COVID-19 | For Such a Time as This
It’s believed by my generation that if we aren’t successful in our twenties, we are behind and even failing.
I graduated from university three years ago come May. Surrounding the time of graduation I’d settled myself deeply in the belief that my startup, Swayy, was going to be THE passage to make a name for myself. But, I was finding out that while Swayy was a great opportunity, it was not filling the void that I have now slowly come to understand: the need for personal, 1 on 1 connection.
During the last few months of my university experience, I began taking trips downtown Chattanooga TN to the Edney Innovation Center. This was the place to get plugged into the entrepreneurship ecosystem. As I gathered a few new connections, those connections lead to friendships and those friendships more connections, and so the exponential network effects began. But I noticed something: I was connecting with people far from my supposed sphere of the industry - more and more people in the healthcare space. A common way to meet new people was at local panel discussions that were put on by groups formed by the Eden Innovation Center. One particular situation went like this:
I was asked to be apart of a small panel focused on how Chattanooga leaders could better support local entrepreneurs. During the talk, I had a very nice exchange with a man who was the CEO of a local hospital. After the talk, I exchanged cards with him. As per my usual ritual, I asked for his business card and immediately emailed him. I thanked him for his time and followed with a simple question: “Can I take you to coffee sometime?” followed by, “ I would love to hear your story.”
He agreed to meet with me.
I remember talking to one of my close friends at the time right before I was to walk up from the hospital car garage to my new friend’s office - He asked, “What’s your agenda?”
… “Agenda?”, I asked.
My friend inquired again and still, I hadn’t come up with an answer.
I went into the meeting and like many others past, it was a blessing. To connect with someone from a vastly different walk of life - it filled the void. In this instance, I felt a genuine connection and I believe mutual respect was born. No agenda was set, only time spent together.
Another time I requested a meeting with a man who was as the time the Vice President Treasurer of UNUM. He kindly posed a similar type of question as my other friend, “What’s your plan to use all of your new connections?” Again, I had no real answer. In fact, I set up these meets every so often with him because it was enjoyable and educational! And yet, inside, I felt like he wanted a different answer... Did he want me to pull a team together to attack some world problem? Perhaps he wanted me to try and sell something to my network? Honestly, to this day I don’t know exactly what a “right” answer would be, but I think that’s just fine. I believe the true value of connections are realized when we focus on connecting with the other, rather than the potential benefit we might receive from it.
That experience was several years ago, and looking back on it now, things are starting to line up, but bear with me as I try to pull this all together in the paragraphs below.
Today we are all facing uncertainty, confusion, misinformation and a seeming lack of consistency. Where should we look for security and a sense of safety? How do any of us relate and work through this world crisis? For me, I relate it mostly to the relationships surrounding myself and the businesses I run…
Swayy is currently paused. Due to losing a factory to bankruptcy back in August/September, followed by the first COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, and all else that has transpired globally - this is something that has sapped a great deal of energy and confidence. It’s humbled my spirit and helped me to walk swiftly forward with intention and purpose.
Through all of this, I’ve gained valuable insight into how cultures are affected when trials arise. With both Chinese and Americans, I’ve come to find that it is the past invested 1 on 1 time that has filled us with mutual respect, care, and camaraderie that transcends these hard times to enable us to work together quickly and efficiently.
During the COVID-19 breakout in China, I had a friend reach out to me asking if we could try to send them some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), specifically masks. I was lucky to know a friend who sold some and was able to help secure a small batch and send them over to China. Since then the tables have turned. I never thought I would find myself starting a company to become a personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier, but in the past 3 weeks as a team, we have begun moving over 40,000+ units of PPE, and it is very possible we will do much more in the weeks to come.
With any new opportunity, there’s hard work to be done. In the past several weeks I have exercised almost all of my prior knowledge and experience to spin up this new company. I have had fantastic days filled with laughs and fun, and some really bad ones surround by gloom and tears, we’ve all experienced these. What I’ve found most helpful during these intense times has been 1) the encouragement of those closest to me and 2) frequent breaks to get away from all the stress in the form of exercise and brief walks down my driveway.
Now, wrapping it all up: I went on a spontaneous walk 2 weeks ago, as I usually do during a stressful day. As I walked under my favorite tree as the driveway turned to the right (a perfect mixture of sun rays, fresh leaves, and birds singing), I felt God's impression in a single sentence: "for such a time as this." You see, I’ve questioned God for so long wondering what my true purpose was in Swayy and all the struggles we’ve had. I’ve questioned if I need to learn how to “leverage” my relationships. I’ve worked in advertising, sales, leading mission trips to Indonesia and so much more, and it was on that particular day on that particular walk that God impressed upon my heart the true importance of going through any trial and hardship: "for such a time as this."
I am now beginning to see a glimpse of God’s plan and each time He reveals a little more to my mud-covered eyes, I feel so unworthy and yet so incredibly thankful. I know that all the relationships I have invested in, all of the trials I have experienced, good and bad, have prepared me in some sort of way for what I am now experiencing.
For you, kind reader, I hope my lessons are able to echo through your mind. Indeed, we are all walking along a path for such a time as this. We each have skills, talents, and experiences that give us insight and advantage to help in a time of need. Now is that time of need.
It is our friends and family and, I believe, our relationship with God that will help to make the greatest differences in these times of need. I want to make sure I’m investing in the connection with the person across from me, and I hope you can do the same.
Remember.
For such a time as this.
If you, your family or anyone you know is in need of facemask, please feel free to share the link below. Likewise, if you, your family or anyone you know is in need of PPE in larger quantities please feel free to email me: [email protected]