My 5 Key Lessons From 2020

This has been a difficult year. None of us started 2020 with any sense that it would end up like it has. And we've all struggled in some way or another. As the year comes to an end, I thought I'd share five personal lessons from this crazy period.

1. Not being a racist is not good enough. I don't actively discriminate, what more can I do?!? As it turns out... a lot more. I've always been comfortable that I'm not a racist. But in 2020 I learned that this passive mentality is not good enough. There are so many inequalities that are baked into existing structures that will continue to propel inequalities unless we more proactively knock them down. I've started to do what I can to be more proactive, like coaching a group of XM professionals of color. I'm hopeful that in 2021 we can all find ways to more proactively overcome racism and other forms of institutionalized discrimination.
2. Economic inequality is at a tipping point. How can the stock market be at an all-time high, when so many people are out of work and struggling to feed their families?!? Something's deeply wrong. I believe in the power of capitalism, as it is an efficient mechanism for shifting capital and other resources to the most promising opportunities. However, we've hit a point where wealth and opportunity is consolidated with an unhealthily small number of people. This is dangerous; even if you're on the advantaged side of this schism. The rising number of disenfranchised people will ultimately revolt against the system, putting capitalism at risk. I'm hopeful that in 2021 we can start reversing this trend by making quality education (including skills-based programs), housing, and health care more accessible, even if it means asking more from those who have richly benefited in the past.
3. Politics requires a humanity makeover. How did wearing masks become political?!? Think about the extreme cost of that unnecessary partisanship. Had the US been aligned on this simple sacrifice, we could have saved the lives of 10's of thousands of our fellow citizens. This polarization needs to stop. We need our political leaders to focus more on finding common ground for the good of the people, and less on igniting their political bases for the good of their political futures. Whether you're a liberal, conservative, or moderate, we all want our nation to be safe, our citizens to be healthy, and to collectively share in an abundance of prosperity. Let's start there. I'm hopeful that in 2021 the new administration and congress will find bipartisan approaches to address our most pressing problems.
4. We need each other more than ever. The vaccine is here, isn't it time to finally get back to normal?!? No. We need to prepare for another six months or more of public health limitations, and it won't be easy. I'm a pretty severe introvert, so I've actually enjoyed having to spend more time at home. I'm also lucky to have a pretty good setup at my house. Even with all of that, my tolerance for being shut-in is waning. Although it looks like the vaccine may hopefully bring some normality in the summer, I worry that many people will increasingly struggle during the winter isolation. We can't let down our guard. I'm hopeful that in 2021 everyone will reach out in more ways to more people and that we can help each other make it through this stretch run.
5. Resilience is an amazing thing. Did anything good come from 2020?!?! Yes, there were some silver linings. I want to start by sending my deepest condolences to the many people who lost loved ones to this horrible virus; I recognize that anything positive from 2020 may be inconsequential to your grief. While 2020 was full of suffering, that wasn't the only story. Health care workers took care of the sick, supermarket employees made sure there was food on the shelves, delivery services brought necessary packages to our houses, and scientists developed an incredibly robust vaccine in record time. And we learned how to use digital channels in new ways. Teachers figured out how to provide remote lessons, families, friends, and religious groups learned how to connect via Zoom, and people even increased learned to stay healthy using digital content like Peloton. In the face of this horrible situation, we pulled together and found ways to make things work. I'm hopeful that in 2021 we regain our collective resilience, and continue to make adjustments that will be necessary as we make our way back to a new normal.

2020 has been a challenging year. I hope that it makes us stronger in 2021 and that we find ways to stay positive and to appreciate life's little things a bit more.

Goodbye 2020. You will be remembered, but not missed.