Amidst a shut down, it’s what opens up that speaks to who we are.
As an early riser I’m typically at the office before everyone else. Quiet mornings give me the space to plan my day, enjoy some uninterrupted time to work and communicate with our European operations when necessary. Of late, as COVID-19 has forcibly changed the way the world operates for the time being, my mornings have taken on a new ritual.
Now, I position myself at the front door with a thermometer in hand and take the temperature of staff members as they arrive at the office. It’s a modest task but it’s also reassuring for all of us who continue to come into the office (approximately 60% of staff are working remotely at the moment). While the priority is company-wide health and safety, personally I enjoy the added benefit of connecting with people.
Change Your Perspective, Change Your World.
Events of this magnitude tend to expose our fragilities. Measure that however you see fit, whether it’s the emotional toll of isolation and distancing to something more pragmatic like the precariousness of supply chains. If you take your cues from social media, you may be convinced that toilet-paper and hand-sanitizing hoarding mobs are everywhere; that we’re surrounded by self-serving survivalists. From what I’ve encountered in my day-to- day, I choose to think differently.
I think these past couple of months have revealed our interconnectedness and, further, our interdependence. It has helped to sharpen the focus on how much we rely on one another to get through our days. It shines a light on the depth of our humanity, something that I think has taken a lot of people by surprise.
Amazing. Thoughtful. Unselfish.
Those are the descriptors that come to mind when I think about our clients and the work that they’re doing right now. At Burlodge we’re obviously more connected to those front lines than most, and we definitely appreciate the many challenges and concerns our food service clients face during these days.
Here’s the remarkable thing – as our colleagues at Burlodge Italy confronted the first major wave of COVID-19 to hit Europe, our clients stepped up for us. We simply asked if some of them could send along a photo of staff members touching their Burlodge equipment. We would in turn send the pictures to our team in Italy to remind them that people were aware and that they care. Moreover, it was a subtle reminder that thanks to the Italian craftmanship, our clients could rely on Burlodge to be together with them as they navigate the unknown. In the midst of all this stress and uncertainty, their response was incredible. From front line to front line, they shared photos and notes of encouragement like Italy Strong or Never Give Up.
For me, that generosity speaks volumes. If ever there were a time for hope and hard work to overcome the hurdles ahead, this is it. Some days it’s difficult to muster the energy, but when I see the collective strength and support of our wider community in action, I’m inspired. Indeed, looking ahead, we have the uncommon opportunity to come out of this stronger – and perhaps even a little wiser – than ever.
