Matt Leonard
Chairman of the Board
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Early in March COVID-19 emerged as a worldwide pandemic. Shortly after that, the orders to stay at home and work remotely were given, forcing the employees and businesses to adjust to working remotely. For some members of the workforce, working from home was not new, as technology had been allowing that for some time. However, many have had to adapt.
I really have admired the adaptability of our workforce. For example, at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce we did not miss a beat. Within a few days our Board meetings had gone virtual – led by our President & CEO, Bret Schanzenbach. Since then, many events and committee meetings have also gone virtual as Chamber staff embraced new technology and found a way to continue to stay engaged and serve our members with resilience.
I had an opportunity to speak with one of our members, Carl Streicher of PrimeLending and we were talking about the challenges and successes of transitioning to working remotely. Like many of us Carl looks forward to the opportunity of working face to face with his clients again. In the meantime, he has found an opportunity. Now, he has had the time to focus on the structure and workflow of his business. He has been able to clean up his CRM and implement new routines around client interactions. Carl has had the opportunity to beef up his online and social media presence. He has also used this extra time to consume as many audio books as he could to strengthen and focus his resolve in the home lending industry.
During our conversation I asked Carl what advice he had for others to be successful working remotely. Carl recommendation is that “you should dress up and show up daily. Embrace technology and leverage it to the fullest. Create a productive work environment that promotes business thought and discipline. Time block and focus on the items of greatest impact first. Communicate clearly with others in your home about the priority of work in your daily life.” Lastly, Carl advised to take care of your mental, spiritual, and physical health.
If you are looking for additional resources on how to successfully work from home, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has information on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Another resource I have found useful is the SANDAG iCommute San Diego website (www.icommutesd.com). There are resources for teleworking for employees and the employers.
In closing I would like to thank all of you for your resilience and adaptability during this time of COVID-19. I wish the very best for you, your businesses, and most importantly your family and the people you love. Take great care and be safe.