Our New Virtual/Physical Balance

Our New Virtual/Physical Balance

Omer Abdullah
Careers, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Teams, Travel

So in recent weeks, I’ve hosted or moderated virtual webinars, panel discussions and happy hours with people all across the world (separate from the countless virtual one-on-ones and small group meetings that have become such a mainstay for us all now).

I approached these events with some trepidation, unsure of the how the back and forth that’s necessary would happen in the virtual world, given the normal back and forth of in-person conversation (versus the sequential nature of videoconference technology) or the pronounced nature of (awkward) silence in such settings, especially ones where not everyone knows each other.

We Can’t Assume Each Step Forward Is Permanent

We Can’t Assume Each Step Forward Is Permanent

Omer Abdullah
Aspirations, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Management Consulting, Sales, Strategy, Teams

We can’t assume each step forward is permanent. And that’s just a fact.

I know there’s a tendency to view any positive progress with hope, with the earnest desire to see that momentum continue unabated. That’s natural and, frankly, we should maintain that positivity, particularly in difficult times such as these.

But it’s important to also recognize that plans and paths forward aren’t always (ever) straight-line. There will be twists and turns, back and forth on the road to getting to where we want to go.

Omerisms Podcast - Episode 30

Omerisms Podcast - Episode 30

Omer Abdullah
Aspirations, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Management Consulting, Personal Codes, Private Equity, Sales, Strategy, Teams

In today's podcast, I continue this month's riff on uncertainty and risk, and talk about change. It's a topic that we all have to deal with, whether we like it or not.

Change is a critical part of our growth and how we deal with it is make or break. This episode discusses the two key steps that I believe we need to take to tackle the change we see in our lives, head on.

WFH Is (Not) Forever Now...

WFH Is (Not) Forever Now...

Omer Abdullah
Careers, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Management Consulting, Personal Codes, Strategy, Teams, Travel

The world has changed! The old order is out! Things will never go back to the way they were!

There’s no shortage of pronouncements about how the coronavirus has fundamentally changed the way we live, work and play. No more cruises, no more constant flying, no more of the large scale social gatherings that we’ve become so accustomed to. It’s (apparently) a whole new world out there.

And so it goes with Working From Home (WFH).

Never Say Never Again

Never Say Never Again

Omer Abdullah
Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Private Equity, Strategy, Sales

When we went through the Great Recession of 2008/2009, I remember thinking to myself (perhaps consoling myself) that I would never see an economic downturn as bad as that ever again in my lifetime. I mean, the scale of the trouble at the time was such that multiple markets around the world, multiple sectors, multiple categories, all got hit at once, and the resultant economic malaise took years to overcome. Surely, something at that scale could never happen again?

Well, never say never, I guess.

These Aren't The Expectations You're Looking For

These Aren't The Expectations You're Looking For

Omer Abdullah
Aspirations, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Teams

Many times, I think we’re so beholden to other people’s expectations of us, that instead of doing what we really want to do, we constrain ourselves with someone else’s expectations of us.

But it’s actually worse than that. More often than not, it isn’t actually what they expect of us, it’s our perception of their expectations of us.

Are We Still In Meeting Hell?

Are We Still In Meeting Hell?

Omer Abdullah
Careers, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Management Consulting, Personal Codes, Teams

I’ve written before of my distaste for meetings (here, here and here) and specifically, meaningless meetings that should actually have been emails or a phone chat - or none of the above!

I’ve seen companies where meetings are the norm and the work of actually getting things done (time for deep thinking or focused work) becomes the exception, something that gets done after-hours (or worse, not at all). In fact, I’ve often wondered if there’s a correlation between the percentage of time that executives spend in meetings and the performance of the company.

What Can We Compare This To?

What Can We Compare This To?

Omer Abdullah
Careers, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Teams, Strategy

In times of uncertainty, we want to look for comparisons. Situations that are analogous to what we’re going through so that we can identify trends or find indicators - some sort of sign(s) - that allow us to better predict what’s going to happen. It’s a natural thing to do. We want comfort. We want certainty. We want to see a way out.

But, of course, that’s not how things work.

For every comparison to previous pandemics, there are several others that can point to how this one is different.

Heroes

Heroes

Omer Abdullah
Aspirations, Life, Personal Codes

That’s a word we love. It’s also a word that we tend to hold to a specific standard.

Superhuman strength. Incredible bravery. Folks who demonstrate those traits are called heroes. The determined doctors, the brave firefighter, the courageous police officer tend to fit the bill.

We can accept that. Because that individual put themselves at risk for the betterment and gain of another, almost always someone they don’t even know.

The Idea Of Extremes...

The Idea Of Extremes...

Omer Abdullah
Aspirations, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Teams

I don’t think there is anything or anyone that operates at one polar extreme versus another. Sure, some folks veer more in one direction than another, but rarely, always and only at the extremes.

But you wouldn’t think so from most of the public rhetoric which, by definition, is driven by a desire for attention and alignment (with a predefined ideology - ours or someone else’s).

Who Are We In Tough Times?

Who Are We In Tough Times?

Omer Abdullah
Careers, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Management Consulting, Personal Codes, Teams

It seems to me that there are two kinds of people when the going gets tough. Those who panic and freeze. And those who manage their emotions and keep doing. This latter group is the group I think we all want to be part of.

Now, note that I didn’t say they stay calm, rather that they manage their emotions. Getting emotional and stressing out is, at least to me, a pretty natural human emotion. I’m not sure we can completely eliminate that response reflex. But I do think we can learn to manage those emotions, and thereby keep them in check.

Community Matters

Community Matters

Omer Abdullah
Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Strategy, Teams

If there’s one thing that social distancing has re-emphasized, it’s the power and value of social connection. That community matters - and not only does it matter but it’s, frankly, more important than it ever has been. We’re all experiencing that, regardless of whether or not we’d conceptually bought into the idea before.

In fact, I’ve been heartened by the virtual outreach that I’ve seen everywhere - from family to friends to celebrities, in real life and across social media.

Partnerships: Time To Walk The Walk

Partnerships: Time To Walk The Walk

Omer Abdullah
Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Teams, Strategy

There’s that old saying that it’s easy to have principles until you have to practice them. Well, it’s the same thing with partnerships, especially when it comes to buyers and suppliers.

We like to throw that word around, especially during the early days of a relationship, during a QBR or during renewal times (by both sides). And that’s easy to do. It’s no sweat off anyone’s back to do it then. And we probably believe it, too.

This Isn't About Most Of Us. It's About All Of Us.

This Isn't About Most Of Us. It's About All Of Us.

Omer Abdullah
Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Teams

In any business, you have to deal with odds on a day to day basis. Nothing is for certain, so you do the numbers, work out the scenarios and then take a call. Some of those times, things will go better than expected, some will go as expected, and other times, things will be worse than expected.

But however things end up, not taking action is NOT an option. You have to act and do.

10 Principles - Facts And Emotions In A Time Of Risk

10 Principles - Facts And Emotions In A Time Of Risk

Omer Abdullah
Communications, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Life, Personal Codes, Strategy, Teams

If there is any consistent counsel, it is that we need to make decisions on the basis of facts. Hard, objective, scientifically-based information that provides us with a solid understanding of the situation at hand, the magnitude of the issue(s), the possible actions we can take and the relative weightage or prioritization of each.

This type of information ensures that we minimize the impact of emotion - subjective ideas based on our fears, our histories, our prior baggage and “what others are saying”.

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