After Coronavirus exposed the vulnerability of a non-exercising body, I decided to run/walk/jog at least 5 km a day, five days a week as a 2021 resolution.
For the last 10 months, I managed to keep my resolution. When you do something consistently it becomes your habit and part of your subconscious. You find yourself doing it.
However, in the first week of November 2021, I became so busy to keep up with my daily habit. My body could not take it on Friday. I had a full-day meeting lined up, and another 8am physical meeting. Which I attended. For the full-day virtual meeting, my subconscious kicked it. I found myself going for a jog, as the virtual meeting went on.
Since I did not have a presentation to make, but rather to listen in, instead of sitting through, I decided to hit the road. Working from home can be tempting, I tell you. I removed my office wear jacket and donned sports clothes!
My foible: I did not inform the host and of course my client that I had decided to listen to the call as I jogged.
Unfortunately for me, my phone camera went on, 20 minutes into the jog recording all my movements and projecting to over 190+ client staff in attendance during a strategy session!
I am yet to come to terms with that.
After like 5 minutes of broadcast via iPhone, I discovered the display and disabled the video. I just ignored the infraction. Too much shame has a way of making you ‘maddish.’
Maybe no one noticed! I told myself.
After the virtual meeting, I got calls from friends that were in the virtual meeting call ‘what were you up to?’ I realized rather late, I should have come clean.
Lessons:
1. Transparency is the best business. It would have all been ok if I had told the host that I was stepping off the call for one hour to jog since I had been sitting for too long the entire week
2. Good habits are gold. Try to be consistent and soon you get used to small steps of transformation.
3. Virtual meetings are a trap. Behave as if you are there in person. Anytime the camera will give you in.
To error is human. It is such mistakes that make living worthwhile. I smile whenever the thought of me jogging during such a high-profile meet comes to mind.
But when I think of it, I justify that it is healthy to jog or walk during virtual meetings. And you get great ideas too. My only mistake, I tell myself, was not informing the meeting Chairperson. Otherwise, the innovation is great. If you are going to just listen in a virtual meeting: don’t just sit and listen. Jog or walk as you listen. Keep walking.
To my client, you got me. I hope this article has evened things up.
Happy Sunday.
I remain Mr. Strategy.
