What’s Your Post-Pandemic Vision?
Randy Wolken, President & CEO
The future is created twice. First in our minds and then in the world in which we live. Have you envisioned your post-pandemic future? This is the beginning of your efforts to create an exciting and rewarding future for you and your family, team, organization, and community. It’s never too early to begin this process. For many, now is the right time.
We are just beginning to see a world emerging from the pandemic and its social and economic impacts. The outlines of what the future holds can be seen and acted upon. One thing is for sure. The future will be different because of the pandemic and the changes we have experienced over the last couple of years. It’s time for us to take stock and assess what has changed, how quickly it is still evolving, and what our future responses will need to be. As the great Yogi Berra said, “The future ain’t what it used to be.”
The rapid changes that now affect our lives and our organizations have changed how we see our futures. Our experiences now form our expectations, desires, and capabilities. Taking stock of these insights is the first step. First, make a list of your new expectations, desires, and abilities for you, your team, and the other areas of your life. Next, take note of what has changed in you and those around you. This gap is the growth or change that has occurred. As Yogi tells us, “You can observe a lot by just watching.”
This initial assessment is only the first step. Now you need to envision a future that can be successful in our new reality. This is typically the most crucial step in any growth effort. Capturing your insights on paper (or your computer) is vital. Sharing this with others for their insights and input helps you discern the validity of your thoughts. Finally, implementation is the key to creating your new future—layout detailed plans, involve key stakeholders, prepare to deploy critical resources. All of these steps will help you prepare to remake your future. There is just one more step.
Once you layout your future, you must choose it. Remember Yogi’s wise words, “When you come to a fork in the road…. take it.” Too many individuals fail to act even when they know they should and even after they plan to do so. They get complacent or paralyzed by decision making. Creating a new post-pandemic future requires action. It will require recalibration when the plan is not going as well as expected. And it will require resilience and hard work to implement. But this is all needed to realize your post-pandemic future. Doing so is vital to you and those around you.