The Path Forward: No Choice but Optimism

I had a rare dinner with my 80 something year old dad last weekend, outside, on the street during New York winter. A tent on Lexington Avenue, the subway rumbling underneath, is far from our usual cozy corner table. We are all learning to adapt, even my dad. Until last March, when COVID descended on New York City like a curtain, he was still doing what he loves, running the streets of New York, negotiating and doing deals. But what now? His endless optimism is tarnished. He is not alone; optimism is hard for all of us. The past year has taken a toll.

Looking for clues on a path forward, I asked one of my executive coaching clients, a member of the c-suite of a strategic consulting firm, how she maintains her resilience. She agreed it’s really hard, but suggested the following, “Oh my goodness, do I have an option? I’m looking for inspiration in unexpected places. I have worked with my team to reimagine what we do and how we do it. And as consultants we have to do that with our clients too. I am extraordinarily proud of my team. We have rallied together to move forward, to think critically. We cannot travel, we are not together, but somehow, we are finding our way through and thriving. I am not sure what the next year is going to have in store, but I feel good about the strategic direction we have mapped out and confident that our clients are finding value in our services.” My client has reimagined business. She is thinking outside the box and understands the need to engage her team at a critical time. 

Yes, this pandemic has taken a big toll on our collective psyche. However, if we are to survive and THRIVE, optimism is tantamount. We have to lead our troops, move forward and reinvent ourselves, how we do business, and what our industries will look like tomorrow. 

My dad is not running the streets of New York City right now, but he’s healthy and keeping his brain active and engaged. He’s working out with a personal trainer via FaceTime and taking meetings by Zoom. He sends me texts, we have cocktails and celebrate holidays virtually, and yes, had dinner on the street during a New York winter. Perhaps without realizing it, he too has reimagined his life and business. His longevity, steadfast optimism, and love of business: lessons for us all.