Time
Time. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, with all the extra time on my hands these days (let’s see how many references to “Time” I can make). It was not till this week that I fully understood how much “Time” has changed since February. We have seen Time Accelerate, Slow Down, come to a near Standstill and in some instances Stop completely. Quick, what day is it? Our schedules have been cleared, our work time has accelerated, for the furloughed or unemployed it has slowed down and for many who have lost or are missing loved ones, it has come to a standstill. The very construct of “Time” is more unclear than at any time I can recall.
As I attend roundtables to discuss the current state of business, a common theme has developed – the transformation of time itself. Consider all the planning that occurred in the Fall of last year for 2020. Everything that was planned was based on an upcoming annual sequence of events with known variables. In general, there is a pattern of knowing where one is starting and an expectation of where to go. One of the most frustrating and quite frankly unbelievable aspects of the COVID crisis is we have had our “known” position rocked and our destination of “where” completely removed. Now we operate in days and weeks. Time has Accelerated.
The external variables that normally change very slowly seem to change from day to day. For organizations to stay relevant, most have shifted to Business Continuity Plans that have two-week “Sprints” or deliverables. In some instances, two weeks is a luxury. Back in the early days of the COVID crisis I made some predictions about the Changing of Business “Norms” including one I made about “Time.” Time has transformed from “A Luxury of which many had plenty” to “A Precious Commodity.”
I recently saw a cartoon with an Executive sitting around a conference table telling the team how they needed to focus on “Digital Transformation.” Just outside the window is a giant wrecking ball with “COVID-19” written on it. Transformation was a luxury just a few short months ago. Today it is “Digital Acceleration.” I’ve heard some stories where initiatives that were thought to take months to complete at best, were actually executed in less than two weeks due to COVID. When we have all the time to make excuses and draw work out, it will happen. When the environment changes, its amazing to see how fast work can occur.
There was a period in my career when I was part of the downturn in the Energy Sector and experienced firsthand what it means to be unemployed. I know there are so many right now undergoing the same experience. For me and I’m sure for others, time slows down more than can be imagined. The time from submitting a resume to hearing back and waiting for the next call can be excruciating. Hours seem like days, and days can turn into weeks. For many in this COVID world their time has slowed down or come to a standstill. My hope for the many furloughed and unemployed due to this crisis is that they see the acceleration of time in their return to work. There are signs of a return and opening of society that just can’t happen fast enough.
Due to the medical, fatal consequences of the COVID crisis, many have been impacted by a death in the family, myself included with the loss of my Grandfather. For grieving family members, time has stopped. The time to grieve has even been prolonged in some instances due to social distancing. In a tribute of sorts, and relevant to the topic, I’d like to share with you how much my Grandfather loved Time.
During his life he amassed an impressive collection of antique clocks, especially Grandfather Clocks. When he needed to downsize in his later years, he quickly switched to watches. Again, collecting them by the dozen. He loved all types of time pieces. I am fortunate to have inherited many of his antique clocks. However, there is one Grandfather clock currently missing, his personal favorite.
With his passing we lost the Patriarch of our family, but due to COVID restrictions, we are unable to retrieve his final possessions in the nursing home. It is somewhat ironic that metaphorically and physically time has stood still for that Grandfather Clock and our ability to retrieve it and experience closure. My hope is that we will have an opportunity to close this chapter soon.
The topic of “Time” for this week’s Wednesday Words seemed relevant for so many reasons. It is just below the surface, but when I mention it on calls or in discussions, I see the reactions almost immediately. We’re all experiencing our own personal time-shifts of sorts. While I’ve highlighted some of the direct impacts above, there are numerous other examples of how remote work, school cancellations, haircuts, birthdays and anniversaries have all been impacted by time as well. I do hope that many can take time for themselves to stay safe and healthy. My personal hope is that the time is up for COVID-19.
For those counting – there are 27 instances of “Time” in this article.