2021 – This Is The Way

I think we can all agree that 2020 was one of the most challenging years we’ve lived through. Many of us have experienced some sort of extreme loss this year. Some lost loved ones, jobs, businesses, or income, and we all lost a lot of fun. Personally, I lost the love of an amazing woman and my family’s favorite New York City restaurant. It hurts.

That said, there’s a light at the end of the COVID tunnel. As the vaccine starts to roll out, most people I speak to say that they can’t wait until life goes back to “normal” and pick up where we left off in March.

However, there were some good things that came out of COVID, although they may have been more difficult to recognize. Many people spent more time with their families. Some ate dinner with their kids every night or were generally more present. My parents started regular Zoom calls with friends who live in other cities, and I have heard of others having weekly family calls that last hours.

Rather than go back to normal, I think my path is a “new normal” which leads me to my one word for 2021. To quote one of my favorite shows of 2019/2020, The Mandalorian, “This is the way.”

FORWARD.

We all have no choice. The calendar forces us to move forward daily with the rising and setting of the sun, but do we evolve and move ourselves forward?

This year, if it progresses as we expect, we will transition into a truly post-COVID life. We will again be able to do some of the things that we missed so much, but some things should be gone forever.

Will we drive hours to meetings or travel to conferences? I think so. Will we resume socializing with friends and clients? I hope so! Will we go to the office on days when we could just as efficiently work from home? Maybe, or maybe not.

Everyone needs to figure out what forward looks like for them. For me, it’s a work in progress, but here are some of the ideas I am kicking around:

-         I am constantly seeking ways to move our business forward. I have been known to say that if you aren’t getting better, you are getting worse. Our marketing materials and the use of video are of specific interest to me in the coming year.

-         Relationships are really a key to life, both in business and otherwise. I will be making a list of the relationships I want to improve in my life, and I will make a concerted effort to do so.

-         I am determined to try new things. This is any area that I have struggled with, as I have been known not only to stay within my comfort zone, but also to be steadfast and downright stubborn when asked by friends and loved ones to do otherwise. It’s been easy for me to break out of my comfort zone in certain areas of my life, and I find that it always has amazing results. New experiences and travel are on the top of my list. Saying yes when asked to do new things is a priority this year.

-         Finally, I am playing for big prizes both personally and professionally. I will look to take risks both at work and in my personal life and to do the things that light my soul on fire.

Last year, my word was PRESENT, and I invited people to call me out if they saw me acting otherwise. This year, I invite you to do the same if you hear me saying “no” to suggestions without fully thinking about it or if you see me playing small in any way. I know that my view of the world and what’s available to me has expanded tremendously, and I am eager to ride that wave into an amazing 2021.

I wish everyone a Happy, Safe, and Healthy New Year and more importantly, an AMAZING 2021!