The rain seemed to finally be tapering off, so it was time to get the windows on my house cleaned. It had been a while. And while they didn’t look that bad, it was time. What a difference once they were done! The clear, brilliant view was amazing. The colors outside were so bright and sharp.

It’s funny how things build up over time that obscure your view. When it is gradual, you might not even notice it. That’s why it is important to periodically go through and clean off the things that build up. You’ll be glad you did!

History was made over the weekend with the first ever launch of a private spacecraft carrying two Americans to the International Space Station. Upon arriving, a series of steps were taken before the astronauts could move from the capsule to the Space Station. After 19 hours, the hatch opened and another 15 minutes of checks were required. And they were accomplished methodically, with fixes to the equipment along the way. There was no rushing to get out. Safety was important and all the steps were followed. And as a result, the mission was successful.

Are you making sure you are not rushing to get to the end and miss critical steps along the way?

With stay at home orders still in effect, people are out walking on a regular basis. In my area, many of the roads do not have sidewalks, causing people to walk in the road. When on a sidewalk, the rule of thumb is to walk the same way traffic flows. But on the road with no sidewalks, the rule of thumb is to walk opposite the flow of traffic so you can see cars coming at you. But very few people make the adjustment and walk opposite traffic.

Going with the flow and not adjusting when conditions change happens all the time in business and in life. The key is to notice that conditions have actually changed. Once you do, you be able to make the appropriate adjustments.

The cat was crouched in the road eyeing a critter in the ditch on the side of the road. It was clearly planning it’s attack. Then a car appeared, speeding, from a dip in the road. It was clear the driver was not paying attention to the road ahead. I held up my hand in a stop sign and the other pointing to the cat in the road. Clearly the driver didn’t see me either. The cat didn’t see the car coming as it was focused on the critter. At the last minute, the car swerved and braked. The cat ran right in front of the car. As panic set in, the cat emerged and ran off. It was only luck that the cat survived.

There is so much going on right now with the pandemic, that it is easy to miss hazards in your path. How are you making sure you don’t?

As we continue to adjust to working in the era of social distancing, many people have shared they are busy. Even more busy than before their community went into lockdown. Sometimes it is due to more outreach with remote teams. And other times it is to learn more. And of course there is juggling a family at home.

With all the busyness, are you making progress? When we get to the other side, will you look back and be happy with how you spent your time? It’s not too late to make adjustments if they are needed!

The way information flows is always interesting. Word of mouth is always the most powerful. And that is certainly true now.

In speaking with a number of business owners and leaders over the last few weeks, the gap in awareness of programs available to help business through these times was significant. Some people heard about the programs from many sources, including people in their neighborhood. And others were completely unaware, even though they banked with banks that were lenders in the programs.

How are you plugged in? Are you getting the information and support you need to be successful right now?