PPB July 2020

When oxygen and water— profit and cash—begin to flow, protecting them and the people and property connected becomes the next priority. The practice of interdependence has been replaced with measures of safety and security to enable self- sufficiency. The abundance we had at our fingertips—and on a global scale—gave us the luxury of comparing resources. Now supply chains are disrupted and best price is being replaced with best value. This new economy will call upon each of us to be entrepreneurial leaders and to operate from the point of self-actualization. As marketing master Seth Godin advises, “Average work for average people is going to be worth less than ever before. Typical employees doing typical work are going to be less respected and valued than ever before. And just as expectations are being shifted, new opportunities will arise. They always do.” The new order will reward thinkers and learners. It will also reward those who listen with understanding and apply creativity and flexibility to solve problems. (You may be the best swimming instructor on the planet but when someone is drowning, you don’t offer them lessons. You toss them a life buoy.) Expectations are shifting. How we communicate is shifting. How we operate is shifting. And empathy has never been a more relevant skill. Nicholson says, “Think globally, act locally. This is a time to build a better business: invest in deeper partnerships, your community and your networks, and never let a good crisis go to waste.” There has never been a more opportune time for reinvention, and the “better business” Nicholson refers to will be realized by understanding and communicating through priorities. Those choosing to listen first will be heard better. It’s the perfect time to ask yourself, “What can I learn? Who do I serve? How can I give?” and decide in this next chapter to become undeniably irreplaceable. Jae M. Rang, MAS, is an award-winning promotional marketing strategist, certified speaker, three-time best-selling author and most importantly, Mom. She is the founder and CEO of distributor JAE associates Ltd. in Oakville, Ontario, and educates the brilliance of the industry under the trademark SENSORY MEDIA®. Get inspired each week with her insightful Aha! Moment Monday blog at www.ahamoments.ca . Almost overnight we descended froma point of esteem, taking calculated risks and actively looking to leverage opportunity to gasping for air. MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS ESTEEM NEEDS: prestige and feelings of accomplishment BELONGINGNESS AND LOVE NEEDS: intimate relationships, friends, family SAFETY NEEDS: security, safety PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS: food, water, warmth, rest SELF- ACTUALIZATION: achieving one's full potential, including creative activities Self-Ful llment Psychological Basic 66 | JULY 2020 | THINK