We are walking down an unlit path. Will you shine a light?

This is different, yet we have been here before.

True, there has not been a pandemic since the one that struck after World War I. In a time very different than now, an estimated 675,000 Americans died from the so-called Spanish Flu.

This is not about revisiting a century ago, though.

This is about recognizing a shock to society both financially and socially today and figuring out how each of us wants to be manage it for ourselves, local community and country to the best of our ability.

The most recent national social challenge was the financial crisis in 2008 that forced the world economy into a free fall. The underling structure of the financial system was compromised. In a sense the poison loans, packaged with good credit loans, were a hidden virus that infected economies.

The good news, if it can be viewed that way given the dramatic drop in the stock market, is that we are entering a recession caused from outside the system, not based on a structural flaw. It will come back.

On a societal basis we had a shock, more like everything coming to a head, on Wednesday, March 11 like the suddenness and unanticipated violation of our American psyche from the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001. With 3000 Americans murdered, our country froze due to fear of a potential second attack that, fortunately, never materialized at a large scale.

The economy stalled as uncertainty hung in the air into 2003 over potential large scale wars.

Our economy is stalled again and community health threatened.

This new challenge is as visible in our daily lives as the short-stocked grocery shelves, schools closed and public events suspended as a reflection of the rapid spread of the virus in the United States. Living in Seattle, the area with the highest rate of deaths, it has become acutely obvious and the rest of the country is joining us.

It is a reality. How do we want to deal with it?

Anxiety and speculation, which normally tilts to the negative in conditions of uncertainty, is one way to go, but it will not help us.

The first thing we have to address is our thinking, starting at the individual level.

You can only control your thinking and the choices you make to take positive actions for yourself, your families and community.

Do not stall yourself due to external conditions. Understand what is going on, but empower yourself to act.

People are going to be, at the very least, inconvenienced for social activities and many hurt financially whether it is a reduced 401K balance or the loss of hourly wages, especially acute for those who have fewer financial resources to help weather loss of income.

This is an opportunity for all of us to challenge ourselves to stay in gratitude for the many things that are working in our lives.

This is a situation where everyone can also be more attune to being kinder and generous to others.

There will be government action to help boost the economy but there is an immediate need to address helping hourly workers, especially those in service industries like retail, restaurants and travel/hospitality, who felt an immediate shortfall.

In just a week, though, nearly all are affected given the tighter social restrictions in local markets and a worldwide limit in the free flow of travel and trade.

Many cancelled local events are for important annual fundraisers for non-profits who operate with minimal reserves.

Suspension of arts events have hurt organizations with limited resources, like theater and dance groups, more dramatically than the highly visible major sports leagues.

Yes, you may be more squeezed, but be able to manage it. Please give to your local food bank now. Demand will be hitting them immediately. We cannot wait for a government solution to triage the economic downturn.

If forced to be at home with children, whether young or high school seniors, work to enjoy time together. Take advantage of your local library branch to borrow materials, if they are open, or at least via electronic services.

Spring is coming. Get in some walks together or visit a park.

Exercise more for yourself. It helps the body and keeps the head clearer.

Be more aware of help that might be needed by a neighbor for short term child coverage or checking in on an elderly person, especially if they live alone. Perhaps they need an errand run or a meal made.

Be there for extra support. I saw a post on a Facebook group for West Seattle, where I live, noting that an AA meeting was cancelled for the next two weeks. The brave poster was very open she needs the support of others who understand her challenge. She said two weeks to wait will be difficult. She had something tough before, now it is just tougher. Be aware of these situations.

Be patient. Things will move slower. I am seeking a new job and have to acknowledge it will likely stretch out longer now to find a new position. I can only control my thinking and my activity. I have to trust about the rest, virus or not.

And keep bringing yourself back to gratitude. If we center ourselves first we are better prepared to be there for others.

We will make it through and we will likely find, as happens in most cases of difficult times, both societal and private, we are more resilient than we thought and we are a better person for extending empathy to others.

If we have to pay a price for the spread of the virus, then let's get the highest return out of it we can.

Also

Working through life transitions, especially job loss

About me

I have been a career sales professional in B2B sales with the emphasis on advertising, marketing and media. This has included managing my own territories, selling jointly with others and managing sales teams.

My media sales career started in Seattle with the Puget Sound Business Journal, but a significant portion of my professional time was in California—19 years split between Los Angeles and Orange County. I returned to Seattle late 2012.

I have done a variety of contract work since my return under my self-titled Linked4Biz.

Most recently I worked with LeadG2, an inbound marketing and sales enablement agency. I focused on new client development, including a start up effort geographically for the Greater Seattle market. That work concluded January 2020. The agency is a HubSpot Platinum-Certified Solutions Partner and is part of The Center for Sales Strategy.

I am community manager for the LinkedIn group Seattle Sales, Marketing and Advertising Professionals, which has 4200+ members, and I am one of the first million members of LinkedIn (2004).

Additionally, I am a volunteer and served as board member (2013-2019) for the Friends of the Seattle Public Library.

You can reach me via InMail or:

[email protected]

714-876-7062, cell

 https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/stevefawthrop

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