An update from Paul Ludlow

Back when life was ‘normal’ and I commuted to the office every day on the ferry, I used that time to read documents, review budgets, plan my month ahead and catch up on emails. Life was frantic. I was either in a meeting; on my way to the next meeting; preparing or giving presentations; travelling abroad or on board our ships. I was always one step ahead – or maybe ten steps ahead of the moment I was in…. work was everything and I had very little time for anything outside of P&O Cruises. I had done it for so long that I didn’t know there was an alternative to my reality.

Quite right you may think – he’s the president of the company, that’s what he gets paid for…

But as I reflect on the past five months, I have seen a real step change in my mindset and I feel that our new normal has brought about many positive changes, which have made me even more effective at work.

I have started to read much more than I ever did before – often autobiographies including President Obama’s. I have made more time for my fitness and wellbeing and I have found new hobbies in mountain biking and kayaking. I have made the most of early mornings to exercise and explore the area around my home and I now appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. It sounds like a cliché but I have worked hard all my career but I never took the time to recognise what was around me.

I have also realised that the world will not stop spinning if I put my phone down for half an hour and give my family and friends my full attention. I listen to them without having one eye on the next incoming text or email and they have certainly noticed the difference. I cherish these relationships even more now and realise their importance.

And as a result of this, when I come back to my home office and my desk it is as though my head has had a re-set. I am focused and I see everything with a whole new clarity and concentration. It seems that by switching off, I can switch on again much more effectively.

Therefore at the moment, with all the issues we face, I feel more connected than ever with my peers and colleagues from across the world as we come together for our Zoom calls. We share so many of the same challenges and to have that global network of support feels invaluable.

Having said all of this, although I have found a new sense of wellbeing at home, I do really miss the routine of going to the office, travelling the world, especially seeing our guests and crew on board. I miss the variety of each day and the social interaction and conversation with colleagues and peers.

Whilst I would urge you all to take the time for yourselves, I do understand that many of you have other pressures at home and are juggling childcare, looking after parents and other responsibilities, many of which were alleviated by our previous routine. While others live alone and are finding it really tough without the relationships we forged in the office.

We must all look out for each other.

Arnold’s Three Cs which have been ingrained in us all – Collaboration, Communication and Co-ordination perhaps now could also include another Three Cs – Compassion, Care and Consideration – and all three apply equally to ourselves, our families and our colleagues.

I wrote recently about new beginnings and how as we come into the autumn and we look at how we phase our ships back into service, I still have that hope and that same optimism for our business.

Barack Obama said that: “Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it and to fight for it.”

We are certainly all working hard and none of us lacks courage. I see it every day in all that you are doing.

As we come together during these tough times, we must hold on to that hope and we really will, ultimately, come back stronger.

And in the meantime… leave your desk and as Obama also said: “Get up and do something…. and make some good things happen.”