Pivot to Present

Pivot (noun) A fixed point supporting something which turns or balances or a thing on which something else depends... (American Dictionary)

Pivot (verb): to change your opinions, statements, decisions, etc., so that they are different to what they were before: (Cambridge Dictionary)

This word, pivot, was around long before COVID-19 hit; but it certainly found more wide-spread acceptance and its use expanded once we were locked down. We are not certain of when it became a world pandemic, and frankly that doesn’t matter. It is and it has impacted us tremendously.

As I write and edit contributions for this latest book, we are still in a world-wide COVID-19 pandemic. Cities, states, and countries are in lockdown around the globe. Businesses are closed and workers are sitting at home, worried and waiting for it to work its way out (we hope!). Second waves are now hitting.

Governments are playing catch up, most having been caught totally unprepared, flat-footed, to lead and to cope with this global emergency. By the time it has worked its way out, millions will die. Not a fun scene, by any means.

Also important in this crisis are the long-range economic impacts of that shut down. No travel, little manufacturing, only essential businesses remain open (like groceries, pharmacies, hardware stores, etc.) This is a serious challenge for those of us in business if we want to survive and stay in business over the long-haul. And, we now have the time to work on it!

Disruption has changed our lives, both personal and corporate, as we know them! Overnight, businesses have shuttered their doors, laid off their staff, and turned off their lights. Overnight, businesses have had to pivot to survive.

Overnight, many workers and leaders have been thrust into the digital, virtually interconnected world. Working from home, in physical isolation, became our new norm. How will we adaptand deal with this new global challenge? The results are yet to be written and evaluated. But it is an exciting time too.

Quite simply, we don’t know yet. We are making it up as we go along, feeling our way, one day at a time in totally unchartered territories. Some of us had already started down this virtual path of digital connection, collaboration, and creation. For others, just thrust into this digitally changing world, the results remain to be seen. More than ever, we need to work together to find our way in this confusing new world.

Suddenly being able to communicate, connect, and even conduct business in a virtual environment has become exceedingly important, even critical. We have had to mentally pivot to explore new ways to do all these important actions. I admit, I was a bit depressed when international engagements keep being postponed, canceled, or moved on-line. I had to get my mindset in adjustment that ’even though I was not able to travel, my ideas could’, and they have.

Like many of my speaking and training colleagues, I am exploring different ways to continue to deliver solid value to my clients - digital ways to connect, educate, and engage. My commitment to help my clients is as strong as ever, stronger, just the delivery methods have changed.

This is a very real challenge for our business owners, sales professionals, and many who were sent home, or are now working from home face every day. Many are looking at making a pivot to a new job or career as their previous one evaporated and will most likely not return, even when COVID-19 is under control.