How to Survive Being Locked Out and Stranded: Perspectives from a Business Architect

Let's be honest, "Work From Home" and "Stay At Home" content floods the media. During this time, governments have ordered the closing of borders. People who were out of the nation at the time for various reasons remain stranded outside. There isn't enough solace afforded for those forced to stay away from their preferred homes .

I went backpacking solo as a way to reset and re-center myself when news of the epidemic got upgraded into a pandemic. The government took a sudden decision to close the airports to prevent the virus from affecting the general population. I decided to stop my vacation short and to return home.

When I arrived at the Departure Check-Ins, the counter staff took a while to verify whether I could board. Finally, after 30-minutes of confusion, they confirmed that I cannot return. Taking this as calmly as I could muster, I contacted my holiday agent to book for me the cheapest and nearest (to the airport) accommodation.

* Secretly, you wonder which of Tom Hanks’ movies you can relate to now, The Terminal (2004) or Castaway (2000); or why-in-the-world would he film those; or why you even watch Tom Hanks movies in the first place!

I needed to frame my decisions properly moving forward (using models). Thankfully, Business Architecture is in the business of assisting businesses with decision-making frameworks (pun intended). With that, I have distilled the essence and tested it for our personal situation. Let’s begin with our script!

1. Set the Strategy

What can I and will I do now in the Current State?

Our first task is to set the strategy for the effort. Our intention is to survive the ordeal with the currently available resources. The situation is NOT a project as it does not have a set end-date. This is the new norm and must be accepted as a new business-as-usual or a different way of performing.

Next, keep yourself busy and build a new daily routine. It is natural to feel fear. A fear of the unknown. We suppress this by moving on as fear can paralyze in unintended times.

Useful Models:

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

What can I possibly do next for a Future State?

The ideal future state would be “back at home with family and friends”. However, by being stranded, that is out of our “circle of influence”. Instead, we must focus on outcomes that we can influence directly and that would be our personal development.

We must look at the key areas of our lives that need improving by 10x. Build some personal development into your daily routine.

As an extreme and provisional measure, if the current resources are dwindling and are reaching a near unsustainable state and you find your sources of help unable to support, the next prerogative would be to look for a job or alternative sources of income. Most often, job markets and requirements are different in other countries. What are your translatable skills? Could you do something else yet similar to what you’ve done before? 

Useful Models:

• Strategyzer’s Business Model Canvas (BMC),
• OMG’s Business Motivation Model (BMM),
• Ikigai (Japanese for “a reason for being”), and
• Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

What Past State led to this situation?

This doesn’t exist now although it would be good to keep this for reference. Moving forward is the only way. Journal and keep track of your experiences and progress. Your journal will be your change management log.

Plan for Adaptability and Resilience

The path from the current to the future states will be filled with plans. Keep yourself updated with the latest news. This ensures that your plans adapt and improve. Do your research on your immediate surroundings for maximum gain.

In Summary:

1. Set your vision, mission, and goals
2. Understand your needs while keeping the current and future states in mind
3. Work on personal development
4. Track changes by journaling
5. Research and plan for your next moves