Baggage Claim?

Colleagues,

MVP: Events in people’s lives, and in the world, impact their work.
 
I think we have learned this lesson during the past two years. I hope we have learned this lesson.
 
In my younger years I believed that work and life should be separated and that when life was challenging, we just had to put our personal lives in a box, suck it up, and soldier on. That was a flawed, unrealistic, and unhealthy approach.
 
Having challenging things happen in life is not an excuse to not perform at work, but what is happening at home does impact the capacity we have to perform, especially when we are considering implementing new things.
 
In June when my mom had emergency back surgery, any plans I had to do new things or make changes in my business were put on hold.
 
In addition, let’s be honest about the state of the world right now. We are being confronted with the effects of climate change almost daily, Putin is talking about nukes, the divisiveness and ugliness of politics creates tension and angst among family and friends, the economy is bizarre, and the disparity of opportunity based on race, language, and other factors is being exacerbated by all these things.
 
It is a lot to absorb, and to carry.
 
Are all of these external forces an excuse to not do our job? 
 
Of course not.
 
However, is carrying the weight of these things going to impact my capacity to learn, grow, and excel?
 
Yes, it is.
 
Be graceful and give grace.

Cheers!

Frederick