There are so many valuable qualities that shape the effectiveness of a leader. I’ve talked about many of them at length. I think now, in 2020, as we face increasingly divisive rhetoric and action on all levels of society, the unifying nature of leadership is more valuable than ever. Now, I’m not here to get into politics or discuss sweeping social issues.

2020 has turned out to be more than a little interesting. The stress of it all has undoubtedly led to some poor eating habits, even when we couldn’t go to our favorite restaurants. While eating healthy at home is one goal to strive for, we also must be conscious of what we’re really eating when we go out-to-eat.

I have five kids. As we’ve just seen Father’s Day come and go, I can’t help but think about them. Specifically, I think about the kind of people they are growing up to be and how I, as their father, play a role in that future. One of the biggest fears we dads have is that we’ll “screw up” our kids. We fear that we’ll give them something less than the best, that our actions will hurt their futures.

I’m no stranger to the competitive spirit. As I navigate my life and work, that sense of competition has driven me to sharpen my skills, pay attention to the details, and provide the best I have to offer to my colleagues and clients alike. Even in my hobbies, I see my competitive spirit thriving — as an endurance runner, I’m always pushing for peak performance.

Over the past several months, those of us who enjoy our exercise have faced a handful of unique challenges. Gyms were among the first businesses to go into lockdown, and understandably so. Regardless, many people who retreat to the gym during the hotter months were stuck without a cool environment in which to do their cardio. And believe me, it’s already been pretty toasty in Memphis!

Statistics show that the work-from-home model has only grown in accessibility and desirability in the past decade. In the months that we have battled the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have shifted their workforce to a telework model, if only temporarily. Some businesses, however, are seeing the benefit of making work-from-home a permanent arrangement for some employees.

Chances are, COVID-19 has meant gaining the COVID-15! During this time of self-quarantine, a lot of us have turned to junk food to cope — on top of gyms being closed for business. Our way of life has been shaken and turned upside down. We’re out of our regular routines. For some of us, sure, there have been positive changes. For others, we’re struggling. Your diet is in the trash and your usual avenue for exercise has been gone for a least three months.

As so many of us have transitioned to working from home due to the COVID-19 crisis, you have no doubt heard the term “brain fog” more than once. Brain fog is not a scientific term, but rather refers to general symptoms of mental fatigue, trouble concentrating, and cognitive dysfunction. The catch-all term “brain fog” is apt. I know that for me, it is that feeling of wading through water. Everything is slower, more difficult, and weighed down.

When we think of the characteristics that make a great leader, we don’t tend to think of listening skills immediately. However, you will find in leadership that it is the more humble, the more unseen skills that really push leaders from good to great. You can be a charismatic speaker, you can have magnetic charm, you can have incredible and innovative ideas — but if you don’t know how to listen well, your success in leadership will be temporary at best.

Whether you’re ready for it or not, retirement is coming. Statistics show that Americans are woefully unprepared for retirement — at least in the financial sense. Americans ages 55-64 have only saved 12 percentof what they need for retirement, on average. It’s suggested that young people squirrel away at least two decades worth of income, given the 18-year average for retirement. The number one worry of working-aged Americans is that they won’t have enough saved.

I think there are few things more detrimental to life, health, and success than unmanaged stress. That isn’t to say life can be totally stress-free. Stress can actually be a powerful motivator and tool to be productive, motivated, and diligent.

When is the best time to make a decision? If I were to create an ideal scenario, I would say the best time to make a decision is when I am well-rested, focused, and when I have examined all the facts and angles that could impact my choice.

Still leery of heading to the gym? Whether you’re a cautious individual or an immuno-compromised one, sometimes the physical gym just isn’t an option. Even as some gyms begin to reopen, you may have reason to stay away for the time being.

Much of the nation is talking about “reopening” the economy. Restaurants are beginning to open for normal business, albeit under strict guidelines, while others prepare to return to normal office hours. There’s plenty of debate surrounding the timingof all of this, and whether or not it’s the right move to make. Some think it’s too soon while others think it can’t come soon enough.

Health is top-of-mind now more than ever. We’re all religiously washing hands, wearing masks, and covering each and every surface we encounter with a healthy dose of Lysol. When we think about what keeps our bodies healthy and resilient against germs and illness, these are often our first measures. We focus on the external factors that jeopardize our health. This makes sense — but it’s far from our only line of defense.

If you’re anything like me, the state of the world is calling for a lot of re-evaluation. For me, it’s not so much related to career, but life priorities and values in general. We’re all being confronted with something we have never seen or experienced before, and it’s causing a shake-up in our lives in more ways than one.

We’re living in stressful times, that much is evident! We’re worried about our health, the health of friends and family, worried about our employment and retirement future. To top it all off, many of us are living in close-quarters with our families and spending an unprecedented amount of time with them. Yes, this is a blessing! But we’re not going to deny the reality of thinning patience and the truth of the phrase, “familiarity breeds contempt.”

In aviation, a holding pattern is when an aircraft maintains its flight path in a designated space while waiting for clearance to land. Most of us can gather the definition based on context clues, but there’s a reason I’ve spelled it out.

Right now, we are all living in the midst of uncertainty. We don’t know the when, the how, the why of so many things in life. When will we return to “normal?” How will this crisis impact my employment, my family? How can I best lead my team in these times?

We’re living in tough times. It seems like now more than ever it is difficult to eat healthily and get the nutrition our bodies need. Not only do many of us have to contend with under-stocked grocery stores, but social distancing guidelines dictate that we limit our trips to the store as much as possible. We’ve been encouraged to buy enough for at least two weeks worth of food.