What do we have on the spacecraft that’s good? 2

Our first blog post was named ‘What do we have on the spacecraft that’s good?’ after the events and the human spirit portrayed in the movie Apollo 13. Working out what is good for mankind now as Covid-19 undoes a great deal of the assumptions made about humanity and our journey is a key challenge of our time. The question is so fundamental that we’re making it into a series of blog posts. This second post, then, will feature some of those whose activities are part of what is good, and some positive thinking and advice.

1. What Happens Now

We start with a podcast discovered as we like Lynsey Crombie, ‘Queen of Clean’. We found out on her Twitter that she features in this episode of a new podcast series by Mike Oldham, named ‘What Happens Now’? Mike gained a new job earlier this year and immediately (that same day) lost it again due to the Covid-19 lockdown. His response was his podcast, “…a series of interviews in order to share stories of how the crisis was affecting other people – personally and professionally – and how they were coping as the whole world went into lockdown. Most importantly, he wanted to focus on the ways in which his guests each plan to emerge from this crisis in a positive way.

Mike told us about his experience, “Speaking to people from different industries and backgrounds has made this a really interesting project and despite us all going through a particularly challenging period during lockdown, it’s great to hear so much positivity across people from different industries and backgrounds. I’ve really enjoyed doing the podcast, and have quickly realised there’s a lot of interest in this type of media. In a very short time it’s led me to getting a little bit of paid work conducting professional interviews for a couple of organisations, which is something I’m keen to pursue more of in the future as it’s something I really enjoy doing. I’ve also had some great feedback from people I know as well as total strangers who have found my podcast, and I’ve been really happy to see it featured across a number of blogs and news sites including the BBC news homepage.”

2. Be brave with internationally-recognised leadership expert, Margie Warrell

It would be easy to think that in this age of lightning communications that COVID-19-inspired panic and despondency is all there is to listen to. Not so. It is also an age in which learning and inspiration are extensively shared and are there for the finding. We spoke with Margie Warrell, published author, speaker, leadership facilitator, and founding CEO, Global Courage, www.margiewarrell.com and www.globalcourage.com and posed one topical question:

Is ‘being brave’ any different in the new, world-with-pandemic than it was before?

“Long before this pandemic started and long after it is gone, the need for courage and bravery will be crucial to thriving in life and being successful in business. It’s just that right now, when fear and uncertainty run so high, we have to dial up our courage and be even braver than we might ordinarily do.

“Many people in the face of uncertainty, tend to hunker down and protect what they have. Yet to really thrive and seize the opportunities inherent in seismic levels of change that have been brought on my this pandemic, we have to move from a defensive ‘play not to lose’ mindset to a proactive, offensive “play to win’ mindset. This is brave work as it requires embracing the discomfort of the unknown and stepping onto new, unfamiliar and unchartered new territory. But those who will seize the opportunities of this time will not be those who are ‘playing it safe’ but those who are focusing on how to adapt fast and think two steps ahead to whatever new norms and needs this brave new world we will emerge into will hold.

“As I wrote in You’ve Got This! when we reframe uncertainty into possibility, it elevates our perspective to see opportunities and possibilities where we may otherwise only have seen problems.”

3. Liv In Chef

Another professional whose job stopped abruptly with lockdown is Orpington-based chef Mark Jeevaratnam, aka the Liv in Chef. We tried his burger menu (delicious) and asked for his story.

Mark replied, “As a professional Chef having achieved my culinary goals in my hometown Auckland, New Zealand, I travelled to London in 1999 seeking adventure and opportunity to experience worldly cuisine. Twenty one years later, having worked, opened, developed and consulted for some of the most successful restaurants in central London I found myself at home furloughed during lockdown. During this period of uncertainty I found solace in my kitchen and shared my meals with neighbours and friends. It soon developed into my local friends requesting regular home-cooked meals as they juggled their responsibilities of working from home and caring for children. It inspired me to utilise my skills, be creative and become more rooted within my own local community by starting up my own local supper club food delivery service. My aim is to provide an alternative dining experience with quality restaurant food offering a weekly changing menu. The menus reflect my thirty years experience of professional cooking combined with my love of travelling. I’m grateful to have received a positive response from many followers in my community, enjoying a new concept that brings quality food at good value. I hope to continue with my new business venture and expand to provide different meal experiences in the area. Watch this space!” Or, more accurately, watch these spaces, the Liv In Chef on Facebook and Instagram. Mark currently delivers to customers within the Orpington and nearby areas.

Do check out our Spotify In Tune PR playlist. It includes a track by the late Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ‘Learning to Fly’. We’re all learning to fly now, and as the song says, ‘Coming down is the hardest part’.