By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unrivaled economic challenge, but it is also an opportunity for employers to look at their operations, for entrepreneurs to find silver linings and for all of us to treat each other with more compassion and cooperation.
Those were some of the takeaways Rose Law Group’s New Virtual Power Lunch held on Friday.
“We need each other,” said Nate Nathan, President and Designated Broker for Nathan and Associates, of the need for cooperation and collaboration in the community and marketplace. Nathan and Associates is one of the top land brokers in the Western United States.
The pandemic has temporarily delayed real estate deals, stalled home sales and is challenging small businesses and workers as well as larger industries and employers.
“You have to change your mindset you also have to change your heart set,” said Michael “Frenchy” IlesCremieux, Division President for Richmond American Homes.
IlesCremieux said that includes making sure employees working from home are doing okay in addition to the usual sales metrics.
“You have to make sure they are doing okay mentally, physically and spiritually,” said IlesCremieux who is optimistic of a housing market rebound after the pandemic subsides.
Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy told the Rose Law Group virtual forum she expects COVID-19 to require another two months of ‘social distancing’ and ‘shelter in place’ behaviors.
“It probably going to be through May,” said Connealy, who is Director of the Center for New Medicine and Cancer Center for Healing in Irvine, California.
Conneally said a key for well-being during these stressful times is to stay positive and hopeful. “You can’t be led by fear, anxiety and worry,” she said adding that current conditions give an opportunity to improve nutrition and cut down on sugars.
The Coronavirus has prompted business closures and brought tourism and travel to a halt. There are currently 2,669 COVID-19 cases in Arizona and 64 deaths. There 337,737 cases in the U.S. with 9,667 cases.
Rose Law Group has been hosting the virtual forums each week to help clients, entrepreneurs and businesses try to navigate the pandemic as well as the federal stimulus programs that offers Small Business Administration loans as well as help for adversely impacted workers. The Friday forum was hosted by Rose Law Group President and Founder Jordan Rose and Partner Court Rich.
Peter Thomas, a veteran real estate entrepreneur, said the key for companies, professionals and other workers is to be able to evolve with the situation. “We have to be able to pivot,” Thomas said stressing the Darwinian need to be adaptable.
He said the pandemic could usher in some more permanent business and societal practices pointing to use of technology for meetings and working from home. “Big question how long will this take. Let’s just say it will take forever,” he said.
Thomas said employers and employees should both look at the long-term applicability of the current situation and how we are all working.
Thomas said it is easy to get “deer in the headlights” reaction to the Coronavirus and its economic fallout stressing the need to be innovative, creative and focused.
IlesCremieux said the marketplace is going through at least some temporary changes but this is also a time for everyone to put things into perspective.
“You have to find a cause larger than your life,” he said.
