Africa-Press – Lesotho. Greetings, the past two years have come with a number of changes that I have shared extensively. Being on different lockdown levels that came with a lot of uncertainty, pain, loss and discomfort.
We also had Family Meetings that sometimes surprised us with the inconsistency and with the end usually being “With immediate effect…” which left us with more
confusion and sometimes no time to plan going forward. On the flip side, they also came with many opportunities for the more entrepreneurial and brave who
always live life with not wallowing in self-pity, they took the bull by its horns and rode through the storm. There has been a trend of consistent resignations
in many industries over this period. This has been ascribed to our changing attitudes around the normal 9 to 5 jobs in the office being replaced by off-site work and working and studying from home.
The good that came from Corona is how it caused us to have a different take on what we thought was normal, to us having a collective paradigm shift to learning to do and see the
world of work very different. The hard lockdown made us look deep within ourselves and start practicing our latent skills and even learning activities
such as cooking, painting, writing, gardening and similar activities which we could not do when in 9 to 5 jobs and making our hobbies to actually making them
work for us. (Ka-Ching!) Most people also used their time to monetize their skills and operate at their own pace and time. A study shared by CEO’s and other management teams shows that there was a marked increase in
productivity from staff working from home. Home studying also showed a marked increase in better results as is evident with the Matric Class of 2021, The
first class to go through the two years of the Pandemic, albeit the difficulties experienced in the first months in 2020 when we all had to adapt very
quickly to the new normal. There was no need for the IT guy to assist with I. D.10. T problems. (Read as IDIOT) And mostly would be, “YOU: My Laptop isn’t turning on.
IT guy: Mam, is the cord connected to the power supply? YOU: yes it is… IT Guy Mam, please switch on the plug on the wall. YOU: It is not 0n, but we have loadsheding in my area we currently have no lights… Most
parents had to learn these issues and sadly, if your parents are in less disadvantaged background and all struggling. In some hopes, its either food or Data. Class of 21 are the only matric class that had the least school days but the best results. Many reasons have been alluded to ,but the top 3 are:
1.
More focus and time since workers have cut down on commuting time to work and having parental guidance for students being at home and many more hours to study.
2.
A more prominent work\ life balance and less stress from toxic managers and workspaces.
3.
“Reverse guilt tripping” by workers knowing that although they may be in the office, they basically just show up.
There are no bosses Pets who might have been seen as great workers by merely having a friendship with the boss and no matter how average their work was, the
bias would often swing in their direction, as opposed to those that flew under the radar yet are very good and productive. Workers knew they could not slack
as the only equalizer was output and productivity. Many people had to face their own mortality with almost everyone knowing a person or family member that had Covid or passed
by it and with the infection rates fluctuating; staying home was a better out. High level deaths of the rich and famous showed that Covid is an equal opportunity virus, that no matter your race, creed, religion or culture and
bank account balance, everyone was susceptible to it. With a lot of people losing their jobs, many more decided to take early retirement or resigning to get their pension
pay-outs and plough them in their dream vocations and enjoy a purposeful life leaving the strife and stress of the corporate world behind. Many had realized
that they had become slaves to the sometimes evil corporate world. In over my 25 years in the corporate world, one aspect that I felt uncomfortable with was that
often when someone passed in the office, Branch or Region, we replaced people even before they were on the cold slab before they even got into their graves.
Succession planning is an essential tool for continuity of the business, but it can be destructive if used in an insensitive way. There might be a memorial
service held for them but they are forgotten within a week. Even after the years they have given their all and even sacrificed their time, extra efforts
and even families for the company. Generally, bereavement leave is never more than 5 days even for immediate family and one is expected to remain positive and be
back at work within the week, or one would take normal leave days to add to their 3 days bereavement leave. Many have experienced this and once you get
to really reflect on your life and wishes, you will get off the corporate treadmill and realize that all you are is a replaceable unappreciated asset to
the firm. Most people cite other issues such as toxic bosses and workplaces, work fatigue and boredom even, of working the same job, year after year with
very little of no prospects of upward mobility. Some will work only for the end of year bonus, which often isn’t much, and in real terms it often cannot be
tracked to move with inflation, meaning, you are actually poorer, year on year, but expected to increase your productivity and be grateful that you got a
bonus. Before Covid, most people were more focused on their careers and job titles than their families. The lockdown has forced us to reprioritize what’s really important.
I have heard of some people admitting to have never slept so well in over 5 years as during the lockdowns. Ever since we were prevented from seeing our loved ones and friends, and could not celebrate
important milestones in our own lives or not being able to mourn loved ones due to regulations, we now have a real appreciation of how important it is to spend
physical time with them. I predict that people who come through this will all come out with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (PTSD) We have all suffered, we are in pain &
afraid. You got to the Mall and ever not feel afraid. People don’t touch people anymore. Zoom or Facetime comes close, but not as special as a physical hug from a family member or loved ones.
We have spoken about love lost, lives cut too short, opportunities not taken and dreams unfulfilled. Let’s now look at wishes met, time with those that we love fulfilled as well as eating and
drinking with that ‘special’ cutlery we had saved for special occasions; and remembering and acknowledging that everyday is a special occasion and life is
fleeting. Take it out, use it! If anything, your life and immediate family are your most special, respected, and honor the special people in your life.
Live your life LIVE! Don’t wait for tomorrow. Tell those you love that you do fully, completely, unconditionally and without measure. This might be the only
opportunity you have, the only time that you last see them, the last you have an opportunity to say “I love you”. Make sure that they \ you have left nothing
unsaid. I urge you! It might be the last time. A nurse, who worked in palliative care and in a hospice, shared that most if not all terminal patients, on their deathbeds
shared the following: This is what my takeaway is. I shall do better now that I know better: The Top 5 regrets as they had with one foot in the grave and knowing that the end was close were:
What is your greatest regret so far and what are you going to do to achieve your goals? Are you completely happy with your job and willing to sacrifice you relationships for it? If you knew when you were going to pass, who would you want to call or be by your side?
There really is a point that people are seeing to change their priorities and live their best life ever.
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