How will the 2020 pandemic alter the way we live, work and play?

First and foremost, we must all practice safe and responsible living. Our way of living has changed. We are all in this together and must be very conscientious of all, especially the elderly, compromised immune systems as well as the anxious/depressed people.

When it comes to life, we should all try to realize and deal that life has changed. It is now time to adapt to make a change in our lives as well as to others. I feel, it is a healthy practice not to set deadlines or anticipate when a change will occur i.e. end of shelter in place order. It is good to stay informed, but set your own course and live accordingly. Create a check list each day and execute on the action items. It will feel good to complete tasks each day and see progress. Live in the present and operate under what the present requires us to do. Keep a consistent routine and work flow, follow a healthy lifestyle with exercise, meditation and constantly check in on others. Stay social and reach out to others often. Find ways to help others immediately around you. I have used the Next-door app to reach out to offer help in my immediate neighborhood, i.e. grocery runs, errands for the elderly, etc. In one example, it was bringing chamomile tea over to an elderly lady with an upset stomach and taking in her garbage cans. It was a small act, but made a big difference for her. Ask yourself, … “What can I do to make an impact during this time period?” “Will I look back at this event and feel good about what I did and what type of person I was?” It is time to find the positive and share. This unique time allows us to reconnect with family and community. Reducing travel, so that the environment, the skies, the air, our lungs all get a break. Parts of China are seeing blue sky for the first time in decades with the factories being shut down. Working from home rather than commuting to work results in less pollution and more personal time.

I am small business owner, of Hula Networks in the telecommunications industry. Under the order, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has mandated that all Californians stay in their homes except as needed to maintain continuity of operations in 16 specific critical infrastructure sectors. One of those critical infrastructure sectors, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security and the state of California, is the information technology sector. Hula Networks plays a vital role in the information technology sector and in serving the supply chain in this unprecedented time of need. Therefore, our California logistics center will remain open and operational for business. As CEO, I am working with proper safety procedures for our operational workers under the CDC guidelines, to work diligently to keep our business stable and on track. I am taking the responsibility for my own family, employees and customers to stay financially healthy during this economic recession.

We have evolved as a company and found new niche opportunities in supplying our customer base with indoor and outdoor wireless products. i.e. setting up wireless networks outside of hospitals for safe patient visits with medical staff in parking lot. We have also generated a new revenue stream providing laptops to enterprise businesses and municipalities in order for workers ability to be remote. We just booked large deal with a San Bernardino municipality on laptops for community workers and working on more demand needs. And finally, we continue to supply telecommunications companies core routing and switching to help with their increased demand in bandwidth and applications for their user base to communicate both professionally and personally. We have identified a higher internet activity from users at home, over 10 Terabits per second data throughput due to increase in video-conferencing traffic, online gaming and the use of multiple social media platforms. Our long term incorporated plan, is Hula Cloud Services which will allow our clients to manage, store and properly distribute all data and applications to their employee staff and customer base alike. We plan to help keep people connected and informed.

I have already applied for an SBA disaster loan to proactively prepare and stead the course for my business and my employees as well as a SBA for Economic Injury Disaster grant. Personally, I have refinanced my house mortgage and reduced by more than a point. Try not to paralyze yourself. Stay on your toes and think how to make the situation better and how to prepare for the future. It is important to be proactive and smart during times such as these. A chance to reset economically.

At home as a father, I am working to stay positive, creative and calm. Children can pick up on stress and anxiety and suffer from the results. No need to make the situation worse, stay strong and in touch. I put down the phone at 5pm and really “engage” with family until the following day. I focus and work hard on a good mental state by running each day at safe distance and working out in my garage with kids and spouse. It makes for a positive family activity by everyone participating in a positive group effort and challenging each other.

In summary, I am living day by day positively. I have accepted the changes and adapted by working hard, smart, positive and proactive. I want to look back knowing, I did all I could for my family, self, employees, others and community as a whole. Remain connected, engaged and humane. Live a simpler life, slow down, and be less impactful on our environment.