Something I’m Thinking About
A little over three years ago the world came to a grinding halt.
Most of us were forced into sudden and extreme inaction.
Our todo lists became irrelevant.
Meetings didn’t need to happen.
Projects were postponed or cancelled.
Life seemed to stop.
This time was certainly one of crisis based on a very real threat, and my intention is not to minimize the loss of any individual life.
But the early pandemic also provided us with a collective chance to reset.
We were given space to evaluate our lives, for better or worse, and come to terms with what was actually important.
We all had a chance to breathe.
Three years on, the todo lists, meetings, projects and other obligations have all stacked up again.
Life is busy — really fucking busy.
Still, I feel a shift has carried over in how I manage it all pre and post pandemic.
I’ve realized that most of what we deem valuable doesn’t matter.
Goal chasing and doing hard things are essential but shouldn’t define you.
Most importantly, we need to prioritize creating more joy and happiness in and around our lives.
As survivors of the pandemic we will always carry a certain degree of trauma with us.
But we also know the answer to a very important question:
“What would happen if I just stopped to take a break from it all?”
The pandemic has given us a new perspective on the value of sabbaticals, and I plan to intentionally embrace them from here on out.
Something I’m Reading
Short, to the point, and jammed packed with actionable content, I’ll be keeping The Great CEO Within close to my desk.
Granted, some of the advice on topics such as managing large teams and raising later stage VC won’t apply to most of us, but if you’re looking for some cliff's notes on “best practices” for company building, give it a read.
Something I’m Excited For
Summer season is quickly approaching and with that comes the last push to complete the The Surf Village in Bradley Beach.
Over the past 13 months we’ve gut renovated eight of the nine bungalows on the property. In these last few weeks before the crowds arrive to our beaches, we’ll be doing our final prep, redoing the sewer main and landscaping the entire property.
If you or any friends and family are in need of a vacation rental this summer, say hello!`
Reading this reminded me of some feelings I had after a week or two of reflection during the beginning of the pandemic "lock down." Unlike many, my duties as a real estate agent were considered essential so I really only have a week or so of pause before jumping right back in.... And being busier than ever. That said, when reflecting on that short period of solace, I always thought, "Wouldn't it be great to have a once a year holiday - something like March 25 or whatever day everyone was locked down - as a national holiday commemorating the loss of life, fear and challenges we faced on the onset of the pandemic. During this "holiday" ALL stores, restaurants, bars, libraries would be shut down with only truly essential stores open (i.e. drug stores, some grocery, etc.)." I think I even had a creative name for it that I can't remember at this time.... Maybe it'll will pop up as a Facebook memory in a few years!