Here's How You Maintain Career Momentum During Coronavirus (Or At Least How to Start)

Remember when this was okay to do? It will be again. Photo by Agnieszka Boeske @kundeleknabiegunie

"I've worked so hard to get here. I don't want to lose momentum."

Among the many stresses COVID19 brought the Western world last week, this was the #1 concern I heard from my mid-career women.

We've all worked so hard to open doors, build relationships, prove our mettle. Finally, we have enough experience to be on the cusp of leadership only to enter a world where we don't know where we'll get toilet paper, let alone our next raise. 

Add to that the fact that women reach their peak earnings at age 44. Though it doesn't have to be that way for you (not if I have anything to do with it), between the crunch of younger children who may go to (virtual) college (how much does THAT cost?), maintaining mortgages, building assets, and parents who refuse to stay indoors even through a global pandemic - we are all keenly aware that the money we earn during this period is here to provide for our & our family's future. 

A week in to things getting real, we are still in the adjustment period. Figuring out how to focus when working from home. What responsible meal planning looks like. Maybe even figuring out what it is that is going to bring us income in the next few months. 

Without an estimate about how long this is going to last, the horizon of our opportunities is unclear. Hell, we're not even sure if it's okay to walk the dog. 

So if last week was about taking the magnitude of this global pandemic in.

This week is about getting your house in order.

You must do this if you hope to move forward. 

Even though there is no indication that society is going to break down, many of us FEEL that we've been knocked down to the first rung of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Feeling something is true is as good as it being actually true. We are demotivated from self actualizing because we're pretty concerned with getting our most basic needs met. 

Before we can think about who we're going to be in 5 years in our career, we have to know we're going to make it through the week. 

So, yeah. You will absolutely lose momentum. That's okay. 

Only a sociopath, anarchist or maaaaybe the Buddha would feel at home with all this uncertainty. 

But even through this terrifying time, you cannot stop dreaming. 

If you wish to regain your momentum, you must keep the flame of possibility alive. 

Once you have:

• A stocked fridge.

• A plan with your family or neighbors around who will take care of who and how if you get sick.

• Secured medicine and hygiene products.

• Gotten in touch with family and friends to stay connected.

• Found a room of your own to think and feel

• Looked outside each morning and noticed spring was here and that the world is still turning

You must search for evidence, choose to believe, reroute your thoughts to the fact that you have a gift on your hands. 

We have all been blessed with a temporary time out from the world's ever rapidly spinning Gravitron ride. As much as there's a pressure in your chest to handle the here and now, recognize that everyone's figuring it out, now more than ever. And this means there is space and time to reflect and understand what will be next for you. What's next may or may not be effected by the events that are about to unfold but that, like everything else, you cannot control. 

What you can (and have always been able) to control is how you spend your time. And these newly found stretches of it are an opportunity to plot your next moves. No matter what: you cannot afford to take 6-12-24 months off focusing on your career. 

And if you are the leader you will do what leaders do: show up in times of crisis with a clear, directed message of the change you can be counted on to make.

That's what anyone who works with purpose is: a change maker. 

Leaders made to bring about change, so do your best to roll with it when it arrives at your door. 

Here is how I have already seen my clients take advantage, how I encourage you to think ahead:

• A client in a big, new retail job understood the seismic shift her industry was about to experience thanks to Corona and signed up for a webinar about projected industry trends.

• Another is speaking to a former colleague to learn more about the e-commerce space as her products will likely move to that model.

• I have never connected with more people than I have this week. Right now, people are hungry for interaction. They are on their screens. If you are clear about your next career goals, this is a prime time to reach out new and old connections who could inform your next steps or just become a resource and support as you embark on your search this year.

• For my job seeking clients - though they're unclear on their future, they are grateful for this time to reflect, get clear and plot next career moves.

Speaking of webinars -- I had a whole plan about rolling out mine but that has hit a pause at this time as I recalibrate myself. It is, however, recorded and I am happy to share with anyone who could use some support getting hired, promoted or owning that next level leadership role. 

Articulating your value prop and telling a compelling professional story is far from easy, even under the best set of circumstances. 

But hey, you've now got time on your hands. If you're interested in getting access to the 45 minute teaching, email me at ac@acelectric.co with 'early bird.' I'm home. I'm on my screen. I'm plotting my next moves.