Hey, you rock!

Facebook always politely asks me "what's on your mind?" Tik Tok clearly doesn't care, evidently, as it just starts shooting stuff in my face -but that's something to unpack another time...

What is on my mind is appreciation and pride. I think it is ok to feel pride in the work we, collectively, do, and in our accomplishments - both big and small. And I think it's polite to say "thank you."

 I suspect you're also feeling like the recent clouds are parting, and that the sun is poking through - and I'd encourage you to take stock of your own accomplishments. And I'd love for you to share them below.

 In the last 14 months your business probably faced multiple challenges that collectively were an order of magnitude larger than any we've faced over the past couple decades.

 Personally, as I look upon my 26th work anniversary @BTS, I'm reflecting on what each of us here in this business community has accomplished in our own little way, and thinking that we should allow ourselves a little grace to celebrate, and some space to tell our commercial community what we're proud of as we watch the clouds thin. And, of course, to say thank you.

 I'll go first. But I'd love to hear your story too, so please reply if you have a moment!

Many of you know me from the days before we had cell phones- when overheads and acetates and unhealthy (but YUMMY) cookie trays ruled group facilitation, If one were fancy, they used dot matrix printers to supply feedback. And facilitation was always in person.

 I'll admit that sometimes during those formative years we felt like a cross between Moe, Curly, and Larry and the Dread Pirate Roberts - Taking on challenges that we shouldn't, but getting it done, sometimes with a little style!

 Against that backdrop, BTS had one value proposition - we helped executives get smarter on their business leveraging simulation experiences as a tool. Things changed slowly.

 But change has changed. 

When C-19 hit, 70% of our business was in face-to-face meetings, off-sites, and development experiences...We acted quickly, took prudent business steps (raised a ton of cash globally) and eschewed other "prudent" practices (we retained all our talent). We initiated conversations with all our clients and began making virtual the new normal.

 As proof of that success, today we reported our best Q1 results ever that included 17% sales growth and 6x Profit After Tax growth over Q1 2019. Yes, that's right - 2019!!!

 We've evolved to become our client's broader people partner. Our quiver obviously still includes essential components necessary to drive better @business acumen - all aspects of your business, your client's business, and simulating your ecosystem interactions with key stakeholders from each entity.

 But with the help, inspiration & co-creation of amazing clients, we've added arrows to our quiver in the effort to help clients change and transform: #Leadership from top to bottom (lots of #DEI engagements this last year), #Assessments - for cultural, personal, and organizational change readiness, #Coaching- for executive teams and for the masses, Innovation to solve for being "stuck" somehow, #Sales and Marketing pivoted to support & evolve organizational desired selling motions, and we've added tuck in acquisitions to support all these efforts.

 Paraphrasing the words of less enlightened times, "we've come a long way" (leaving out the "...baby" part, cuz I'm so mature ;-) )

 Big thanks to those who've influenced me over the years: Internally, I'll call out Jonas Akerman, @HenrikEkelund, Philios Andreou, Joel Sigrist, Patrick Fei, Deon Greyling, Todd Ehrlich Dan Parisi, Mark Jackson, Jessica Parisi, Lou Schachter, and Kathryn Clubb

 Externally, I'll call out the many clients (who became friends) that had the vision to push, challenge and encourage us to create better leaders, who, in turn, created better businesses that, in turn, continue to create a better world. I'm truly humbled by your faith.

 Just a few of the many business partners from my formative years: Accenture, Adobe, AT&T, Applied Materials, Autodesk, Cisco, Genentech, General Motors, McDonald's, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Procter & Gamble, Sodexo, Statefarm Insurance.

 And for those who journeyed with us to @virtual: Discover Financial Services, GE, HashiCorp NiSource, Rocket, RSM US LLP, Salesforce, Scotiabank and a zillion others!

 Thank you!

 Let's hear your story!??

(to be honest, this started as a post, but I forgot the character limitation - so if you care to share, you may need to put it in article form as I did here!)