It’s New Year’s Eve – a time for reflection on what has happened or the excitement of looking forward? Whatever thoughts you normally have I am sure that 2020 into 2021 is like no other New Year.
It would be easy to look back and focus on the negatives of 2020 – a year we would probably rather never happened. But before we “kick it out”, it is worth reflecting on what has been achieved, what we have learnt and all of the positive moments.
As a family we have spent quality time together enjoying our immediate local area, discovering walks that we’ve never done, despite living here for 20+ years.
We’ve enjoyed the companionship of fantastic neighbours and connected with neighbours who previously we might have only nodded or waved to.
The team and I have had the privilege of working with great businesses who have shown resilience, tenacity and innovation. Together with them, we have learnt to navigate through uncharted territory. (Who knew what furlough was way back in March and now part of our everyday language!) We’ve laughed with them, we’ve cried with them and a few other emotions along the way!
We have exploited technology to conduct business in a way we never planned – delivering workshops and conducting meetings in a Covid-secure way.
Our business model was tested – we never expected that every customer would ring us at the same time with the same problem (thanks Boris) but that’s what happened in March with the “stay at home” message.
The annual business plan and 90 day goals went out of the window, instead it was daily and weekly priorities – prioritising activities that are on the critical path to ensure we supported our clients in these (sometimes) desperate times.
And as we look back we should celebrate our collective achievements. It’s been a tough year but it’s 31st December 2020 and we’ve made it! Not the year we envisaged 12 months ago but we head into 2021 ready for whatever it throws at us.
With the announcements of Tier restrictions, vaccination programmes and Brexit deals we know that there will be further and new challenges for SMEs but our experiences of 2020 mean we are better prepared. We don’t have all the answers but we know how to think about them and to adapt.
We thank our existing clients for letting us share your journey and we look forward to working with our existing/ future clients to achieve success for them and us in 2021.
I also want to thank the team without whom I could not deliver our services and my family for all their love and support.
I wonder what we’ll be saying this time next year?
Happy New Year
