Did you see it?  It just happened.

The Shift.

The shift goes by many different names.  The one that I like is inflection point.  Others call it a trend.  Or the disruption. And others.

Regardless, they all signal the same thing.  A shift.

In some cases it might be small.  In other cases large.  It may be invisible or it may be obvious.  It may impact just you, or just others, or everyone.  

This current shift has massively impacted everyone, as well as our entire planet.

Wuhan Coronavirus (AKA COVID 19)

The shift due to the Wuhan Coronavirus (AKA COVID 19) has caused a massive shift to nearly everything on the face of the earth.  I don't believe that is an understatement.

Think of all of the changes that we have seen.  A lot of them will become permanent new ways that we do things.  Others will partially revert back to the old habit.  Others will go back to the way things were. But a large part of our world has shifted, permanently. 

So what are some of these shifts that we have seen?

• People will be more aware of touching and personal hygiene. 
• Wearing masks in public will become more commonplace.
• Large groups will make more people nervous.
• More people will continue to have groceries delivered to their houses
• Telecommuting and video conferencing will be widely accepted.
• ...

Is it worth getting...

People ask me all of the time...was it worth getting an MBA?  Did it help me get to where I am?  Should they get an MPH?  Should they do another residency? What fellowship should they do?

Sorry Folks...You Have It All Wrong.

Imagine you are walking into your workroom. You look around at the tools you have and then you ask one of these two questions:

What CAN I make with these tools?

Or you can ask...

What do I WANT to MAKE?  

The Tools Come Second

There are times when you ask the first question and make something that is based on the tools you have on hand.  There isn't anything wrong with that if your goal is to just do something.  But if you have something specific in mind, such as a need to make a shelf but you only have the tools to make a wooden kids toy, then how does that help you?  It doesn't.  

When you go to the tool store you don't go there with the focus of buying a tool because it looks cool, you are buying a tool to achieve an objective.  An objective, like drilling a hole or sawing some wood, because it is what you need to create the project you have in mind.  You buy the tool that performs the function you need.  A hammer to drive nails.  A drill to make holes.  You don't buy a saw to put in screws. 

This brings us back to the question, what is more...

What Are The Right Answers?

Right now, especially in the middle of this COVID19 Pandemic, we are looking for answers. Answers to questions that we have.  Answers to questions that other people have put forth....

• When will this COVID pandemic be over?
• How many people will die from COVID?
• Are there enough ventilators?
• What did some dope reporter say about this crisis?

Answers To Pressing Questions

These all seem like great questions.  They are things that are immediate and seemingly important questions. And the answers that you get can tell you a bit about some small factoids about COVID.  Factoids that only provide a bit of information that you have no control over.  Even if you learn or know the answers to these questions, it's likely you have no ability to impact the answers.  It's simple curiosity that you are satisfying. 

Did YOU Ask The Right Questions For YOU?

You only have so much energy.  You only have so much time.  So use it wisely.  What is better use of that time and energy...to ask questions that you have no control over?  Or questions like these...

• How can I use this time at home effectively to better myself?
• How can I change my life now, to provide for a better one once COVID is passed?
• What can I do for myself and my family to protect us from COVID?
• What are the best ways for me to use this...

What have you been doing during this pandemic?

Binge-watching?

That COULD be good...or that COULD be bad...

It's not about if you are watching...but what you are watching...

Are you binge-watching Bay Watch?  NetFlix? Breaking Bad?  Jerry Springer? I Love Lucy?  Or non-stop COVID19 news?

That's BAD.

 Are you Binge-watching ... Online courses?  YouTube videos on self-improvement?  Other resources on expanding your expertise?  Learning new skills?

That's GOOD.

What are you watching?

So it's not a question of WHAT you are doing, but WHAT you are WATCHING.

What are YOU learning?

Will you be BETTER when the pandemic is over?  Or just older?

The choice is entirely up to you...and no one else. 

We all do it.  If you say you don't, you just did.

Lies are for many reasons.  Some good. Some bad. But all are dishonest.

Little Lies

We sometimes lie to avoid making someone feel bad. We sometimes use other language to avoid saying what we really think...

Boy that's some haircut. Wow, that is a unique wall color. Sure, I know you like that station.

I would guess we all think that these types of lies are ok.  They help prevent unnecessary friction and maybe hurting other peoples feelings.

Big Lies

But there are other lies that simply shouldn't happen.

Sorry boss, my dog ate the report.

No, I didn't break that.

No, I really was sick.

No, I didn't back into the other car.

Who me? I would never say that...

There are a number of reasons that people lie.  There is a good summary article on Ideapod about why people lie.    It can give you some good insight into why people lie.  Maybe even why you lie to others. 

Regardless, there are many consequences to lying to others. Especially to those who have trust in you. Those who value your opinion. Those who look to you for honest answers.

The main reason that you shouldn't lie is this:

If you lie to me now, how will I ever know that you are not lying to me in the future?

There you go.  You have lost their trust.  

Is that worth lying about?

What Direction Are You Running?

Where are you going?

Are you going forward? Or are you going backward?

What Direction Are You Looking?

Are you looking at what you need to do next? Or are you reviewing what you just did?

Are you examining the horizon for opportunities? Or are you congratulating what you just did?

Are you looking for pitfalls in front of you? Or are you looking back at the ones you hit or maybe missed?

Are you looking at where you are going? Or where you have been?

What Are You Looking At?

When you drive a car, you look where you are going.

When you walk down the street, you look where you are going.

When you ride a bicycle, you look where you are going.

Why?  Because you want to see your destination and you don't want to lose your way or run into something and have an accident.

Leaders Look Forward

So if you are working on a project, running a business, fostering a relationship or anything else, why are you yourself looking back at what you did in the past? That's done. That's in the past.  The future is ahead of you.

Concentrate on what is in FRONT of you and how you can optimize the future.

Don't look back at what has already happened, which you can't change. Looking back will take your attention off of what is in front of you...and perhaps cause a future catastrophic accident.

Which way do you find yourself looking?  Forward?  Or...

Do you have a message that you want to get out to the world?

What is it?

Wait, before you answer, let me just put one constraint on your message.  There is just one rule you need to adhere to when providing your message.

The One Breath Pitch

You have to give your entire message .... with ONE breath.

Some people call it an elevator speech.  I think that's too long.

Some people call it an executive summary.  I think that's too long.

Many people have many rules about what your message needs to have.

My rule is simple:  ONE breath.

Attention Spans Are Now In Seconds...

In the world of social media, with short clips of video.  Short bursts of characters.  Disappearing messages and all sort of other gimmicks, one really bad thing has happened.  People's attention spans have shrunk to just a few seconds.

The Necessary Three G's

So in the world today, if you want to make a pitch to someone, regardless if it's to convince them to go to a certain restaurant, or buy a certain auto, or to invest in your new business, you have to do the three "G"s:

• Grab their attention
• Give them the necessary information
• Get them to take action

And because they have very short attention spans, you have to do it quickly.  Do it in ONE breath.

So how will you make your pitch in one breath?

What essential elements will you include in your one-breath...

What is more important? 
What you know? Or what you don't know?

It's nice to know stuff.  But it's even better to know what you don't know.

If I know how to cook a dinner, I can do it confidently.

If I know how to use a screwdriver, I can assemble a lot of things.

If I know how to use a pocket knife, I can whittle a stick.

If I know how to drive, I can pilot myself from one location to another.

If I don't know how to cook, use a screwdriver, a pocket knife or drive a car...then I can't do any of those things successfully.  Success is based on getting things done.  

But as long as you know about cooking, assembling items, whittling or driving, you can hire someone to do those functions for you.  If I don't know about those skills or tasks, then I can't even ask someone else to do them.  They simply don't get addressed or completed. 

You can't get something done if it's not on your "radar".

In many cases, I may not even know what I don't know...so that leaves me, not just with the inability to do certain functions, but perhaps it leaves me with the total lack of knowledge that such things can be done. It limits my potential.

What you don't know is a significant limiting factor in your progress.  Perhaps what you don't know is where your business's key to success is hiding.  

So what to do?

First, learn what you...

Nautical Directions

Lighthouses as navigational tools are indispensable for mariners who are guiding their ships. These guideposts help the captains of the ships avoid dangers that can result in the destruction and sinking of the vessels that they are piloting.

Sometimes the captain knows to go toward the lighthouse.  Sometimes they know to go away from the lighthouse.  It all depends on what their ultimate destination is and the course they are plotting to get them there, and the map that they have which outlines their safe, and unsafe, passageways.

If you have an ultimate destination, goal, objective or desire, then you too have a destination.  Likewise, you should have a map and a course that you have plotted your journey to get you to your destination.  And you too should have "lighthouses" and maps that help you avoid pitfalls and guide you safely to your destination.

What are your "Lighthouses"?

You should have specific goals and objectives.  Then when you are tempted to stray from the course you have plotted to achieve them, you should question yourself "why deviate from this course?".  That is your lighthouse for protection.

Sometimes it may be to avoid what you perceive as a pitfall.  Maybe it's the promise of smoother water.  Or "shiny bright objects" that often distract and tempt us.  Regardless of...

I think there is a real problem with semantics in the "distancing" program that has been put into place across the globe.  I don't know what terminology they are using in countries with different languages, but in the US, the favored term is social distancing. 

Social Distancing...

I understand the need to keep people apart to reduce the potential for the spread of the COVID 19 virus.  That's an important role for mitigation and "control" over the virus. (I use "control" in parentheses because there is only so much you can do to "control" a virus. My favorite control for a virus is bleach water or 70% alcohol.  Take that you virus!) 

My question is this:  Are we trying to distance people physically? Or socially?  If it's the former, then we have been using the wrong terminology.  We have been sending the wrong message, even if subconsciously.  

Physical Distancing...

The mere act of moving people away from each other does create an element of social distancing.  There is the trepidation of people coming in close contact with each other. In our neighborhood, we have noticed some households that seem to have shut up completely.  Blinds drawn.  Windows closed.  They look like abandoned houses.  On our walks (yes, we still take our dogs for daily walks, but stay the recommended six feet (or...