It seems like not that long ago we were quarantining, making sure we had masks, and hearing all over the news about the post-pandemic “new normal.” For some, the new normal was a return to 2019 with a side of masks and testing. Others proclaimed that there was no going back and that the new normal would look like massive automation, universal income, and a break with the corporate culture that we’ve been accustomed to.
Safe to say that few if any predicted a landscape like 2022—where economic forces have propelled us into a system of constant change, endless unknowns, and challenges that we hoped to leave behind with COVID.
Three main factors we see touching a majority of businesses, regardless of industry, are:
Continued supply-chain woes: Sporadic lockdowns and reopenings in China have exacerbated the supply/demand curve, keeping prices and timelines elevated to the chagrin of almost everyone. Backlogs at domestic ports and challenges in our logistics systems—from trucking to warehouses—compound the problems and make everything even worse and more aggravating.
The war in Ukraine: With the Russian blockade, food and fuel exports have plummeted, setting off a chain reaction of protectionism policies by countries that reduce or altogether stop their own exports. The effects have been chilling, as many countries are grappling with massive inflation and food shortages.
Domestic inflation: We’ve all heard of the 40-year-record inflation on the news, and a simple trip to the gas station or grocery store is evidence enough that prices are climbing as the quality of goods and services stays the same or decreases.
All in all, it’s enough to get the most hopeful optimist down.
Economic fear affects bottom lines, it cools deals with clients that once seemed hot, and it adds massive passive stress on the most important part of these systems: human beings.
With so much going on it’s easy to feel out of control—and at work, we’re accustomed to being in, or seeking to be in, control. As these events go on and on, what does one do to stay positive? We all need to summon the necessary morale and hope to continue to chip away at personal and professional goals. We’ve found the following strategy to offer some respite from these challenging historic times:
Make a list of everything that is causing you (or your company—or both) stress.
The list might look like this one:
- Costs of goods are going up.
- All news sounds like bad news right now.
- My email inbox is a mess, and I don’t know where anything is.
- I haven’t kept track of my sales follow-ups.
- I have two finance reports due for clients next week.
- Jason’s music in the office across the hall is driving me nuts—he plays Gungname Style on repeat.
- Our grocery bill is crazy.
- I can’t get the part I need for my new computer, and its been months.
Color code the list in three categories:
- Things I cannot control
- Things I can immediately control
- Things I can create a plan for and control over time
The above list would look like:
- Costs of goods are going up.
- All news sounds like bad news right now.
- My email inbox is a mess, and I don’t know where anything is.
- I haven’t kept track of my sales follow-ups.
- I have two finance reports due for clients next week.
- Jason’s music in the office across the hall is driving me nuts—he plays Gungname Style on repeat.
- Our grocery bill is crazy.
- I can’t get the part I need for my new computer, and its been months.
Now you have a simple to-do list, some control, and clear next steps back in your life:
- Sort your email and file things you need to save.
- Kindly ask Jason if he could turn down his music, close the door, or use headphones.
- Recommit to tracking all your sales calls starting today.
- Schedule your remaining finance reports so you’ll have them done on time (or early).
- IGNORE the red items that will drain your energy and effort, but that you cannot fix.