Thank goodness 2020 is over! Hello 2021! Despite a rough start, I'm going to keep believing that 2021 will be a year of hope, healing, self improvement and recovery. I'm not naive, I just choose to remain positive!
LESSONS FROM 2020
Out with the old, in with the new! What a year 2020 has been! Like the year 2000, it was a highly anticipated year with many expectations and a long list of things to do and places to go. Then came COVID-19, and everything literally ground to a halt. It soon became clear that the most important thing was to stay alive and well. For a moment people learned to rearrange their priorities and focus on things that really matter - family, faith and personal growth. The lock down (forced or voluntary) kept people home and allowed families to spend time together, though it worked great for some, and was a disaster for others.
We have said good bye to 2020 and ushered in 2021 but we are still reeling from the damage inflicted by COVID-19. It has taken a toll on everyone in every way possible. People lost jobs, homes and loved ones. People who never had to depend on donations to survive had no choice but to stand in long lines to receive food to keep their families fed. If anything good came out of this tragedy, it's the display of the ability of humans to take care of each other in the face of difficulty.
The importance of staying connected was also magnified during this difficult time. Fueled by technology, friends and family were able to check in on each other via zoom calls and face time, hold virtual birthday parties, church worship and prayer meetings without leaving home. With the pandemic also came a shift in how and where work is done. For many, going to the office is just a walk from their bedroom to the kitchen or any room they choose to work from. For some, these changes are welcome to stay but for others, they cannot wait to get back to life as they know it.
People who never had to depend on donations to survive had no choice but to stand in long lines to receive food to keep their families fed. If anything good came out of this tragedy, it's the display of the ability of humans to take care of each other in the face of difficulty.
HOW TO MOVE ON IN 2021
The fact is that things will never quite be the same. Some changes are here to stay and for good reasons. Employers who have maintained productivity, saved money on office rentals and the accompanying bills have no incentive to go back to the way things were. Many new businesses were launched during the pandemic. Many existing ones are finding ways to reorganize, optimize and re-frame their business strategy. Mckinsey & Company published an Executive briefing titled "COVID-19: Implications for business". This briefing highlights some of the strategies organizations are adopting to help them stay viable and relevant. It also offers advise on what individuals can do to stay employed and relevant. Bottom line is retraining, retooling, discovering skills you never thought you had and brushing up whatever skills you do have. Fortunately, technology places world-class education and skills acquisition on our lap in the comfort of our homes and on the go.
Life is not the same and will never quite be like it used to be before the pandemic. Some individuals have begun the journey towards picking up the pieces and rearranging their lives and routines to adjust to the new realities. Some are not quite there yet and may take longer to get on the road to recovery. No matter where you are on your journey, we will all get there. Some will get there before others, but we will continue to support and encourage each other to get on the road to recovery.
Bottom line is retraining, retooling, discovering skills you never thought you had and brushing up whatever skills you do have. Fortunately, technology places world-class education and skills acquisition on our lap in the comfort of our homes and on the go.
Slowly but steadily, this too shall pass. Start somewhere and the path will get clearer as you go along. My heart goes out to those who have been impacted directly or indirectly (which is almost everyone). Reach out to someone today and encourage them. Hearing from you may just be their last lifeline to believe there is a reason to keep living.