Surviving mentally and professionally during a global pandemic.

These are strange times for everyone, regardless of your profession. Whilst we have all had to operate in challenging times at some point in our career, I think it is fair to say no-one will have experienced anything like this.

We have two choices - panic or adapt. I'm doing the latter. The short term is worrying for everyone, but time is a great healer and this won't last forever. So I am looking for ways to improve myself both personally and professionally.

With these changes to our lifestyle forced upon us, now is the time to try and create new habits, stay positive and come out the other side in a better place - mentally and professionally. This is what I've been doing:

DOING THE DAY JOB - I've been watching different webinars and brushing up on sales skills. It's always good to learn new techniques and tips. I've continued to prospect, but with a different approach. I've made it clear to prospects I appreciate now is probably not the time they will be looking at new technology, but explaining how our solution addresses the business challenges they will be facing both now and in the future. I've never had to cold prospect during a pandemic before - and hopefully never again!

PROFESSIONAL ENHANCEMENT - with golf courses, gyms (and pubs!) closed - and very limited opportunity to leave the house - I have more spare time on my hands than ever. So I've started an online cyber security training course to improve my technical knowledge which I hope to be able to use to help my clients in the future.

PHYSICAL WELLBEING - with limited opportunity to leave the house, it's very easy to decrease physical activity and eat lazily. I'm always trying to lose weight and this is the kick start I needed. I've alternated days between bodyweight HIIT (following Joe Wicks workouts with the family - been great fun!) with a run the following day. Started at 2 miles and aim to reach 4 miles within a month. I've already started to feel the benefits - more physical and mental energy.

MENTAL WELLBEING - this is vitally important to everyone. The mind is like your body - you have to exercise it to keep healthy. I've got a few meditation apps which I now use daily and there are loads of different topics. I'm also keen to learn about new topics and develop new skills. The work related courses and webinars I am doing also contribute towards mental stimulus.

Professionally, I hope that everyone in the supply chain shows tolerance and empathy towards each other. Businesses have to buy technology solutions from resellers. Resellers (usually) have to buy from distribution. Distribution buy's from vendors. It's important we all support each other. Sales people need to understand their customers immediate priorities may have changed. Buyers need to understand that sales people still have targets to meet. The large vendors need to help distribution with credit terms.

Ultimately, we are all in this together. When we come out the other side, hopefully we will be a stronger business community and barriers will come down.

If all else fails - we've got Netflix to get us through!