Relaunch Yourself

Think back to the moment you realized 2020 was no longer going to be the familiar experience of past years. Perhaps it was a single instance or maybe it was a series of events or experiences that rocked you to the core. 

For me, I was standing at my desk typing notes from a client meeting when my phone rang. “Hello,” I answered with cheery energy. Immediately, I could tell this conversation was not leading to a great outcome. A client, with whom I had just spent the previous week working with where we furthered a roll out of the 18 plus months of work we had developed, shared, “I hate to make this phone call, but we have to pause our relationship with you. We just don’t know what is going to happen through all of this. We are moving everything to remote work and cutting as much spending as we can.” 

I was blindsided. Not because they were pausing our relationship but because I failed to recognize this pandemic was going to be as serious as it was becoming. It took me a second to catch my thoughts and compose my frantic mind. “I truly understand. I am obviously sorry to hear that, and I want to support what is best for you and the entire company.” I meant what I said, however it made me question what the next few weeks or possibly few months were going to look like for Kadima. 

I hung up the phone as I felt the power, excitement, and confidence of my work, my passion, and my purpose sink through the floor. I wish I could say it was in that moment my instincts and leadership training kicked in, but it wasn’t. It was when the concern set in. During that week I received similar calls from other clients questioning if this work and its subsequent investment cost was prudent during these uncertain times, while other clients were ready to double down and drive through this great obstacle.

I knew logically that crises like this one are when leadership is truly needed, however, it is also the hardest time to recognize this need. Many individuals I reached out to had become emotional and subjective, making decisions from a place of fear and uncertainty. I too fell into this trap, however, after a few days I knew I must help lead my clients,  teammates, family, and friends to thrive during these uncertain times.     

Although there were days where I was disappointingly not my normal, high energy, motivated self, I accepted those feelings as a natural response to the events unfolding. With uncertainty rampant, I reflected on Kadima’s mission and my purpose and chose to lead. 

As I began implementing a plan to support the community around us, I used the following quote as a source of energy and action:

“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming.”

So I began focusing on what I could do to support others. I aimed at reaching out to my circles to see how I could help them focus and aim. My days were spent retooling and relaunching how Kadima would interact. We have offered virtual workshops, support groups, pro bono mentoring opportunities, and much more. None of this was easy to see in March or even April, however, with the correct focus and aim, we have been able to use the tension, discomfort, and stress to become better not only for ourselves, but for our circles of influence. 

So, what are you focusing on, what are you aiming towards? 

We are roughly four months into the chaos that COVID-19 sprung upon us. Do you see opportunities, or do you only see problems? Are you aiming towards supporting others or are you struggling to release the inward focus that is so natural to experience during times of crisis? 

Regardless of your answers, I find one thought missing from the above quote. The trajectory of a released arrow is determined by the intention of the archer. If the archer does not release the string with intention the arrow’s fate is uncertain. With deep intention an arrow can pierce through the air striking its target with purpose, however, if released haphazardly or with uncertainty an arrow will at best fall short of its intended target. 

Just as a bow requires you to use its tension to catapult an arrow forward, I encourage you and the people around you to use the tension of these times to thrive forward. Regardless of how you responded to the initial shock of the past four months, today is a new day. And if today doesn’t work, there is always tomorrow. No quiver is built to carry just one arrow, just as no life is defined or determined by one day. So I encourage you to strive each day to relaunch, repurpose, and respond with intention.