When the pandemic hit, nothing was normal any more, my business efforts crashed, and I had to make some obvious business pivots. They seemed to work, and I’ve been fortunate to have a string of solid months, starting in July.
But I observed something rather startling about myself this week.
I’m starting to make a mental transition from “just hold on until we’re back to normal” to “there won’t be any back to normal.”
I need to make permanent business adjustments and develop new opportunities based on the world reality that is emerging.
Sad? A little. Necessary? Absolutely.
A friend of mine said recently, “I’ve finally moved the office chair into the dining room.”
To me, that symbolizes what I’m mentally going through. Something more permanent is settling in.
I think my mental shift is a result of achieving acceptance — perhaps this is the final stage in a grieving process. We all want 2019 back. We can’t have 2019 back. That doesn’t mean we can’t still be sad about what has been lost, but it’s time to move on and embrace what is next.
The areas I specialize in — strategy consulting, speaking, and university education — aren’t in a temporary hold, they are being transformed, and I need to transform, too.
Anything like that happening to you?
Mark Schaefer is the executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions. He is the author of several best-selling digital marketing books and is an acclaimed keynote speaker, college educator, and business consultant. The Marketing Companion podcast is among the top business podcasts in the world. Contact Mark to have him speak to your company event or conference soon.
