While many Americans are stuck at home without work, most of us have been blessed to keep working, at home or in component plants. Remarkably, most CMs have operated continuously with very few incidents. One large manufacturer with 1500 associates has not had a single Covid case. Then, why such bad news broadcasts? What are we missing?
Plane travel has never been safer. Car travel is truly bulletproof. But walking is the best stress-free exercise. You see things that you never noticed while driving and meet people (albeit at a distance); neighbors, for instance. You can conference while on the move, expend pent up energy, and get paid for it. And you will burn just as many calories walking a mile as you burn running one.
Having a partner or coach can make the miles fly by. Your “partner” can relate to you through your headset – Elvis or Winston Churchill or locked-down loved ones. Your coach can be your Apple watch’s colored rings. As you close each ring, you’ll be meeting your daily goals moving, exercising, and standing. On my phone, I can look back 18 months, when I first put this remarkable device on my wrist. It took this pandemic for me to realize that I can retrieve a chart of my progress over the last year, and even receive personalized compliments; “Nice work on your Total Distance, Joe.” I can easily see that I’ve stepped up my pace. Mainly because I’ve been home.
In countless ways, our entire infrastructure has been automating tasks for many years and thereby lessening human interactions. I can drive anywhere, get fuel, and check in and out of hotels with my phone and never get near another human being. Hotels are especially attuned, sanitizing rooms after occupancy, and not allowing re-occupancy for an extended period. Restaurants facilitate “grab and go” pickup of pre-ordered food thereby avoiding exposure of both employees and customers. But none of this would be possible without all those continuing to work out of sight, but hopefully not out of our thoughts and prayers, especially all in the component industry.