I believe the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced what some of us already knew, but maybe didn’t fully appreciate: deep relationships and human connection are what give us the most joy and satisfaction in life. With all of the suffering around the world, it’s hard to say anything good about the period of time we have had to spend in quarantine, but the time I have spent with my kids and family has been a pleasure that could never have happened otherwise. Game nights on Sundays, eating meals together, going on long walks, and just talking. While it hasn’t been all good, it’s been a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget and for which I am grateful.
I also hope most of us acquire an even greater appreciation for the pleasure of being with people. I miss being in the NAHREP office and feeing the energy of a big team working together. I miss my friends. I miss conventions and sporting events. I miss the feeling of packing my suitcase the night before I leave on a business trip or weekend getaway with Kathy. I miss restaurants, hotels, and live theater; but more than anything I think I miss the people who I encounter at all of those places. I miss the bartenders, Uber drivers, ushers, flight attendants, waitresses and busboys. The people who hustle to make our lives a little more comfortable. I hope I never take those people for granted again. When the pandemic is over, I hope we all recognize what a privilege it is to meet new people, to learn a little about their lives and to try to bring a little joy to each other. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than human connection.
Almost everyone, including Democrats, were expecting last Tuesday’s midterm election results to heavily favor Republicans. Many predicted a “red wave” where they would pick up 50-60 seats in the House and 3-4 in the Senate. Joe Rogan said the red wave that is coming will be like the elevator doors opening in the horror film The Shining.
When we invited Gary Vaynerchuk to NAHREP at L’ATTITUDE in 2021, I was mostly relying on input from others. Several members loved his content, but the little I saw online left me underwhelmed. However, I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation at our event, particularly his comments about toxic employees, which he says to dump with impunity.
Selling during a downturn required a more strategic approach, but the opportunities for growth and expansion are available to the savviest of companies. Here are some of the best ideas I’ve read about.
A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors said “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!”. The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” A few days later the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out “Your horse has returned and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” and the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”