Reviving the Heart of a Business.

Did you know that I used to be an EMT? It’s not something I share with too many people, but I’ve helped to revive more than a few hearts in my time. And, it’s also not customary for me to write such a serious business article, either. Since I’m a positive relationship expert and consultant, I think it’s important not just for me, but for all businesses to know where our current trajectory is headed. I’m 52 now, but believe it or not, I’ve been studying relationships since the age of 7 years old. In fact, I made the decision to do what I’m doing right now, way back then…

In working for 68 companies and studying how those relationships are working and where they’re going, I can tell you the outlook for the future isn’t very favorable, at all. Not because there isn’t a need for goods or services, or there isn’t any money to be made. But, it's how those things presently – fit together.

While technology is advancing…Our collective positive emotions are diminishing at an extremely rapid rate. According to the latest scientific polls, at least 75% of the world is emotionally depressed. So, it’s no wonder there’s talk of a great recession or worse. If you can make the financial and emotional connection, when the world’s economy is booming, everyone feels a little better and a lot more hopeful about the future; because we're heading in a direction that's stable. When most of the chips are down however, our emotions are going the same way, too. Since our personal and collective destinies are intertwined, it’s easy to see why this is happening on both ends.

Back in the 80’s (known as the decade of excess) when everything was booming, everyone thought that this upward trend would last forever. It was a great time, for sure. Almost everyone was doing awesome. How did this happen? Not only were new industries being born, but everyone had a lot more money to “invest” in what was around them...Including good and services. When consumers have more money, businesses are also making more, and the wheel – just continues to spin around.

In time, as businesses worldwide got very excited about what was coming in, they decided to start making cuts: Cuts in spending, pay, benefits, and the number of workers, too. While this seemed like a great idea back then (on paper), those cuts kept going. It was just a sign of the times...But it slowly led us to where we are, right now…

Hopefully (even though consumers felt it first), businesses are starting to learn two things. Money does grow on trees; but if they don’t have a lot to spend – they can’t keep returning it back to the business. (That’s one half of the wheel.) And, employees would like to feel valuable at work. Not just with pay, but with how they feel. Since the drive for more money took over the original role of a business a very long time ago, which was to provide a meaningful good or service to someone who wants or needs it, as well as a great experience for the customers and employees, you can see how we got here over time…So, let’s play this out (only on paper). What happens – when almost no one can afford to buy what’s being sold? What happens if even more people choose to leave work – because it doesn’t provide the emotional and financial support that’s not just wanted – but needed to survive? For employees, there are only so many places to move around in the world – to end-up in the same unhappy place. So, I hope this collective uncertainty has shown us two lessons for running our business…

The first is that for the economy to keep working, people need enough money to live on. Not just until next week, but for quite longer than that. 70% of people don’t have enough to make it through next month. Imagine being a few short weeks away – from losing everything? Can you imagine how much pressure there is to be perfect, or to not lose what little you have? This certainly plays a big role in the stability of the workers, as well as their performance at work...There's nowhere for that pressure to go. So, it effects home-life as well as the logistics of how a company operates, and it cuts into the bottom line, too. The second comes from the attitude at some companies. “Hey, you’re working – for me.” Well, almost. “We’re actually all working for each other to keep everything going here – and elsewhere.” That would be a bit more of an accurate statement. And, with the privilege to effect so much, comes a greater responsibility of knowing how those changes happen, and how to influence them in a positive direction.

The idea isn’t to “forget” that you’ve made it, or that you’re doing very, very, well. That came from your hard work, commitment and dedication, but it also came from the employees, customers, vendors and shareholders that are keeping you, afloat. When you can see both sides, the appreciation of where you are and how you got there, this isn't taking anything away from what you've got. Why? Appreciation for more than just one thing or side is an increase in positive feelings that stay with you; even if you're extending yourself outwards. (The gap in our understanding about this is what actually created the initial problem here; so I understand how those dynamics work. And, this isn't something taught in business school, so how would most of us know about it?)

So, it should be easy to put a little more money and respect back into your place of employment. No one ever said…To be on top…Only one of you could be happy. This was a choice that so many of us made – all on our own. And, as the entire economy is left in question, as well as most people’s desire to do more than just exist, it’s all up to you now. I’m sure the great resignation has made a huge impression on where you feel your security is going, too. Maybe everyone at the top is starting to feel the pressure now, as well. And, even if you’ve got enough money for 10 lifetimes, it won’t make up for the emotional turmoil that’s surrounding all of us, right now. So, what can we do locally, or collectively?

It’s like fixing any relationship that’s about to hit bottom. What was needed and wanted from each side, all along? And, what would it take “for us” to happily work together – to create that enjoyable experience for each other? (If you noticed, these are the questions one would ask at the beginning of any great relationship. It’s actually – what brought you together!)

In answering these two questions – not only do we bring back the meaning of what life is all about, but we bring those positive feelings back into our business, too. And, when this starts happening everywhere…Life will go back to normal, or even better than that. But – this time, we’ll both remember where we came from…And, we’ll be happy to look forward to where life and our businesses can go, working together this time around. If it’s done right – any reunion feels wonderful, once we understand that we could have worked together all along, and that we have what it takes – to keep on enjoying those moments, together.

In the end, this was another chance for all of us to appreciate what we have and could have, if we simply choose to understand that how we feel together – is what’s holding everything together. And, there was never a “conflict of interest” in where we both wanted to go. We all desire to do well, and to do our best in helping to make those circumstances happen. That’s what any good relationship is really, all about. With a few simple choices we can surpass where we were, and where we want to go, too…

To me, since this is our lives, our world, our prosperity, and our enjoyment of it (at the heart of it), it seems like an easy choice to make. And, if you desire to get back to this – before it’s too late…I’m always right here to assist you in whatever way I can. I know how relationships work, and how people desire for them to work from top to bottom. It’s just a matter of making a simple choice to say “yes” to that together. In any relationship, for it to come back to life…That’s all it ever took. The will creates a successful and easy way to make this – possible.

This article was a tough one; but no more difficult than what’s already here, and getting worse. We can all continue to go down...For nothing...Or, we can actually stand and work together for something no one wants to lose: Their lively-hood and their happiness.

I sincerely hope underneath it all however (because I’m right there, too) that – the positive message – got through.

❤