Embrace the Future Without Forgetting the Past

As much as the last year or so has been a complete disaster as far as everyone’s sanity is concerned, it has also been a blessing in some ways.

After dealing with some crazy long hours the last couple of years it is somewhat refreshing to come home and spend time with my family and not just reopen the laptop for a few hours. Now my family may feel differently, and I often find them opening my laptop for me…

Bidding and supply chain uncertainty

What a strange time we are in. From everyone I have spoken with, the bidding is off the charts but no one knows if these are jobs that will move forward. It feels like we are bidding the same jobs multiple times that it is almost like a hamster on the wheel scenario. Feels like we are not going anywhere.

In the mean-time, everything is going up in price and lead times are getting longer and longer. Heck, even my weight and hair are going in the wrong direction, but many people would remind me that was happening long before Covid. What I take some solace in is that everyone I am talking with are all basically in the same position. The old misery loves company scenario.

Seeing the silver lining

What we cannot always see is there are always some silver linings that can come from anything that is not ideal. Having been someone who would take 20-25 trips a year it was nice to slow down a bit and spend time with my kids as they are all getting older. One is heading off to college, another is going to be a junior in high school, and the caboose will be in eight grade. This extra time will never be forgotten. Life was moving too fast at times, and the time with them made me realize what was important.

Returning to the road

I have been someone who has always traveled for work. I have had the pleasure and the misfortune to travel. When I was young the excitement for each trip was off the chart. As I have grown older that excitement is not always as strong. I have begun to travel again as I feel it is a necessity. Honestly, when my family started to book trips for me, I knew it was time to give them the space they were so used to.

I believe in the face-to-face interaction. I cherish the friendships I have built across the country. I am blessed to be able to walk into many offices without an appointment or on short notice. I have “grown up” with many of these fine people and we have been there for each other and each other’s companies. I hope this facet is not lost in the future. I hope we do not turn into a Zoom industry or an as needed appointment scenario.

Returning to the office

I hope people return to their offices at least on somewhat of a regular basis. There is so much you learn from an office environment. You learn from someone who has been a veteran and they often learn from the new people themselves. You meet vendors and get educated on what they offer and what is new. You become a family and are there for each other. Often you build a network for yourself for when it is needed.

On the flip side we can learn that there can be some flexibility and we can work remotely when needed. It can be a nice perk and offer some family flexibility. It opens your pool of employees as they do not have to work in your city. We need to find a happy medium for the office time, it is good for employee and employer.

Learning patience

I know I also learned to try and be more patient through all of this. Patience is not my strong point, but I am trying. It was a tough year as many of our suppliers struggled with getting people to work, had people that needed to quarantine or stay home and watch their kids. It caused some delays for us, and in return, for our customers.

I learned that when you communicate this news, if you do it promptly and express everything you are trying to do people understand. Rarely did I get a nasty remark back and usually received a thank you for the update and to keep them abreast of what is happening. In return I tried to do the same. I knew the people telling me the bad news didn’t want to give it to me and could have avoided it or dodged our calls and emails. I could hear it in their voice or words the stress they were under. We tried to take the approach of we are in it together and lets’ get a gameplan. I grew to learn when it was a real Covid issue and when Covid was just an easy excuse.

What I also learned is we are an industry of resilient people. We are hardworking, creative, and smart people. I learned that both at home and at work we can get through anything together. Even though my family’s idea of together is with me traveling more.