New Lockdowns Are Not the Answer

I remember a saying from back in the day “fear sells”. This is the reason why more bad news appears in the papers than good news. Bad news captures headlines. Good news is often buried on obscure pages below the fold.

As restrictions are easing up and more people are once again gathering with friends, dining on outdoor terraces, etc., new cases of coronavirus are on the rise. Of course this is going to happen. The goal of lockdown was to “slow the spread” and that goal was accomplished. What needs to be done now is to find a new way of life because the world has been forever changed by COVID-19.

What can we do? Keep the number of people coming together in one place to a reduced number to enable a safe distance between them. Beyond that, everyone needs to personally consider where they are going, how many people will be there and what is the risk of getting sick. Personal responsibility is a must. Closing down the world is not the answer. Change is the answer. We need to see what will work and what will not. This is a proactive approach that allows people to have control over their actions and their lives. We need to be able to enjoy life again. We need a “new normal”. We need to accept change is a part of this. Some things will return. Some things may not return. Everything will be different.

The Proverbial Bus

There are no guarantees in this world. There never was and, hopefully, there, never will be. The only guarantee is this moment.

Just as we began to look forward to getting out again, protests over an injustice, and it was an injustice but there is much more to the story, rioting and looting took hold of our streets. Peaceful protests raise awareness. Rioting and looting raise anger and fear. 

The Declaration of Independence opens with; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” I wish the people that are grandstanding now incorporate this in their speeches. Voices can be heard and can have an influence. It should be a positive influence for ALL people, not just ONE group. When you change one persons life, you influence all.

If we hadn’t been stuck in government created isolation and lockdown, how would people be reacting now? What about the people whose businesses are destroyed? To survive a pandemic and make a comeback only to be decimated by rioters and looters? Where is the justice in that? 

It has been a very difficult time in the world of 2020. I wonder how history will look back on these days? I am engrossed in contemplation of the events of the year. COVID-19 is still in our world, just slightly less impactful. Will it come back with a vengeance this Fall? One thing is certain, there will be a flu season. There always is. I hope that rioting and looting will not continue to be a part of our lives.

The End of May, 2020

Phase 1 opening started in New York this past week. It will be interesting to see what happens with the number of new cases of COVID-19. What will the government reaction be if we see a sharp rise in new cases? Can you keep shutting business down or should the smart approach be to let people decide for themselves? I am in favor of letting people decide for themselves how they want to deal with the virus. There isn’t much more we can do. The reality at the end of the day is simple. We succeeded in flattening the curve but the curve is simply that; flat. It is not at the bottom. The virus is still out there. Every day more is learned about COVID-19 andevery day is more confusing because the demographics of the people that are getting sick constantly change. 

Business successfully adapted and did so quickly. Schools did an unthinkable shift to remote learning. Some businesses may not recover from this. Some industries will look completely different and some will not survive. A part of me expected, in time, a return to normal. When a 14 day shut down to flatten the curve turned into an additional 30 days to flatten the curve, 45 days seemed like a very long time and then the shut down continued. Now we need to create a new normal if we want to go on with lives that are not locked behind closed doors and windows. We can take the lessons learned and look at ways to permanently include the changes we made in our work and in our personal lives. Some things are better than before. Some things need modifications. Some things were temporary - the government shutting us down and taking to the airwaves to give us daily updates, comforting in the very beginning, quickly lost their appeal as we lost our ability to control our lives. I hope the temporary goes away soon and doesn’t come back. 

I find myself looking forward again. There are many things that are still unknown. The biggest unknowns revolve around community. Dining out; car shows; charity fundraisers; school; museums; church; weddings; celebrations, etc. Can we find a change that feels as exciting as coming together in a large group does? That would be a game changer. 

As they say, back to the drawing board. 

A Blank Slate

Sixty Five Days Ago

Sixty five days ago on March 10 the world as I knew it, as we all knew it, changed dramatically. A “containment zone” was set up in New Rochelle, New York. My apartment is located .8 of a mile from the edge of the zone; less than a mile away. I learned of this “zone” at Yonkers Pottery Studio while working on my small pottery pots for my jade plants. Conversations were happening before this about this strange virus that was in China and how some of the older people in New York were responding. The mother of one of the students was obsessively buying rice and it was getting sold out. People were hoarding toilet paper. I was seeing this with curiosity. After all, it is flu season; but, why these strange purchase behaviors? That afternoon I learned an event scheduled for March 22 was canceled and a new date cannot be set until they know the Fall schedule. It was the beginning of the eventual cancellations of all events involving more than 10 people, basically all upcoming events. 

My biggest frustration is the lack of information we are getting. Information that I believe science has, or suspected, all along. Quite simply, there is a complete lack of transparency. In the beginning days of HIV/AIDS, the CDC evaluated everything from the position; “What do you think? What do you know? What can you prove?” Unless the presented facts could be proven, “What can you prove?” without a reasonable doubt, they were not acted upon. COVID-19 reaction has gone the other way. Actions are being taken based on “What do you think?” The response to this question leads to a “try it and see if it works” approach. 

I firmly believe the leaders were right in the very beginning with the guidelines of “wash your hands, don’t touch your face, use common sense”. Somewhere along the line we got these “cover your face” requirements. This scares me because I see people developing a false sense of security. I honestly think people believe the mask will keep them safe from the virus. I don’t feel safe because people are wearing a mask. I do not think people are washing their hands as much as before wearing a mask, a.k.a. neck warmer as most people are wearing them. Virus’s are fragile organisms and they can easily be rendered useless with simple soap and water. Let’s get back to the basics and let’s use common sense. 

I admit I am having a very hard time with this virus. I am a planner. I am a Type A personality. Restrictions until such time as a vaccine and a treatment for the novel coronavirus is found are understandable. What are the restrictions? Am I going to have to wear a mask in public from now on? If that is the case, I need to accept that I am not going to be “in public” because I cannot breathe with a mask and I have a panic attack wearing one. My solution is to wear a scarf that covers my face. A quick run into the store to grab a bottle of wine is okay. Inconvenient but okay. As a way of life, it doesn’t work because I don’t think people are taking the necessary precautions of washing their hands as much as they would if they weren’t wearing a mask and that means more surfaces are contaminated. And more reasons for me to have a panic attack. 

I think our government officials are hesitating and holding back, dangerously so, with guidelines we will need to follow going forward. I think they know we are not going to like the guidelines. Putting off informing the public is not going to change public reaction. Hospitals should be in a position to now deal with increased outbreaks of the virus. They are going to happen. Other things are going to happen as well. COVID-19 is not the only illness on the planet. 

We are not going back to the way things were prior to March 10. I am not sure that people are accepting this fact. I have some ideas on what the next 12 to 18 months may look like and they are manageable. It is the lack of knowing, the fear of losing my freedom again, that is most disconcerting. 

The only way we can intelligently go into the Fall is with a plan and we need that plan now. Schools should stay in distance learning mode while they develop spaces that are better suited to providing suitable distance between students. Businesses need a plan, like the grocery stores, of managing customers in and out of the store. Restaurants need an plan and if that means the servers wearing masks and gloves, I am not dining in. Whatever it is, please give me the plan and let me decide how to manage it. 

Controlling Emotions with the Facts

Friday Recap

I have been (somewhat obsessively) listening to the press conferences of Governor Cuomo and President Trump. I track numbers using the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Numbers keep me grounded. When numbers surge, the day over day percentage change helps me keep things in perspective. The percentage of new cases in New York City and Westchester County is dropping. Death percentages, as expected, are up; yet, not as high as anticipated. 

A Disappointing Announcement - NY is on PAUSE until May 15

Why is this disappointing? Because it crushed my hope that we may possibly be looking at a new normal in a couple of weeks. This is 29 more days. It feels very far away. I am saddened by this news. Who knows, the situation changes hourly and maybe this will too. 

A New Normal

COVID-19 brings with it a new reality. "Normal" going forward will be different. There will be a new normal. There are too many unanswered questions; questions only time can answer. Is this virus going to come back? Will we have a break until the Fall when flu season returns? Will the United States, and the world, be forced into lockdown again?

Opportunities for the Future

I am a very active person. I do not have a traditional job. I describe myself as an entrepreneur wearing many hats and making a difference. 

My last typical Saturday was March 14, 33 days ago. I confine myself to home. I count on one hand the number of times I ventured out. I have become terrified of going to a store. Fortunately, I don't have to. I use FreshDirect for delivery and have not had to go to a grocery store since 2011. 

I am doing a lot of research. I majored in Marketing and Management at Iona College before the dawn of the Internet. The Internet created a world of possibilities combined with information overload. How do you reach your market? Can you achieve organic growth? What is the message and how is it perceived? What do people want? What do people need? I am fine-tuning my focus and I am developing a message geared toward today's opportunities.

The Power of the Network Marketing Entrepreneur Opportunity

Stay tuned - the message is developing and details will be forth coming. 

Easter Sunday 2020

Easter Reflections

It is Sunday, April 12, 2020. Easter arrives a little later this year. What should be a day spent enjoying the beauty of Spring is now, for the most part, a day spent inside.

HIV/AIDS was, and still is, a horrific virus. There are a lot of things to be learned about a virus. First and foremost, you cannot cure it. You can sometimes "treat" the symptoms potentially making it easier to deal with but you cannot cure it. The body, specifically the immune system, is the only defense against a virus. Vaccines will help the immune system identify and fight a virus against a future attack. What about the flu vaccines people get every year? What about this COVID-19 virus? Is this just another version of the annual flu? Is this why health experts are asking the question, "How long will antibodies protect us? A year, two years?" Will a vaccine for COVID-19 be successful in wiping out the potential for a future pandemic? Will another virus come along and create another pandemic?

Unfortunately, I think we are looking at the new face of the annual flu virus. 

Going forward we need to make some changes. 

• We need a medical system that can manage the flu.
• We need to improve our own immune systems.
• We need to recognize this can happen every flu season.

Back to reflections

We started talking about this years flu in early February. I knew people and families that experienced the worse flu ever in December and January. Healthy, young people were sick in bed for up to two weeks. Was this the beginning of what would become COVID-19? I believe it was. I also believe there was nothing different that could have been done sooner to prevent what happened across our country and around the world. It happened fast. One weekend I am celebrating my birthday and the next week New Rochelle has a one mile containment zone. I stayed home for three days; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I read everything I could about what was happening. I wanted to understand something that was exploding overnight. I couldn't understand it then and now I believe this enemy was, and is, airborne. Fear is the one emotion that I continue to battle. The last day I spent the way I normally would on a typical Saturday was March 14. 

We are probably looking at another 60 to 90 days of "social distancing". And after that, days will be forever changed. A new plan is needed. What that is I am not really sure of. I do know I need a plan. Tomorrow, Monday, is the beginning of a new week. I will write out the Plan vs. Actual in my Rocketbook Fusion. And maybe, if all goes well, a new normal will begin to take shape. Waiting to get back to "normal" is a waste of time because "normal" is going to look very different. 

Be safe. Be well. 

An Invitation to Listen: COVID-19 Separating Fact from Fiction

Four weeks ago, Sunday, March 8, I was celebrating my upcoming birthday with family and friends. Monday, my actual birthday, the celebration continued as I enjoyed lunch and a wonderful afternoon with my friend Kit. On Tuesday, March 10, while taking what would become the last pottery class for a while, I learned of the “Containment Zone” established in the North End of New Rochelle. Life, as we know it, will be forever changed. 

I define myself as “an Entrepreneur wearing many hats and making a difference.” COVID-19 finds me struggling with messaging. All of the Spring charity events are postponed. Everyone I know is working from home. Many face the additional challenge of home schooling. Juggling between responsibilities can be daunting.  I feel helpless. I am limited by the necessary restrictions we must do in order to not only flatten the curve but also to move forward, when moving forward becomes a reality. 

I received an email from Cindy Scholz, Real Estate Broker with Compass (and my niece). She is hosting a call tomorrow entitled ‘COVID-19 Separating Fact from Fiction’ I am sharing this email with the link to this call:

Healthcare Interview

With NYC Real Estate rightfully on PAUSE, I am taking this week to focus on what is most important- healthcare. 

Community is essential during these times. A very special thank you to the following people in my NYC community who are making this call possible: 

Oliver Libby, Alex Schueler, and Madeleine Schachter. 

Tomorrow I will be moderating a discussion along with Rory Golod, our Regional President, with the following two experts:

Dr. Jay Bhatt serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the American Hospital Association and President of HRET. Dr. Bhatt and his team were awarded to support the development of tools of patient safety in ambulatory environments, multi-sectorial collaborations, and age-friendly health systems.

Nora Super serves as Senior Director at Milken Institute, Center for the Future of Aging, whose mission is to improve lives and strengthen societies by promoting healthy, productive and purposeful aging. Nora manages and creates data-driven research, meaningful policy initiatives, and impactful meetings in the United States as well as internationally.

The conversation will focus on the medical impact of the virus, what the outlook for our hospitals and healthcare could be in the coming months, how to separate facts from fiction and what we can do in our day to day lives to protect ourselves and our loved ones. 

We are fortunate to have these experts join us to share their knowledge, insights, and advice.

A recording of the call will be made available later for those unable to join.

Date: Monday April 6th

Time: 4:00pm ET

Link to listen:

 https://stream.meet.google.com/u/1/stream/36d2067e-04b1-42e4-9d13-66239f7ef14a?ddr=true&pli=1

Duration: 1 hour

Stay safe.

I will share the recording details for those who could not join in live. 

Cindy is taking an active role in managing the message this pandemic is creating. I look back at her recent blog posts. The information is thoughtful. You can find the links here:

February 28, 2020 - Please NO HUGS

March 20, 2020 - Compass National Agent Call with Leonard Steinberg, Scott Clemons, and Alli McCartney

Cindy was the guest on Urban Digs blog, Talking Manhattan. Take a listen.

I am looking forward to the call tomorrow. I hope you can join in. 

March 20, 2020 - A Summary and a Link

On Friday, March 20, 2020, there was a Compass National Agent call with Leonard Steinberg, Chief Evangelist at Compass; Scott Clemons, Chief Investment Strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman; and, Alli McCartney, Managing Director of Wealth Management at UBS.

Click to View Post

The questions and comments of the three speakers have been consolidated under each presenter. The opinions provide an interesting perspective comparing the never before seen in modern history situation with past situations, what is being done to address it and what and when may be the outcome. 

Thanks for taking a look at this. 

Your comments are always welcome.

Day One of Tighter Guidelines for “Shelter in Place”

Nothing about COVID-19 is easy. It is hard to understand and accept that this exploded so rapidly; but, it did. Now, we need ways to adapt, adjust and get through this. In times of crisis people come together to support each other, comfort each other, help each other. With this situation we are asked to keep six feet between us. This is unnatural for most of us and perhaps one of the most uncomfortable parts of this crisis. 

Now is the time to find ways to cheer people. “Shine a Little Light” in the world around us. I will share inspiring quotes, pictures, videos and cards with the hope it helps make this time a little easier and brings a smile to your face.