A CONVERSATION WITH MYSELF
If you could use the magic of technology and go back in time to one year ago today, and have a Zoom call with yourself about what 2020 was like, what would you say?
Let’s find out.
2020 Me: “Hello me!”
2019 Me: “Hello me!”
2020 Me: “Wow! What a year!”
2019 Me: “Yeah! That sounds great! Then I’m assuming that all of my…I mean our goals and plans for 2020 worked out exactly as planned!”
2020 Me: “Well…not exactly. Things started out strong, but then the whole world kind of stopped.
2019 Me: “What do you mean – the world kind of stopped? How did the world stop?”
2020 Me: “There is a world-wide pandemic. And a lot of people got sick, a lot of people died, and a lot of businesses have had a really difficult time!”
2019 Me: “That sounds horrible! You said…it is…does that mean it’s still going?”
2020 Me: “Yes, it is!”
2019 Me: “That sinks! So, how are you…I mean, me…I mean, ‘we’ doing?”
2020 Me: “Well, I’m…I mean…we’re ok. We’re healthy and working virtually and 100% from home.”
2019 Me: “That sounds different.”
2020 Me: “It is, but it’s ok…because I’m (we’re) still able to work.”
2019 Me: “That’s fortunate. So, what’s it like?”
2020 Me: “Well, I’ve had to rethink everything that I do, and figure out new ways to work and do life.”
2019 Me: “Wow. So, you’ve figured it all out?”
2020 Me: “No. Not everything. Some things, but not everything. Each passing day, week, and month is still filled with uncertainty.”
2019 Me: “Sounds challenging!”
2020 Me: “It has been (and still is) challenging, but on the other hand, each new challenge also allowed for new ways to look at things, new ways to think about things, new ways to improve things, new ways to solve problems, and even…believe it or not…new opportunities.”
2019 Me: “That’s…well…kind of surprising! I mean…there is a lot of ‘New’ in there!”
2020 Me: “Actually…there is. We (you and I) know the old saying by the Greek philosopher Plato that ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’…and let me tell you…I mean me (this conversation with myself is a little confusing)…that ‘necessity’ has invented a lot in the last nine months!”
2019 Me: “Tell me more.”
2020 Me: “Many of the ‘traditional’ ways of working and doing business have been reimagined and have put much (if not all) of what we do into a virtual world.”
2019 Me: “Really?!?”
2020 Me: “Really!”
2019 Me: “So, what’s it like?”
2020 Me: “Honestly, a little awkward at first, but now…it’s pretty smooth sailing.”
2019 Me: “That’s great! But don’t you miss meeting and being with people in person? I know that is something that I (we) really like to do and really energizes us!”
2020 Me: “It absolutely does! And it will again. See a lot of really smart folks have been working on vaccines and they’re already starting to be given to people.”
2019 Me: “That’s fantastic! And that’s really fast!”
2020 Me: “It is!”
2019 Me: “So, hopefully things will start to go back to normal in 2021!”
2020 Me: “They will. But for somethings – like working from home, holding meetings virtually instead of flying across the country and back, and realizing that work/life balance and time with family and loved ones is just as important as work alone!”
2019 Me: “That’s some good stuff!”
2020 Me: “Absolutely!”
2019 Me: “So, knowing how much I (and you/me) like to plan and set goals – how will you (we) do that with life still being so up in the air?”
2020 Me: “Well – honestly – I’m just planning and setting goals just like I (we) have always done! Three main goals and being really focused on accomplishing what I (we’ve) set out to do.”
2019 Me: “Sounds fantastic! But what about all of the uncertainty that you (we) know is still to come?”
2020 Me: “As we both know; the most certain thing in life is that life is uncertain. We just tend to lose sight of that! So, with that said, I’m just going to plan ‘as normal’, be focused ‘as normal’, and be ready (as best as I/we can be) to pivot and change as quickly, as effectively, and as successfully as possible… ‘as normal’.”
2019 Me: “You (we) sound pretty optimistic about 2021 – despite all of the uncertainty!”
2020 Me: “I am…I mean…WE ARE!”
2019 Me: “Sounds like a great plan and attitude to have.”
2020 Me: “I think so, and I guess we will see!?!”
2019 Me: “I guess we will. You know, I can’t wait to hear and see how 2021 works out! Hey…it looks like someone else is joining the call…”
2020 Me: “Yeah…I wonder who?”
2021 Me: “Hello fellow Me’s! You won’t believe what happened to us in 2021!!”
STAY TUNED…