If Dumpster Fires had Silver Linings
Graham Plaster
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Graham Plaster
Director, Nautilus | Growing the National Security Technology Ecosystem | Bestselling Author
It has become a meme to celebrate 2021 as a welcome escape from the challenges of 2020. So many people have seen tragedy, sickness, loss, and depression over the course of the year, so what I would like to write here is not meant to diminish that pain in any way. I hurt for the friends, family, and not-yet-known friends who have gone through valleys this year. However, on the first day of 2021, I also want to look back and acknowledge a few things that happened in 2020 that were surprise blessings on both the micro and macro levels.
- I spent a lot more time with my kids since public school was completely online. They had long lunch breaks and ended school by 2:30 every day.
- We saved money by not eating out, and ended up cooking a lot more family meals
- We started a regular practice of "family meetings" where we checked in with each other about school, work, and social life.
- We looked for ways to support our local economy by buying local when we could
- We got a lot closer to our neighbors, leaning on each other for help
- We talked more, about everything; and read books together out loud
- We got to connect with professional colleagues via teleconference and surprisingly, became more aware of each others' real lives; and became more sensitive to work life balance
- We started to research and leverage new technologies to make decentralized work actually "work"
- We questioned a lot of things about how we want the future of work to look, once things "go back to normal"
I could probably think of more. If this type of list helps you in any way to salvage something from the wreckage of 2020, then that would be great. What is one thing that you are thankful for, from 2020?
Philanthropic & Nonprofit Development
3 年What a special time with our children, despite all hardships that have occurred. So grateful.
Tech storyteller & novelist. I make sense and dollars out of technobabble.
3 年This year, I learned to say "no" more. I turned down business and clients because they weren't the right fit. And sometimes, I decided to prioritize time off over working. Whether it's friends, acquaintances or clients, saying no to them often mean saying yes to you.
TEDx | Deep market intelligence and smashing barriers are my superpowers | Connecting Public Sector with Emerging/Underserved Companies and Communities is my mission | Helping people is my only measure of success
3 年One thing I’ve thought about as a positive from 2020 is appreciating my wife even more than I already did. So many women juggle so much stuff at home which is a full time job itself. She also has a full time job that is demanding. Watching her do both made me appreciate all the talents she has that I never really got to see. It’s made me take on more responsibilities at home to help out and made us stronger as a couple. The impact of that will last the rest of our lives.
Director, Nautilus | Growing the National Security Technology Ecosystem | Bestselling Author
3 年Paul Becker Frank Prautzsch Camille Tuutti David Bray, PhD Geoff Orazem Francisco Molinero Gene Zaino Esther Kay Plaster Logan Plaster Kyrie Plaster Nick Breedlove Jack Ryan
AWS Marketplace — US Federal Government, Healthcare & Non-Profit Team Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS)
3 年+1 on family in 2020. HNY Graham.