The Other Side

As I write this in March of 2020, we’re in the midst of something no one currently alive in this country has experienced. 

Change happened seemingly overnight. Our routines, our predictions of the future, our sense of security, our jobs and careers - all turned upside down. 

Marketers like me are struggling to understand how to market in a time of uncertainty. 

Many people have been forced to work remotely for the first time in their careers. Some of us have been doing it for a long time, but now it’s different. 

Businesses, some within only a week, have shuttered. People have lost their jobs. 

We know it will all be over at some point. It can’t go on forever. But we have no idea when it will end. 

A lot of us will experience what Seth Godin has called The Dip, if you haven’t already. 

The first week or two of working from home will be spent making adjustments, getting used to things, figuring it all out. Then you’ll likely feel it. The Dip.

The reality of the uncertainty begins to sink in. For those of us who are used to working from home, going places and getting out in public was our release and sense of balancing the isolation of working from home. That’s gone now. 

You’ll start feeling low energy. Your motivation will wane. You may feel overwhelmed. 

It’s important to be very aware that your emotions will be more wide-ranging when you work from home. You don’t have other colleagues to help keep them in check. Little things will start to annoy you. Your dog will do something that pisses you off and you find that it’s hard to shake that angry feeling. 

You’re going to feel emotional. Understand that it will happen. Try to be as aware of your feelings as possible so they don’t negatively impact what you need to get done. 

Get your feelings out. I write when I feel this way just to vent and get it out of my mind. It’s amazing how much better I feel afterward. 

Go for a walk. Get out of the house or apartment. Clear your head. 

But most importantly, realize that we’re going to come out on the other side. The other side of this Dip you’re feeling. The other side of this pandemic. When you feel the Dip the other side is right around the corner. 

Usually, the other side is better than the side you just came from, which is why its so important to push through, no matter how hard it may feel. 

If you’re not part of a “mastermind” group of other professionals, create one and schedule a weekly Zoom call. If you’re a marketer, find a group of 5-7 marketers outside of your company and invite them.

The key is to schedule a weekly call so if some people can’t make it, a month doesn’t go by. Inviting 5-7 is important because it’s likely not everyone will be able to join. You want to at least end up with a minimum of three people for each call. 

This is one way to get through the Dip. The power of community and other like-minded professionals experiencing the same thing you are is remarkable. 

I’ve provided examples of what has worked well for me. This morning I’ve already sat down to write- twice, I’ve gone for a 40-minute walk, and I have a call scheduled with 3-5 people this afternoon. 

Now, I feel like I can focus on what needs to get done this week and my head is more clear of the distractions and noise that I started my day with. 

Maybe something else will work better for you. Regardless, find a way to get to the other side. 

Photo by Denny Luan on Unsplash