings such as boutique luxury hotels or summer retreats in the New Forest.
Zoom life is not quite the same of course, but the core doesn’t change: deep coaching and peer-to-peer support work no matter where we are located. My clients, as always, have continued to commit passionately to the positive difference they make to others through their work. I’m so proud of them all.
3. How can I build relationships now?
Whether you’re still in business right now or having to take a step back, it’s a still a good time to connect with the people you serve: everyone’s online even more of the time, (who knew that was even possible?!). It only takes a moment to send a note or a card to your clients to show how much you appreciate them.
4. What new habits can I develop now?
I’m attracting more clients than ever to my online programmes. But working from home has actually given me a lot more time because I’m not using up a lot of my day travelling to meetings. Although I miss face-to-face interaction I’m relishing the extra time I now have and spending some of it on habits that I want to retain such as running twice a week (…finally!) which I love.
5. What can I re-discover now?
I’ve re-discovered a love of so many things, particularly gardening, cooking and making art, (along with most of the UK if social media is anything to go by). I’m having fun with crazy art projects such as making a paper-mâché shelving unit! I’m also loving spending time gardening and experimenting with new recipes. This time has reminded me/forced me to slow down and re-connect with passions outside of work.
6. How much can I rest & recharge now?
I am grateful and blessed to have lots of new clients and there’s a temptation to push ahead and not waste the opportunity. But this is also a time when I can rest deeply. I don’t want to waste that opportunity either. I’m gradually finding a balance. Sometimes sitting in the garden, soaking up the sun and staring into space is the best business investment I could ever make.
So how’s lockdown been for you? What have you learned about yourself? I’d love to hear from you.