Like many of us, I am confused about the world, the future, life and everything. All seems good one day. The next, everything is being cancelled, government tells you to self-isolate, your view of everything is challenged and you have to change to fit.
Who moved my cheese?
I believe in this global model of trade and yet suddenly that model is being challenged. Airlines are going bankrupt, schools are closing, companies are telling staff to stay at home, everything has changed.
Who moved my cheese?
What happens if all work is from home, we go nowhere, we meet no-one, we just look at screens, social media and the internet?
Who moved my cheese?
Well, life goes on. We still get things done. We avoid airports, flying, the world. We connect with the world through our screens.
Who moved my cheese?
For some, this makes no difference. We carry on doing what we always did. Maybe we work in our town or our village, and maybe our company hasn’t told us to stay home and stop travel.
Who moved my cheese?
For others, we depend upon links to other countries, other worlds. We have a supply chain where the sourcing of goods and services is dependent upon our partners and providers.
Who moved my cheese?
I guess my question is raised as to what this means for those who have these dependencies. Will the government and the financial system provide? Will we cover the losses of these desperate times?
Who moved my cheese?
In particular, this is a wake-up call for all of us who were complacent. For those who assumed things were stable, sorted and predictable. Nothing in the future is predictable. The only constant is change.
Who moved my cheese?
And I guess it’s a realisation that businesses that are local and comfortable to deal with are maybe better than the global giants who may be easy to deal with digitally but, in the face of global collapse, can no longer function.
Who moved my cheese?
Can we imagine going back to an old world of physical relationships and transactions, no longer dealing globally with companies that supply? Can we imagine how we would deal with a world where no one travels anymore and no goods are shipped?
Who moved my cheese?
A pandemic, a viral disease, a flu that could kill us all is a bigger challenge than a war, an economic collapse, a sovereign debt crisis.
Who moved my cheese?
So, what do we do? How do we cope? What needs to change?
Who moved my cheese?
You. You need to change. You need to think. You need to relax.
Who moved my cheese?
If the world around us collapses, then so does your employer, your bank, your government, your world. But, at the end of the day, there’s still you. You. You, your partner, your family, your relationships, your network, your friends, your life.
Who moved my cheese?
You. You can move your cheese. You can find your cheese. You can change.
Don’t let the virus get you down. Be strong, be fierce, be joyful, be free. Live your life. Enjoy this moment.
Who moved my cheese?
You did.
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...
