4 Steps to Stay Calm and Carry On

This simple phrase helped the British people to deal with the crisis of WWII. It’s powerful but how do you do this, when you’re anxious about so many things? Our lives feel up side down and we’re being told to live our lives completely differently than normal. My wife married me for better or for worse but not for lunch! We’re doing fine but across the street my neighbor is trying to work from home with his two elementary school kids climbing the walls.

So, How do you stay calm when you are worrying about so much?  How long will this last, can I make it through it?

Psalms 46, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”    We’re in trouble – so ask God for help.  One of my clients told me last week, “Comfort and ease doesn’t take you to your knees.” We’re much more likely to ask for help when we’re in the foxhole than when we’re on the beach!

No one likes to go through pressure and struggles, but pressure can bring out the best in us.  I read a story of little boy fascinated by a butterfly so he performed an experiment to see what would happen when it was released from its cocoon without a struggle, so he slit the cocoon with a knife – the butterfly emerged freely but without its expected color, it couldn’t fly and soon died. Pressure and struggle is needed for the butterfly to develop to it finest. So too with us human.  So accept the pressure and struggle instead of letting fear, anxiety, pressure and struggle overwhelm you and cause the worst side of you to come out in your relationship and actions.

Instead, accept the pressure and struggle make sure the best comes out in you!

STAY CALM and CARRY ON – We need to get going and to do things to be productive. Focus on the important, not just the urgent.

• Make a list daily of the most important things you need to address and do them.
• Begin developing your plan today for running your business after this crisis is over.  There will be a New Normal. Are you prepared? Are you working with your key managers to find ways to do business differently today, AND are you also working on your plan to address business after the crisis?  One client is soliciting his people for best ideas on how to do business differently after the crisis. He’s making it a contest with prizes.
• What is going to separate you from the competition in the new normal?
• Will your company be one that serves people? Be a servant leader to your employees and customers today and find ways to do so tomorrow

Stay Calm – By reaching out to God for help and strength!

Carry On -By taking action today and preparing today for tomorrow

Watch Hugh’s Video: Stay Calm and Carry On