We should never forget how this pandemic is making us feel.

Everything is different. This is why.

Like many of us, every year I reflect on the year that was.

I think about:
​

• What did I achieve?

 

• Who + how did I help?

 

• What did I learn?

​

• What was my impact?

It’s a time that provokes deep thinking and defines goals for the year ahead.

• Read 1-2 books a month

 

• Discover + listen to 1 podcast series a month unrelated to work or current interests 

   

• Pay it forward and offer a minimum of 10 hours of coaching a month

   

• Increase exercise by 1/2 hour per day

 

• Cycle every weekend for 3 hours 

 

• Increase bedtime by an hour a day

The list went on.

This crisis forced a reset.

The loss of life and suffering around the world is devastating - incomprehensible. Slap in the face perspective. 

From the confines of our home - we have been humbled. We've all been put back in our place to focus on what matters most. Everything else has been stripped back.

The ambitious goals list is no more. The new world disorder has forced a new goal.

A goal not requiring financial investment for it to be realised. A goal not requiring a plane trip to another country, a course or a conference to attend.

A single goal with a simple focus.

New 2020 goal: Just be happy

That’s not to say, goals on lists don’t create happy experiences - it’s just that right here and now - being happy in the simplest of forms, is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and the people around us.

It’s a realisation that ultimately our happiness and the happiness we create is what matters most. It forms part of our legacy and it can be sparked in the most simplest of ways.

I’ve rediscovered happiness in:
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• Home cooked meals we prepare together and long kitchen table conversations with my family

 

• Observing my children and becoming mesmerised by their curiosity, growing knowledge, changing faces and resilience 

 

• Looking at photos and talking about moments we've shared, memories of trips to galleries, museums and holidays 

 

• Reconnecting with family + friends over video conversations

 

• Drinking coffee whilst enjoying rays of sun in the garden

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• Planting and watching vegetables grow

Simple pleasures.

We can not forget how this situation is making us feel today. 

We can not forget who and what we miss. Miss with intensity. 

Everything is different.

Over the coming months, as we navigate through this situation and head towards the other side, we must resist the temptation to go back to how we were.

We must force ourselves and each other to remember these days and the way this crisis makes us think and feel right now.

This pain and reflection is our catalyst for long term change. Change for good.

We must embrace this opportunity to forge deeper and more meaningful connections with each other.

It’s our chance to recreate community at a time when ego was dominating and community was crumbling.

This is an opportunity to simplify our complex lives and focus on the basics.

For me, I’ve found my happy and I’m not letting go.

A crisis can either make us or break us.

Let it make us.

​How have your goals changed?

What’s your happy?

We’re navigating through unprecedented times.

There’s no playbook to manage what's currently unraveling on planet earth.

The loss of so many lives is devastating.

Whilst we turn to government and medical professionals for direction, the truth is they don’t have the answers - an unsettling and sobering realisation.

COVID-19 has plunged us into a new world disorder and totally transformed everything.

The way we were last week is just a memory - suddenly stripped of our freedom and unable to live the lives we knew. 

This is how it needs to be. 

This utterly strange way of being has a language - a set of terms we are now intimately familiar with. 

- Social distancing
- Self quarantine
- Social isolation

​This is our new norm.

Whilst we've been unwillingly thrust into this situation - how we respond and help each other is our choice.

Let's choose to be considerate and think about everyone around us.

If you’re living alone, we want you to know we’re with you.

If you’re bunkered down with your family or friends and you’re anxious about the unfolding events and how they impact the people you love, we stand by you.

We're with you now more than ever. We're with each other now more than ever.

Let’s take a collective deep breath.

Let’s be measured and rational.

Let’s take every precaution possible.

Let's show our love, compassion and kindness for each other.

Let's just be human - not defined by anything else but the humanity we share.

These are the times we show character.

These are the days we stand together stronger.

These are moments that define us.

Banish ego. Let go of our differences, squabbles and frustrations of each other - we now face a real enemy, a real threat.

Let’s move forward together - united.

As we navigate through the coming months this is what we know.

We know there will be challenging days. Each of us will be tested.

We know this is just the beginning.

We also know we’re resilient.

We have heart. We’re fighters.

Let this humbling experience connect us in ways we never imagined.

Let’s look after each other. Let’s be good to each other.

Let’s stand together and do everything we can to get us all through this.

Dark clouds pass. 

With love, respect, hope + faith always.

Stars Wars - our only hope.

In the late 1970s, I watched Star Wars  for the first time. It was unlike anything I had seen. 

Luke. Leia. Han. Chewbacca. C3PO. R2D2. Vader.

These screen icons ignited my imagination and followed my generation into our 20s, 30s and now 40s.

The release of the prequels and the latest trilogy kept the story alive introducing a new legion of fans to the Skywalker family.

In 2017, the 8th film in the saga was released - The Last Jedi  and the writing was on Rey’s wall.

For the first time, the screen story and my life journey had strangely converged. Seeing Luke as an older man made me realise I was older too.

His death in The Last Jedi  unsettled me.

Seeing Luke disappear from his robe prompted more than just cinematic mourning but real life grief.

Why was I grieving?

Stopped by the reflection of my ageing face in the mirror one day, I realised.  

​I was mourning the passing of time.

I was a fresh faced 7 year old when I watched A New Hope. I was a newly wed when Phantom Menace was released. It was joyful and humbling to watch Force Awakens with my then 8 year old sons.

Life moved forward. I was no longer in original trilogy VHS playback mode - stuck in time watching the hopefulness of youth.

VHS evolved into DVDs.

The internet happened.

DVDs evolved into streaming.

I grew up.

As I got older and prior to any other Star Wars add ons, I always had the comforting presence of the characters I loved not too far away. Our DVD player got a thrashing - Star Wars films on loop.

With Return of the Jedi  in 1984, these characters became suspended in time. 

As far as we knew, the Empire was gone and the universe was still celebrating.

The characters had become immortalised and frozen - forever youthful.

We’d watch the original trilogy before school, after school and weekends. We would lose ourselves in hours of play and scene re-enactment. 

Unforgettable adventures with friends as we played with our Star Wars figures and spacecrafts for hours. Afternoons with the Jones boys up our street. Trading figures + cards. Jostling to see who would play the parts of Darth or Luke.

Happy days.

I’ve seen A New Hope over 200 times, the lines of each character embedded in my mind.

With the release of Force Awakens in 2015 though we saw the older version of the characters we love. The beautifully lived in and lined faces of Luke, Leia and Han. 

We had to accept the schismatic emotions that time provokes.

Aroused by the curiosity of what happens next, yet nervously anticipating the unknown and inevitable.

Tomorrow’s release of Rise of Skywalker signals the end of an era. 

Confronting to contemplate on many levels. It’s saying goodbye to the old and embracing the new.

When I watch the original trilogy, I’m back to feeling like the kid I was. Watching episodes 4, 5 + 6 makes me feel hopeful, carefree and comforted.

Star Wars has been a close friend. It’s been a companion. A teacher. Escapism. The characters formed my tribe. 

Along the way, there have been many valuable life lessons learnt.
​

1. Fight for good
2. Be adventurous 
3. Be good to each other
4. Families are complicated 

The lesson? Enjoy every step of the adventure. Create the adventure. Be the adventure. Have people around you to enjoy it with and be acutely aware that time will pass.

Time - it feels like only yesterday we first entered a galaxy a long time ago far, far away. 

A lot happens in 40 years. Looking forward to the next 40 [and beyond].

May the Force be with you - always.

Older people rock. This is why.

On a long weekend in Greece recently, I joined a group tour.

Think sightseeing, big bus and buffet.

I wanted to explore part of Greece I hadn’t seen for years, so I joined an organised tour and headed to Kalambaka to see the imposing + mysterious Meteora.

I was amongst the youngest passengers on tour with the average age being 70.

I was hanging with the grey set. A bus full of old timers - baby boomer territory.

We hit the road for what was an unforgettable three day experience. The trip was thought provoking and emotional but not for the reasons I expected.

Whilst I loved the mystical monasteries of the Meteora, the stunning man made Lake Plastira and the picturesque villages we explored - it was the humanity and humility I experienced that touched me.

People from all over Greece, all walks of life, came together - not just to tour but to connect.

It’s the people that make the journey and I was about to learn some valuable life lessons from people who’ve lived.

This is what I learnt.


We can always reinvent ourselves [and should]

Now in his late 70s, Dimitris held the position of a high level secret services operative until his 50s.

He assumed the role of the unofficial cohost on the trip - second to our amazing guide Stamatina.

He would engage with Stamatina as she explained what we were seeing and its significance.

His commentary from the back of the bus was hilarious. His well spirited nature created a happy vibe for everyone on tour.

In conversation he revealed he wasn’t always the funny guy.

“I saw a lot of hard things in my working life. It changed me for a long time and suppressed who I was. I was too serious. I wasn’t happy. I was burdened. I carried a lot of emotional weight and stress on my shoulders.”

“I would leave for work in the morning and return late at night.”

“It wasn’t until I retired that I went for a walk in the middle of the day and saw so many people enjoying a coffee or a meal with friends and I thought what is going on here - how could I have missed out on so much of this? So many moments.”

“The experience of reconnecting with people brought out humour, sarcasm and a funny side of me I never knew I had.”

“I haven’t stopped making people laugh. It's a new me.”

“And we’ve been suffering ever since,” his wife quips. A line delivered with dry perfection and prompted more laughs from the group.


Be good to each other

Two ladies who met on the trip Anna + Aspa, together with our guide Stamatina, showed so much support to each other and to less able bodied passengers - it was truly touching. Humans just helping humans. No expectation of anything in return.

All three would slow their pace to walk to accompany slower moving elderly passengers - gently holding their arm to support, they would tenderly walk by their side.

These were strangers who were showing compassion and humanity to each other. They were also constantly making sure everyone was well fed and looked after.

They didn’t need to do this. They wanted to. The dynamic they brought to the group  was important. They instilled a deep sense of empathy as a foundation to how we all treated each other.

“Love is all we leave behind,” shares Stamatina. 

​
No complexities

“When you’re in a body that’s lived, not everything is going to work like it once did and that’s ok, you make the most of it,” Voula said.

“My body works well enough for me to be here and that’s enough.”

“The way you look, what you wear what people think of you - doesn’t matter and it never really did.”

“At times in our lives, we give too much attention to those thoughts and it creates complexes in each of us. Let it go. It doesn’t matter.”

“Just think free.”


Time [Use it wisely]

In conversation with Dimitri, he opened his well worn leather wallet to show me a snapshot of his family.

“This is us when the children were little, “ he said as he pointed to the picture with his deep lined fingers.

“This is my son sitting on my wife’s lap and my daughter standing by her. That’s me on the side. It feels like yesterday. It actually does.”

The photo was taken in 1979.

“Like yesterday. Where did it go?”

He was reflective and in disbelief in his realisation the photo was taken 40 years ago.

He pauses and takes a deep breath.

“Time is a gift son - use it wisely.”

Life lessons from people who’ve lived, loved and experienced this thing called life.

This wasn’t just another tour. This was a transformation.

I’ve been an Apple fanboy since before it was cool. I’ve always loved the contemplated design, functionality and community. In our home you'll find over 30 Apple devices - both retired and currently in use. From an early iPhone to the iPod Shuffle - MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches and everything else in between.

3 years ago I purchased the iPhone 6 Plus shortly after its launch. It took a little while to get use to the larger screen and the bulge in my back pocket but this star piece of tech soon replaced my iPad and reduced the time I spent on my MacBook. I loved it. I was more connected and effective than ever before.

Three years down the track and a few iOS updates later the battery failed me. Thankfully, Apple being a consumer focused company had a plan. Apple’s PR machine proudly touted the battery replacement program - $39 AUD for a new battery for the  iPhone 6 Plus and it’s almost as good as new!

Book me in. So I made my appointment at the Genius Bar on Apple’s website [noting that I needed a battery for the iPhone 6 Plus - an important detail to remember] and patiently waited.

A week later, I made the long the trek from one side of town to the other and arrived for my appointment 12 minutes early - as noted by the Apple employee who welcomed me. I happily waited.  When my time came, I was greeted again by a cheerful Apple rep and I explained my predicament.

“Mmm...,” I see, emphathised the young man. After running a diagnostic test, the Apple guy concluded my battery was in fact on its last legs . “We can definitely replace the battery,” he announced.

“Great, let’s do it,” I responded. That’s when his facial expression changed.

He explained there were no iPhone 6 Plus batteries currently in stock in Australia! Not one in the whole country! He said I was entitled to order a battery for $39 but it wouldn’t arrive until April. April? It was only January. I was heading overseas the following week and needed a fully functional phone. I couldn’t wait until April!

My head was spinning - I was confused. A heavily promoted battery replacement program with no stock availability in Australia until April? Mmm…suspicious. But apparently there was hope.

“Given there’s also an issue wIth your volume button, you’re entitled to a phone replacement,” Mr Cheery proclaimed. I could have hugged him. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you Apple. This is why you rock.

“Not so fast,” Mr Cheery continued. The clincher. 

"The cost of the new iPhone, as a special price to you as a valued customer, is $469 and the good news is, we have them in stock.” He delivered the line like a true sales professional. “I can get you one now.” Bang. He just closed me.

“If you don’t want like for like, I’d be more than happy to help you upgrade to an 8 or an X,” he just doubled closed me.

So let me get this right. Apple knew I was coming in store for my Genius Bar appointment to replace an iPhone 6 Plus battery - they also knew they didn’t have the batteries in stock. Why let me come in? I was being blatantly upsold. Lure them in and sell them hard. Apple was trying to sell me another phone for over $1,000, when all I wanted was to upgrade my battery for $39.

Thank you but no thanks I’ll wait till April.

Has this happened to you? Is this an Apple sales strategy? Please say it ain’t so. Either way, as frustrating as the situation is, I'm still hopelessly devoted to Apple. Loyal to a fault or locked in? You be the judge.

Pic: TIME Magazine

You put everything into your startup - your money, other people's money, time, effort and so much energy and positivity into it. 

You bootstrapped. You went hungry. You begged and borrowed. You did everything you needed to make your startup a success.

But here you are. Your startup didn't fly.

Your family and friends warned you this would happen.

"It's not going to work," they said.

"Just don't leave your day job," you were warned.

"That's a nice idea but surely someone in Silicon Valley is working on something similar," they continued.

Now, you have to face the doomsayers as they look at you with their heads slightly tilted gazing at you with that 'I told you so' glare. 

They were right. 

Or were they? 

Firstly, congratulations on achieving what you did. It may not feel like it but you achieved a lot. You went exploring. You showed curiousity, tenacity and bravery. You broke away from the mob and created your own path. Well done trailblazer!

But just like a great explorer or researcher, sometimes and after considerable effort, you hit a dead end. Throughout your startup journey though you learnt so much and you won't realise how much you learnt until the heightened emotions you're currently feeling subside. It's perfectly normal to feel like this.

So now, what are you going to do about it? What next? Are you going to sit there feeling sorry for yourself forever? Will you banish yourself to a land far, far away like Luke Skywalker [see Star Wars - Episode 7]? 

You have a choice. You learnt so much, gained experience and countless insights that you should and should take into another project or at least create a platform so you can help others.

You've already shown you've got the spirit and drive - now, get back on it. Own your learnings, join a startup, consult with one or launch your own blog to share what you know.

The worst thing you can do is: nothing.

You're an entrepreneur now and always will be, so pick yourself up and seize the next opportunity.

There's a lot of content out there. Some good. Some bad.

​Working out where to invest your time is a journey of discovery.

Here are 5 super inspirational, insightful and helpful blogs I'm hooked on. You're welcome.

- Gary Vaynerchuk https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/

- The Hustle https://thehustle.co/

- NeedWant http://needwant.com/

- Paul Jarvis https://pjrvs.com/

- Jim Antonopoulos http://www.jimantonopoulos.com/

Subscribe and schedule time every day to learn from these renown subject matter experts. 

The insights shared are relevant, useful and actionable. They are all so giving and add value without the expectation of you buying something. There's total authenticity as they slap you in the face with a brutal level of honesty which propels you into action.

You'll also find it's more than just their expertise in an area that makes them compelling - it's their infectious passion. 

It's always the combination of the two that achieves maximum impact and drives results.

So, as you listen, read and learn from the crew above, do some navel gazing and ask yourself, do you have the passion and knowledge to execute your idea? Without it, your startup is going nowhere.

Finally and once again, make time to learn. Don't subscribe if you won't invest the time to put learnings into action.

So, you've had this great idea for a startup for some time now but you've just been sitting on it. Then all of a sudden, you check your newsfeed and there it is, someone else also had YOUR idea - only difference is, they executed it - you didn't - and you only have yourself to blame.

It's a story we hear all too often and the excuses are many, here's some:

- "I didn't have the money to make it happen."
- "I was too busy at work to invest time into the idea."
- "My friends told me it would never work."

My response to the above:

- Find the money. Get investors. Crowdfund it. There are options.
- Too busy working for $20 per hour to explore the possibility of financial freedom?
- So, if your friends told you to jump off a cliff you would?

There's no place for complacency, indifference, laziness or 'follower' behaviour in entrepreneurship. If you've stumbled on a market gap and that's prompted you to come up with a solution - then you've been given an opportunity. Seize it or share it.

If you decide to seize it, throw yourself into making it happen. Don't know what it takes? Seek people out who can help you. Go to meetups. Ask questions. Use the internet. Ask Google.

If you choose to share your great idea, go and form a partnership. Connect with individuals who can become your co-founders. Share the workload. Keep each other on track and focused. 

Just don't let your idea go. Chase it. Make it your side hustle.

Start your startup now with these 5 tools:

1. Great F###### Startup Advice http://greatfuckingstartupadvice.com/
2. StartUp Grind https://www.startupgrind.com/
3. Startup Stash http://startupstash.com
4. Shake Law http://www.shakelaw.com
5. Drift https://www.drift.com/​​