OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: This draft was started prior to the isolation brought about by COVID-19 and finished while sheltering in place.

OPPORTUNITIES

In the earlier stages of my career, the oft-repeated advice (especially to women) was that we needed to learn to say “NO” especially when chasing that elusive work/life balance. As many came to realize, such a balance doesn’t exist, saying “NO” too often brings nothing much more than guilt, and nothing in the way of satisfaction.

Then a couple of decades later, along comes Sheryl Sandberg and her advice to Lean In. Full disclosure, I haven’t read her book nor do many of us aspire to or expect to reach the heights she has. Even so, well before leaning in became a thing, I realized I was better served by knowing when to say “YES” than by learning to say “NO” as we were so often told to do. So what exactly do I mean by that?

Saying “YES” indiscriminately every time you are asked to take on a project, join a board, head up a committee, fill in the blank from your life experience, isn’t what I propose as the way to success. However, if you do so in a strategic manner after first having determined what is important to you and then evaluating the “asks” in light of those priorities, decisions become more easily made. Let me share some examples from the decisions I have made.

Once I determined that my priorities were advancing women in the workplace and STEM education, it became much easier to evaluate projects, committee assignments and requests to sit on boards in light of those priorities. It was also easier for others to understand when I had to decline, more so than “just too busy” that I had used in the past. After retirement (yes, maybe someday), these priorities might change and those OPPORTUNITIES that I declined might be revisited and accepted.

This sort of evaluation can be applied to other life decisions, be it changing careers, launching a business, or any number of pursuits. Now that we are sheltering in place and find ourselves with different OPPORTUNITIES and priorities (or serving them in different ways, perhaps), what are we learning about ourselves and others?

In my case, since my job is almost exclusively based on being out and about, meetings and events both large and small are the norm. That norm is gone for now and electronic communication has taken over. I have had to reinvent what work looks like, as have so many of us who remain employed. For now, my OPPORTUNITIES come in the form of keeping in touch with my key contacts, meeting both individually and collectively with people who are important to me, and checking on how they are faring.

Opportunities are still there, they are just very different. Those of us who remain connected and keep our wits about us through this difficult time have a much better chance of leading through change. Take the opportunity to do things you typically don’t have time to do. No, I don’t necessarily mean clean out the garage or closets (although that might be a good use of time). Spend time reading that business book that has been gathering dust on your bookshelf. Take advantage of some of the webinars that Chambers of Commerce are hosting in lieu of in-person gatherings. Devour your weekly Indianapolis Business Journal instead of skimming it like you typically do each week, then send a link to something you think a friend or colleague would benefit from reading. Then at the end of the workday, walk away and be grateful for what you have accomplished.

IN CLOSING

OPPORTUNITIES abound, sometimes even more so when the chips are down. In an economic downturn, two things typically happen—more people go back to school and more people start their own companies. Granted, these times aren’t typical. However, if you see opportunities in either or both of these ideas, forge ahead! That might be your way through.

Thanks for reading. Looking forward to your comments and connections, both virtual and in person in the not too distant future. Take an OPPORTUNITY or two, strategically selected, when it presents itself! Until next time . . . . stay safe and healthy and remember, this too shall pass.