The Cure for COVID Burnout

Dear Voornaam,

I’m sick of Zoom. Staring at people I’ve come to know only through a 3x5 window has grown tiresome. Waking up and putting on a suit only to spend 8 hours in a chair, looking into a camera, pretending it is a person, is unhealthy. Even my dogs, who in 2020 were happy to lay at my feet while I endured countless video meetings, have abandoned me for fresh air and the cool tile of my kitchen.

All signs are pointing toward change – for the sake of my mental health and the sake of my business growth.

That’s why, a few months ago, I made the personal decision to get back on the road. In November I traveled from my home in Miami to Boston, New York, and Chicago. I waded through the unwashed masses in the airport. It seems only crazy adults in flip-flops and sun-hats, masks tucked under noses, reenacting some spring-break fantasy, are traveling. The businessperson has yet to emerge from COVID hibernation. Cancelled flights (due to crew issues) and cancelled meetings (due to localized virus spread) were par for the course.

But that was just fine with me.

In December, my family and I all contracted the Omicron flavor of COVID. Our Christmas and New Years weeks were spent in quarantine, watching Netflix and Hulu, much like the past two years. But that didn’t stop me. In January I was back at the airport, COVID test in hand, on my way to Western Canada to meet a client in-person for the first time.

I am a risk averse person. I always have 4 weeks of hurricane supplies in my Miami home. I own two generators. I keep all my insurance policies up to date. So why am I running headlong “into the breech?” For three important reasons:

First: Meeting live and in-person is now a competitive advantage. I am vaccinated (times 3) and I’ve had Delta and Omicron. Science tells me that I am at reduced risk for a bad outcome. Most of my clients are in a similar position. Almost all of them were welcoming of a visit and some were enthusiastic about it. While the risk is low, I’m one of the few people with whom they work, willing to travel to them. This will be remembered. Â

Second: These are the folks that saved my business and kept food on my table during a difficult and uncertain time. They deserve to be looked in the eye and thanked.

Third: My mental health. While I can attend meetings in New York, Los Angeles and Phoenix during an afternoon on Zoom, it doesn’t feel as good or as productive as reviewing a presentation in a meeting room with burnt coffee and a stale bagel. That feels like business. The satisfaction it brings is akin to the farmer seeing the first sprouts of spring in his field after a long winter.

So, I’m back on the road and it is my cure for COVID burnout. I’ll still attend a few Zoom meetings each week. I still interview people for my podcast/video show using technological tools. But just like Billy Joel says, “I’ll meet you anytime you want in our Italian restaurant.”

Grab your briefcase. Double check your portfolio. Slip your vaccine card into your pocket and let’s get together and make something happen.

What do you say?

Warm regards,

Dave

P.S. You’re receiving this email message because I value our relationship and I want to stay in touch. I only send one email each week and I respect your privacy. You can reach me by calling: 888.444.5150.