What I’m thinking about this weekend…

After four weeks, US unemployment claims have totaled more than 22 million. This is mind boggling. And even though it seems like our economy is basically on hold and we hear that we’re going to “restart” soon, that’s really not how this will work.

Most capitalist economies are fueled by small business. Those small businesses are not on hold — many of them are gone forever.

And as sad as that is, I’m optimistic.

New small businesses are going to return. Some of the same courageous entrepreneurs will not be able to deny their DNA and will venture forward again.

And then there will be larger legacy companies in communities that will re-establish themselves as anchor employers. They will grow their workforce, distribute and diversify their services and products, and be better community citizens.

But underneath the surface will be a whirling dervish — an ecosystem of good. Only this ecosystem, which as always been there, will become more seen, spread wider and deeper, and have greater impact.

Many are sitting at home with their jobs completely lost.

Others are more fortunate; their jobs are on hold and they will go back to work soon.

In between this cavern is an invisible and powerful force — gratitude.

Gratitude is the fuel that will put the ecosystem into hyperdrive. Many from across the socio-economic spectrum will experience a new sense of gratefulness. Some will look at their lives and the treasure they’ve amassed — both in relationships and money — and open up that capital in ways they’ve never done before.

The road to a life with fulfillment, meaning, and purpose requires passing through opportunity.

Those more fortunate, that is, those with a deep network of connections through family, friends, etc., have access to opportunity without even knowing that’s what it is.

Others never get to tap into that network.

The phrase we all know is: “It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know.”

The sad truth of that truism (???) is that the who’s have typically been protective of who they know.

I think this is going to change after COVID.

There will be jobs and opportunities after COVID — some new, some old, some different. Getting people to those jobs and opportunities will require relational networks to become more open.

What if you had the chance to connect into a network that before COVID would never have happened?

What if a person in that network said to you, “Tell me a bit about you, and then I will introduce you to 2 or 3 people that can help.”

There is a variable in this equation that must be reconciled.

If you’re the one being connected, you have to accept three new truths: (1) When connected, you still have to sell yourself — you don’t just get the thing by virtue of the connection; (2) You may need to change careers; (3) And, you must be open-minded at all-times so you don’t miss the lollipop moment.

In other words, feeling whole and living with purpose will require living in discomfort for an unknown period of time, and taking cues that maybe don’t make sense for a new path.

Individuals and communities will grow when ecosystems open up and thrive.

P.S. This was my experience in Sioux Falls, SD 15 years ago that I was fortunate to share in a TEDx Talk.