How the future is built on small actions

We can all take inspiration from Tom Moore the army war veteran who has so far raised £4 million for the NHS. He is 99 years old and has done it by pledging to walk 100 laps of his 25 metres garden before he turns 100 years old at the end of April 2020.

What began as a small scale effort to raise £1000 has escalated to epic proportions.

One might imagine that someone of advanced years, walking with a frame after a hip operation would hardly be on the front line of supporting the NHS. This is where we need to confound expectations and prejudices. We can all do something to support others. It might be a phone call, a bunch of flowers, some supportive words or other gesture.

What we can’t afford to do is shrug our shoulders and think we have nothing to offer in these difficult times.

After all, the news is a constant stream of nagging doubt. It would be easy to feel paralysed by the constant soundbites that emanate from the media. However, the keep calm and carry on spirit has never felt so appropriate.

To that end I’ve made the decision that now really is the time to reach out to others and offer help.

I do understand that in my executive recruitment niche you might think that business had collapsed. That is not the case. There are still recruitment needs especially within the food and drink industry that is currently working flat out.

What I have discovered in my various phone calls is that people really welcome a friendly conversation.

The context feels different and it’s been an opportunity to talk more personally with people I have worked with for years. In addition, dare I admit it, these conversations are a welcome distraction from home schooling and long division.

Now is the time to show others that they are valued.

Up until now the rush and tear of business has often meant that care and compassion seem to take a back seat. People always mean to make a social call to business colleagues but never seem to find the time. It’s different now and I think it is important to reach out to one another and see if there’s anything we can do. A phone conversation might be just the thing to lift spirits. Collaboration or suggestions may well prompt new thoughts or ideas that can break a deadlock. We never know what might spring from a conversation.

We are all working remotely and yes, it can feel isolating.

Therefore, I really do recommend talking to people. OK, some might say it’s a form of marketing but it shouldn’t be seen as a cynical ploy; surely it’s the new normal isn’t it? Anyway, I have suppliers, freelancers etc. that depend on my business and I feel a moral responsibility to support them as they have supported me for years. I will do everything possible to ensure that we exist and carry on whenever restrictions lift.

Certainly, I feel this is a time to rethink our modus operandi.

We need to nurture relationships and also our businesses too. Some think it is wrong to keep reaching out, but I disagree. I don’t know about you, but my intention is still to be in business when things return to some semblance of normality. I want to be working with my bookkeeper, accountant, social media executives and writers that do so much for me.

Anyway, what is the alternative? Perhaps we could start taking a leaf from Tom Moore who has pledged to do another 100 laps for the NHS Charities Together. It is extraordinary to read that almost 170 000 globally have donated money to his fundraising page and he only opened it last week! I will leave this with a few words from Tom himself:

"Let's all carry on and remember that things will get better."