Greetings From Wisconsin!

[Over the past few years, I’ve periodically reached out to my clients and friends (with many recipients falling into the same category) with a note of encouragement as they go about their lives, trying to be people of integrity and effort at work, at home and in their communities. When I sent my most recent one, several encouraged me to share it more broadly. Here it is:]

Much has changed since my last correspondence. It’s as if the whole world has been turned on its ear and many of us are falling prey to things that just a week or two ago we would have scoffed at as it relates to the behaviors of others and even our own behavior.

The purpose of this note is not to prognosticate in how long this scare will last, or even what the long-term implications of it will be, but simply to encourage folks as it relates to focusing on the basics and keeping things in perspective.

Being a sports fan, one of my favorite all time coaches is former Notre Dame Head Coach Lou Holtz. If there was one thing I loved about Lou, it’s that he made the game of football very simple, but sometimes he also made it very boring to watch. Anytime one of his teams would struggle with focus or with ego or adversity of any sort, he would simply focus on the basics. The beginning of the next practice would focus on the most basic attributes blocking and tackling. He would literally walk his tenured players through endless drills on the most rudimentary part of how to throw a block and how to tackle. Was there a lot of eye rolling in practice? Sure. Was there an initial lack of focus and boredom on behalf of the players? Absolutely. But over time as he kept on it and kept on it and kept on it, the energy would build, the confidence would build, and the focus would come back. Ending the practices exhausted, the players had done nothing sexy or spectacular, yet they were grounded, focused, and energized to take on the next opponent. Most importantly, they were unified and they were one.

This, in my humble opinion, is the genius of focusing on the basics. It grounds you, builds confidence, and helps you focus. Under the presumption that my stated premise is true, I just wanted to reach out and check in and make sure you are well. In times like these where nothing is or seems normal, I think it’s important to focus on the tactical tasks at hand and take things day by day, but also to not forget to have a vision for what your future looks like, or perhaps develop a new vision. As we all begin to work at home, staying busy and staying on task and productive is an obvious consideration, but what about the exercise routine that you did so well with the first three weeks of January, but have tapered off since then? Or the diet or the new way of eating that you have been telling yourself you would someday do? Or perhaps focusing more on your quiet time and your own spirituality that you just never seem to get around to because of the bustle of work, family, and commute. I would suggest there is likely no better time to consider these things. 

Not speaking for others, but for me what is paramount is the spirituality piece. Dealing with COVID-19 and the manic response to it (whether appropriate or disproportionate I am not arguing), for most of the us the battlefield won’t be with the virus, but it will be in our minds and overall psyche. Can we stay focused, can we stay busy, can we stay positive, can we be the leader our family and friends need us to be? Can we streamline our household budget and cut costs and do it with an air of confidence and not of desperation? Without being grounded ourselves, it can be challenging to be that rock for others. Whether it’s getting up 30 minutes earlier and reading or praying. Whether it’s taking what was a 45 minute commute and using that time to focus on ourselves and our well-being with a book on tape or a religious message that gives us perspective and hope, I am not sure there will ever be a better time than now. The power of this quiet time for ourselves is it will allow us to be that powerful and positive influence for others around us. We are grounded and as a result we can help ground others and help them weather the storm. 

Ultimately, there are two things I would encourage you to remember. You are not alone, we are all in this together. Make sure you reach out to friends and family and let them know you are thinking about them. Secondly, you must have a vision. Not only a vision for the present and how I can ‘attack’ the day to day in a regimented fashion all while staying in good health and getting plenty of sleep. But also a vision for what your new future is going to look like six months from now. A year, five years from now. Having a vision gives us true hope and will fuel and drive us. There is nothing quite like the human spirit in that regard. It struck me when watching the Shawshank Redemption with my 17 year old son last week, that despite being wrongfully imprisoned for 20+ years Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) never lost sight of his vision for what he was going to do when he got out of prison. Owning a bed and breakfast and a fishing boat on the Pacific in a fishing town called Zihuantanejo is what drove Andy and gave him hope. Despite the drudgery of prison life and the physical and verbal beatings he took, that vision fueled him to get up every day and to slug it out (literally and figuratively). The coolest part was that not only did it fuel him, but it also fueled Red (Morgan Freeman) as he shared that vision with him as well. By the time the credits rolled they were embracing as friends on the beach and living that dream on the Pacific Ocean (it's a great movie, by the way, if you haven’t seen it in a while.)

As we say in the Midwest, keep your dauber up, all. We are going to get through this. Get back to the basics, stay positive, stay connected, and work on your vision.

Be blessed, friend,

Barlow