I would imagine this is what a soldier feels after a war: tired in various ways, traumatized and even maybe a little lost.
In my last blog, I told you about those unspoken forks in our entrepreneurial road and that it forces a change in varying levels of severity. So, it should not surprise me when I tell you – I decided on an extensive modification, which I can only describe as going to war. A war on debating the justifications of why we can’t instead of saying yes, let’s do this – together we can do anything! A war on selective solitude at the expense of the team. War on everything that has become so very unkind.
Often, we ask what happened and when was this war declared. More so, I think now, with a real battle going on the other side of my world – not the first in my life but after a pandemic, very unsettling thought indeed. So, what led to my war? Well, I suppose we can pin that too on the pandemic. But truth be told – I think many little, seemingly insignificant things got us here. Also, being on this fork in a month of spiritual reflection for so many is not a coincidence.
My spiritual and religious beliefs have been the anchor in how I have always lived my life. I have never had a “personal life”, a “work life”, and a “Sunday life”. Instead, I always strived to live my life across all facets righteously and kindly. But lately, I found myself in a place where whatever I had previously done was no longer enough. It became a matter on which I meditated and prayed.
I have learned more about teamwork, people, and the signs we often miss early (“ominous”). Or write them off as something other than what they are in the last three months than in my 39 years combined.
We need to start seeing human behaviour as those early signs in our teams. We must connect with others if we want to navigate the significant challenges this can bring better. Maybe the pandemic made us less connected, or we were just distracted. One thing is for sure – our thoughts manifest in words and actions. Therefore behaviour is an important observation in teams. I am talking about regular/multiple complaints—the choice of words – being predominantly negative or unkind. A drop in production or work just not getting done, lateness / no show or no participation in meetings or conversations, regular “off” or “bad” days. You know what I am talking about – all of us have experienced this. And often, when an employment issue rears its head, we are so wise when we look back.
So, yes, I went to war and came back victorious, exhausted and a little lost, working through some profound and challenging changes in my business. And yes, we survived and are better and wiser for it. We are all recharging and ready for the next chapter – together.
I honestly do not know how I am sitting here listening to the birds sing today like the hard lockdown. I am profoundly grateful. My grandmother (who is 91 this year) reminded me of a childhood story that, to this day, humbles me. I want to end my entry today with this story as an explanation of how we get through and grow through life’s biggest and most heart-breaking challenges:
“One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”