Al Mithal looks at the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his business and lessons for the future.
It’s been approaching three months since India went into one of the strictest lockdowns seen anywhere in the world and, for me, the strain is beginning to tell. Not so much for the business, which is getting by, but personally. As someone who has spent most of the last 40 years travelling to conferences and visiting clients, I do feel that I am getting a little stir crazy.
We didn’t expect this. From 24th March nobody was allowed to go to work (unless they were an essential business), and we were confined to our houses, not even able to go out for essential supplies, they were all delivered to us. My wife, my elderly mother and I have been isolated in our 15th-storey condominium in Delhi. Just how many books can you read and how much Netflix can you watch?