I thought I knew my staff. I thought I knew the importance of personal connections. I thought I had a reasonable understanding of the future. I was wrong on all counts.

So now, I find myself at 3 a.m., pacing the hardwood floors of my suburban home in Washington, D.C. with only two Bassett Hounds for company. This "Great Sequestration" we have all been enduring has made me keenly aware of the human need for interaction and connectivity. I long for the silly joke of one of my colleagues, the friendly handshake of one of our members, the scent of someone's perfume as I walk down a crowded street. But these are all, for the moment at least, gone. And the questions caused by their absence seem to grow every day, not just for me, but for the entire country.

But out of this absence, a determination grows. A determination to work toward bringing those connections back. And that is part of what I am thinking about during those 3 a.m. paces down the hallway. How can we help the country? How can we maintain and restore our businesses? How can we contribute to our communities? How can we help our member companies? How can I help my friends and colleagues? This determination is central to the message we are sharing across the channel. #Community is #StrongerTogether, as well as #ShopDirect highlight the connectivity during these unprecedented times.

I said I didn't know my colleagues on staff. What I meant was I have been amazed by their resilience and creativity in meeting the demands of this crisis, and their dedication to serving the DSA (Direct Selling Association) membership in new and exciting ways. The DSA team has been focused on ensuring we do everything we can to keep our member companies and their independent salesforce armed with the resources they need to deal with the current crisis, as well as envision how we will work in the changed environment that faces us down the road.

To that end, we have embarked on a series of immediate and laser-focused activities intended to assist direct sellers—member companies and non-members alike. These activities include:

To be candid, I'm still pacing the hallways at 3 a.m., and the house still echoes with the absence of family and friends. But I know I'm not truly alone. Because even during this "Great Sequestration," none of us are alone. There are dedicated and amazing association executives, company leaders, individual direct sellers, all working together—from their kitchens, dens and offices—to help ensure we remain healthy and prosperous. And that thought lets me sleep a little easier.

Joseph N. Mariano joined the Direct Selling Association (DSA) in 1985 and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2011. Mariano is admitted to practice law in the state of Maryland and before the Supreme Court of the United States. DSA is the 110-year-old not-for-profit national trade organization representing direct selling companies, and their 6.2 million independent salespeople.