Before the pandemic happened, we would attend different events to learn and grow our networks.

It was a natural part of business that has now become more difficult to achieve, and embrace.

These events were often busy with many people looking to connect with one another, and I would often ask myself: “What can I do that is different? How can I meaningfully connect with more people at this event? What can I do to add value to them in a meaningful way?”.

After recently publishing lessons I have learned as a keynote speaker on How To INSTANTLY Be More Engaging On Video, I wanted to share with you five additional tips I have learned about how to meaningfully connect remotely…

Ok… I get it.

Virtual relationships aren’t the same as in person.

They lack the connection that you experience in person.

They make you to self-analyze how you look, what you say, what your background is, minimize distractions, experience Zoom fatigue, and many more circumstances that you don’t enjoy.

(Especially for those of you in sales!)

It doesn’t take much more than a few simple techniques to help you deepen your relationships with your prospective client, establish a greater connection with your team, and quickly build trust within a virtual world…

The question about how to overcome failure and setbacks has been a recurring theme over this last year. Everyone has faced some form of failure or setback, no matter what business you are in.

When I think back to my journey to learn how to walk again, the first few years were exciting because of all the progress I was making.

When all of a sudden, one simple decision set me back a full 18 months and I had to start from scratch again…

“Do you love yourself?”

Last October when I was struggling I was asked that question, and the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized I couldn’t come up with a clear answer.

Let me explain why…

In 2007, I lost my father to suicide.

After he was paralyzed in 2002 from a hunting accident, he found it difficult to live with his injury.

Five years later, he took his own life.

Then in 2006, I was paralyzed after a motocross accident.

Fortunately, I was able to learn to walk again. However, as my dad left us during my recovery period and those two events led me down a dark path…

One of the biggest challenges we are all facing these days is to stay focused while working from home.

We no longer have others helping keep us accountable, the same environment or team members to encourage us, and have all heard stories about how difficult it can be to learn how to manage your kids while in a virtual meeting, making getting our work done that much more difficult.

Personally, one of the biggest changes I experienced during the pandemic is that I moved out of Toronto to Barrie and split up from my roommate, disconnecting from the accountability I once had.

Reflecting on lessons since I moved, here are my top five tips I have learned about how to focus while working from home…