The 5% day

Celebrations like a hug and high-five seem so yesterday. The new norms explained say I have to give that up.  Every decade has a new set of norms that evolve, making us stronger and more immune to potential bad things, sometimes at the expense of the good. Social science people tell us norms are learned behaviors shared by a social group.   Each generation tinkers with their norms, creating new conversations around routines and habits. Our society is adjusting to a set of new norms.  Right now.  It’s a universal adjustment of huge proportions, a corona shift in behaviors and habits that will become part of our every day, for generations to come. Quarantine shaming; we feel pressure to say something.   Social distancing; one step back is now my first step in a meeting.    One-way aisles at Home Depot?  It's probably coming. Forget the post-game handshakes in golf; I can’t say I was ever happy after a round of golf anyhow.      As we evolve in

I t i s starting all over again. Ground zero.  It’s a new space, new set of rules. The comforting thoughts of repeated business and momentum are replaced with the fear of close contact.  Our referral and business streams are at a halt, momentum has been kicked at the knees.   Rip up the business plans, throw away the growth plan, kill the budgets.  The hardest part is letting go of what you learned to get here, because we are in a new game, a new set of rules, cast upon us in a few short weeks It's time to rethink your day, re-write your business, and re-identify your brand. Every phone call should create  new opportunities. Answer it quick.  Every handshake (when we are allowed) is a chance to provide solutions, listen deep.   Every success is to be celebrated, multiply it by 10.  Starting now, our lives have changed.  When this all comes back, we cannot be the same.  No complaints are heard at the airport when we take off our shoes.  Next year no on

When we were 5 years-old someone taught us to say thank you When we were 12 we earned our first five bill, banked it, and spent it wisely on bubble gum and baseball cards. High school scored our first dates, juggling jobs with studies, while college stretched us to manage time and build relationships. Years ago, life's hard lessons taught us the skills they call soft.  Often with today's generation, we expect to learn these skills through a textbook lesson. Berkely University offers a college course on soft skills called "Adulting", helping today's college students manage time, physical resources, and nurture relationships. There is an alternative application.  Like the time you served cold french fries or served the wrong beer, you can learn soft skills differently, and fast. Don't worry, you won't be fully prepared, no one is. The job will be filled with mistakes and life lessons created for you.  After each one... your soft skills improve. J