Lockdown - Staying positive. Being worried. Both are okay.

When I set up Tenet on my first working day on (I think) 22 March 2016, I remember an accountant saying the first year is the hardest to survive and another saying it’s the first 5 years.  

The team and I at Tenet have just got to year 4.  If year 5 is the acid test for survival, throw in Covid-19, we now have a challenge on our hands that was not in the plan!

Today is 24 March 2020. We are as of last night in lockdown. Boris did not use the word “lockdown” when he spoke to the nation, but we all know that is what it is and we must follow the requirements.

Naturally, we are worried but I think there are reasons to be positive.  As an owner of a small professional services firm, I hope whatever the size of your organisation, there is something you can take from this to help keeping you move forward.

It is natural to be worried

This is what I have told myself.  I know we are a small organisation but I cannot escape we have mouths to feed and bills to pay. We are no different.  Cash is king so liquidity for individuals and organisations is vital for all – like many, I therefore expect/fear a slowdown in payments.     

We are lucky for having been prudent as we have grown as a business but I would be a fool if I did not think this situation will test us beyond belief.

It is not just financial, beyond the obvious of health, we are concerned for our loved ones and others. Mental health is also a concern right now.

If we try and switch off from phones and news feeds, we will be on calls and the main subject is going to be Covid-19. It cannot be escaped.  

So that is it, the issue is here to stay. My take is I can worry about it or stand up, stay positive and get some traction on using this time positively.  We all can.

Reasons to be positive - seeing the opportunities

A friend of mine (Jon Darling of Birmingham University) said to me yesterday we need to stop looking at what we cannot do and take the chance to do those things we have placed on hold. 

Here is my list (personal and work).

1.      Exercise more. I always had work get in the way. I think I have done more 30 minute blasts of exercise in the last 10 days than I would do in a month. 

2.      The kids may drive us mad at home for 6 months but when will we ever get this chance again in our lifetime to spend so much time with them. I see this as a great chance to be their toy so to speak (we have two boys), play Lego, football in the garden etc. as my wife and I want to be in the moment with them and also show them we can entertain ourselves without too much time on devices.

3.      We can learn to be bored again.  We have forgotten how to just be bored. We often turn to our phone to plug a gap. An author called Martin Lindstrom (great Ted talks and Youtube videos on marketing) says that we are most innovative when we are bored.  Allow yourself to be bored. Don’t rush to fill the gap.  

4.      In the 4 years since Tenet started, ask any of my colleagues, I have been craving more time to complete non-client projects. For example, I have wanted to update the website so that is now something I have started. But what else?  

5.      When I set up, I had about 80 emails in my draft folder to contacts asking people to say hi, say I am up and running and inviting them for a coffee or lunch. I did not send them. I did not have the time to follow up. I gradually made contact when time allowed. I now have time around the working day. People buy from people, that is how we have grown i.e. recommendation and referral.  So, I have started to set up a number of virtual coffees for work and with friends I have not caught up with. The rules of engagement having a brew and a biscuit to hand.   If you fancy a catch up, let me know!

6.      We have to get colleagues thinking that doing non-chargeable work is still work and of benefit – it is just as valuable. Right now, we have a chance to do that type of work. For us it is writing up some case studies of our work these past few years, writing articles, getting our CRM system up to date. We have templates and documents being designed about Tenet’s services.   When we come out the other side of this (and we all hopefully will) we want to be more than just still standing, we want to be ready.

7.      For us we are a niche firm (fraud prevention and investigations). However, we are all commercial litigators in the firm. Panic makes people want to be all things to all men. For us, we have grown and got some brand awareness for being niche. The opportunity is to reinforce that message about our (and your) niche area of work. 

8.      Remember remote working does work. We have done it since the start of Tenet.  Most of the team predominantly work remotely. It is about trust. People will be productive wherever they are if you show you trust them. Right now, we all need to trust each other to get through this. Better together.

 I hope you all stay well, positive and together as we get through this (and we will).