My Covid-19 Strategy

For most of us, we are now facing what is the toughest time of our lives. The threat of a deadly virus, home confinement, separation from loved ones & friends, loss of a job, unpaid leave, and salary cuts. These are unprecedented, dangerous times and everybody is impacted socially and economically. It's therefore easy to get sucked into a whirlpool of negativity, especially if you follow the news or obsess about the reported daily cases and deaths. Commentators and industry leaders talk about a slow recovery. Apparently, life will never be the same again and business won't return to 2019 levels for 2 years or more. There is a strong likelihood of a second wave and based on previous pandemics, it will be worse than the first. And don't bank on a vaccine because one may never be developed. These are the stories that we are seeing around the world in print, on TV & radio, and on our mobile devices.

If you let yourself become fixated on these doomsday scenarios, your future is going to be sketchy. We create our own economy so it's important to take control, get yourself in the right frame of mind, and shape your own destiny. We all make our own choices, and I choose to look at the situation Covid-19 has created in my own unique way, which is different from most people. Many readers will probably think this is nonsense, but it works for me.

• I choose not to accept that the recovery will be slow. It's nonsense to believe that leisure and business travellers won't be jumping on a plane in significant numbers for another couple of years. I believe that the desire and need to fly somewhere will exceed the fear of the pandemic long before that and we will be ready.
• I get up even earlier than I did before. And, before most people are out of bed, I have walked more steps than they will in their entire day. This exercise is good for me physically and mentally, plus the early bird gets the worm.
• I go to the office every day and even by the time I pull out of my driveway, there is still no sign of life from most of my neighbours. Whilst working from home is possible for me, personally I perform better in the office surrounded by my team (yes, we observe the 30% and social distancing rules). Most human beings crave social interaction and the isolation of working from home doesn't help build a positive mental attitude. Being together with my colleagues, on the other hand, does.
• I surround myself with value creators. I'm not interested in what we can't do, but very interested in what we as a business can do. So, it's vital in times like these that everybody adopts an optimistic disposition and looks for opportunities to make a difference to people's lives, figuring out to monetize those ideas. I know it's not easy, but we are not paid to come up with excuses and I don't want people around me who use Covid-19 as an umbrella to repel accountability for their performance.
• I set time aside to reflect on the things that we are not so good at. I acknowledge that despite best efforts, there are things that both I and the business can do better. Now is the time to figure out what these imperfections are and fix them.
• I embrace change and understand that it is inevitable that our business model will need to change in order to meet the needs of a post-Covid19 world.
• I will not let myself become a victim of Covid-19. Of course, I might catch it, but I will not let it dampen my spirits or pull me down regardless of the impact on my life. Feeling sorry for myself won't make things better or endear me to others. Do that and I will end up in a downward spiral no good to anybody.
• I try to do what I do even better than before. Our business has a culture that includes being brilliant at everything we do, but now is the time to dig deep and be extraordinary. If not, then I know that success will evade us. I also believe that companies always do their best to hold onto amazing employees.
• I try to be kind no matter what. Random acts of kindness cost nothing, mean a lot, and generate smiles. Nothing beats a smile on a customer's or team member's face especially in times of crisis.

I am taking Covid-19 very seriously indeed. In fact, I have just found out that a family member in England is suffering from it. But, I don't need to let it control me, my future, and that of the many people who depend on me so this is my strategy to deal with it rightly or wrongly.

Be safe.