Stepping out from a simulation: 8 Takeaways from 2020

New Years has always been my favorite time of the year. I guess I just love the general time that is set aside to be dedicated towards the introspection and self-reflection of oneself.

This year has felt extremely Kafkaesque; almost as if we've been living through some sort of nightmarish simulation. Though with that being said, it seems like more of a reason than any to sit down and reflect on some of the takeaways of this year, so I’d like to open up and share with you 8 things that I’ve learned.

1. Success is not a goal, it is a byproduct of hard work and preparation

I’ve always appreciated the world of sports for the amount of transferable knowledge it has. One of my favorite things I enjoyed watching during the early stages of quarantine was the 10-part Netflix documentary on the 1990s Chicago Bulls, The Last Dance. You don’t have to be a sports fan to know how dominant Michael Jordan was as a basketball player. But what this documentary dove into was how Jordan raised the bar of expectations of those around him; unapologetically expecting nothing less than the best from anyone who played with him. Embracing that mentality while simultaneously pouring in hours of work behind the scenes into his craft, The Last Dance showed how Jordan elevated the game of Rodman, Pippen, Kerr, and others who all would go on to become NBA legends in their own ways. 

Speaking of legends, there was not a better example of a disciple of Michael Jordan than the late Kobe Bryant, who passed away this year. The mentality that Jordan had, Kobe took and made it his own. That eventually morphed into what Kobe called the Mamba Mentality, which focuses on the process of trusting hard work when it matters the most. This is something that many athletes and non-athletes have embraced (even more so after Kobe’s death) and ultimately has led them to success, including during a pandemic. Just goes to show that even through the darkest of times, you’ll be able to feel Kobe’s light.

2. Authenticity is the backbone of Relationship Currency

Having good rapport with those you work with is one of the most important lessons I've learned thus far in my career. It was more evident this year than ever before. Relationship building is often classified as a “soft skill” but the reality is that it's anything but soft. An essential part of advancing through your career, laterally or medially, is solidifying relationships with those that will be able to speak to your skills. A key part in making that happen is letting the qualities which make you who you are shine through to your work. Use them. Performance creates the opportunity but relationships drive the mobility.

3. It’s completely okay to not be completely okay

Social media outlets often give the illusion that everything is fine and dandy, including to some extent here on LinkedIn. This is because people tend to post or share more about the positives in their lives than the negatives. But the truth is that most of the time, things aren’t always as they seem on social media. 2020 as a whole made this quite clear. Throughout the course of this year, it was oddly humbling to hear about people’s struggles because it validated and put into perspective some of the feelings that I was experiencing myself. Our lives on social media tend to be artificial in some way or another but our everyday struggles are nothing short of genuine.

Within all of the struggles of this year, one thing is for certain; time waits for no one. All we can bring with us on our steadfast march into the future is our knowledge of our past and present. It is important to see what resources are available in helping with mental health and taking advantage them. Look to recharge yourself just as much as you recharge your phone. I find myself applying this not only in my professional life but my personal life as well. 

4. Communication is the easiest thing that so many people fail to do well

I studied both Computer Science and Sociology in my undergrad at Indiana University, being fascinated by the science of technology and the impact it's had on human behavior. It wasn’t an intentional marriage but it’s been really interesting to see just how blended both of these disciplines have become overtime, especially now having a career in corporate IT.

As we continue to advance technology, it gets easier to do things and be connected in ways that couldn’t have been imagined just a short time back. The irony is that as this continues, it also gets easier to not do other things simply out of convenience. I think this is one of the reasons why ghosting has become such an unfortunate and frustrating norm among many in both personal and professional lives.

This is one area where 2020 forced us to switch things up by opting for phone/video calls over texts and emails. To me, calls feel more genuine and it’s often more natural to just talk to someone rather than read bubbles on a screen. In a time where it's so easy just to ghost someone, try instead to get a little Robert Frost-esque and take the road less traveled by. Reach out and call someone to say thank you or check up on them to see how they're doing. With the world being as crazy as it is, hearing someone’s voice and discussing rather than seeing their words on a screen can go a long way.

These are things that will make you stand out and require little to no effort on your part. Sometimes the right thing to do isn’t always the most convenient or easiest thing to do. But then again, things that are worth it usually don’t come easy.

5. Passion for work is underrated

Never take that for granted. You can teach people technical skills but passion is a far rarer and more distinguishable trait. After being unexpectedly laid off in late March of this year due to the pandemic, I began a job search in a depleted economy, as did millions of Americans.

Although my situation wasn't unique, the most frustrating part of it for me was consistently being told by recruiters or hiring managers that I didn’t have enough experience. My question is: how does one get experience when some places are reluctant to give experience? I understand the importance of it but experience doesn't come until AFTER you get the job. It's actually become somewhat of a meme recently because I've seen a lot of viral LinkedIn posts of people giving their two cents from seeing many entry to mid-level jobs demanding an unrealistic amount of experience or otherwise setting unreasonable expectations for candidates.

It took me a little over 300 job applications to finally turn the generic and auto-generated "Thanks for your interest in our company" rejection email into the longly awaited "Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you the position" email. For the full-time offer I recently accepted, the one piece of feedback from the interview process that stood out to me was that the hiring managers were able to pick up on the passion I had for not only the work that I would be doing, but wanting to actively learn and grow my career with my next opportunity. Hearing this, they felt like I was someone worth investing in. Harboring a company culture of consistent learning and growth is essential for people in all stages of their careers. It also incentivizes those to stay and grow within a company.

Job interviews are a two-way street; often ask how your current or prospective company is willing to invest in you and looks to foster a culture of passion and learning internally. Job descriptions tell what you will be doing for them. It is important to ask what they will be doing for YOU.

6. The McRib made a comeback at McDonald's

That was fun. Nothing more to say here.

7. Wear a mask

To quote the greatest actor in the history of American cinema, Shia LaBeouf, and Nike, "JUST DO IT." This shouldn't be a debate. Unsure why this was such a controversy in this country.

Now, what would be an acceptable thing to debate? Here are a few brain teasers: 

• Was Home Alone 2 indeed better than Home Alone 1? Personally, I lean towards yes. The ingenuity of Macaulay Culkin's pranks were top notch, especially when you take into consideration that he wasn’t within the confines of his own home, not knowing any of his immediate surroundings as he did in the first film.
• Has Olive Garden effectively managed to scampi everything on their menu? I think so. They’ve done the shrimp, they’ve done the chicken, pasta, and all the veggies. This robust technique has been pushed far beyond its limits. Honestly, what else is left? Let's just hope they leave the breadsticks alone; those are sacred.

You see, these are the important questions we must ask ourselves, not whether or not we should wear a mask in public during a pandemic. Protect yourself. Protect others. Wear a mask.

8. Black Lives Matter 

Read it, then read it again. It’s not a complex issue, it’s common sense. The first step into solving a problem is admitting there is one. The second step is to listen and understand. The third step is to react, plan, and actively change the status quo.

2020 has shown that we still have a lot of work to do collectively in ending the systemic racism and social injustices that sadly exist in our society to this day. Speaking as a person of color in the United States, this isn’t something we can do alone. We need everyone’s help with this issue, which ultimately centers around basic human rights. The empathy perspective gained when listening to others struggles is something that is beneficial for life inside and outside work. It’s also just humane. Choose love, not hate.

Here’s hoping that in 2021 we will use the knowledge of the issues brought to like this year to bring an end to systemic racism and social injustices that exist not just in the United States but around the world.

Putting it all together

I know that was a lot, but all this is to say 2020 was a wild time for us all in every way imaginable. However, it’s important to take it as a remembrance to appreciate life and to embrace the many learning opportunities from the odd events that have made up this year. More often than not, these things can apply to life inside and outside the workplace.

The 2020s have certainly started off rough. But as we march into a writing a new chapter of this decade, I'm wishing everyone a very safe, prosperous, and hopefully a lot healthier New Year!

As for me, I’m going to go order a McRib and watch Home Alone 2 on Disney+. 

What a time to be alive.