There is no way to sugarcoat that the COVID-19 shutdown/shelter-in-place has had negative consequences for most people. Most businesses I walk by are closed, millions are filing for unemployment benefits each week, students are home learning, and everyone is adjusting their routine to stay safe and healthy. It is not a pretty picture. Making things more complicated, the benefit of all this sacrifice is as invisible as the virus itself - the unknown thousands of people who would have contracted the disease and died but didn't.
It reminds me of the final couple scenes movie, Field of Dreams. In the film, an Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella, plows his under his corn to make a baseball field because a mysterious voice told him so. Facing eviction and bankruptcy, Ray sees the project through, and eventually, everyone can see the 1919 White Sox and other baseball legends playing on the field of dreams. Towards the end, Ray turns jealous when he is not allowed into the cornfield with the players and says
"I have done everything I have been asked to do. I didn't understand it, but I've done it. And I haven't once asked what's in it for me... What's in it for me?" (you can pause the clip at 0:40)
In the next scene, the unknown benefit of following the voice saying "if you build it, he will come," "ease his pain," and "go the distance" becomes clear and tangible. Ray gets to see a younger version of his dad and has the opportunity to introduce his family and have one last game of catch.
Ray's sacrifice led to an incredible opportunity. While Field of Dreams didn't make Richard Branson's Top 10 Quotes On Opportunity, Winston Churchill did by saying
"A Pessimist Sees The Difficulty In Every Opportunity; An Optimist Sees The Opportunity In Every Difficulty."
Is today's COVID-19 situation difficult? Absolutely. Are there opportunities? 💯
What are those opportunities? We can express gratitude and love by spending time with family and friends (virtually), giving to those in need, reflecting on our values and how we spend our time and money, learning something new, or improving a personal habit. For example, I'm trying to meditate and read fiction each day, and gain enough flexibility to touch my toes. Will I be able to reach my goal? I'm not sure, but there are fewer excuses and time commitments now than when things are "normal".
Take Your Child to Work Day
Coincidentally, today happens to be Take Your Child to Work Day. One opportunity I am thankful for is "coworking" with my 9-year-old for the rest of the school year. I've worked for global companies and small businesses, but I have yet to find a coworker I enjoy more than him.
As I write this post, he is in the same room writing a story about baseball. So far this morning, he has asked me questions about spelling, fractions, and "the meaning of life."
The arrangement is not perfect by any means. He interrupts me when I'm in deep thought, needs comfort when he misses his friends, and I occasionally need to kick him out for privacy when I have a client meeting. However, I try to maintain an optimistic perspective that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend more time with him and be a positive role model. This opportunity would never have happened without coronavirus.
Fortunately, I had a similar opportunity when I was a child. My mom and dad opened a neighborhood pharmacy (Carol Stream Drugs) shortly before I was born. I spent hours at the "drug store" as an infant tied to my dad's back or in a swing. By middle school, I was cleaning, stocking shelves, working the register, and doing some light accounting. Getting my driver's license meant delivering prescriptions to eldercare facilities and exchanging medicines with other local pharmacies to fill orders quickly.
This opportunity to work in the pharmacy and with my dad did not always line up with what I wanted to do - attending 7:30 am Mass followed by opening the store was not how many people spent their Sundays. In retrospect, I wouldn't have traded those days for anything, and the experience molded me into the person I am today.
The Next Smallest Action
As states and businesses begin to formulate plans for re-opening commerce and slowly find a new normal, I encourage you to look for potential opportunities while we're still more isolated. Some financially related ideas include
observing how you spend your time and money
reallocating your time and money with what is important to you
developing a personalized financial plan
addressing any potential dangers or opportunities in your financial plan
helping people and organizations in need, especially now
supporting small and local businesses with online purchases or gift cards
Now's the time to identify that next smallest action, and do it. Your future self will be glad you did.
