Hindsight 20/20

Honestly based on all that 2020 has given us, I may never say that adage the same way again!

As all of us are learning from what we should have, could have, would have done differently.

We host a large conference every year. This year we flipped it to virtual in May with the hopes that half of it would be on site “when things got better” in October. Then on site became online. We hope that the 2021 conference will be in-person. But honestly, we just do not know. So, we learned to prepare for multiple scenarios.

Here are a few 2020 kudos and shoutouts that remind us we all have learned and acted:

• Kudos to all those who have had to pivot large (or small) conferences this year. It is not easy and that is an understatement.
• Kudos to facilitators who get energy facilitating in-person and who get drained talking to a computer screen. It is not easy either.
• Congrats to the leaders and teams who have had to change their 5 years plans and make them 5 days plans. We have seen so much innovation that will carry us well into the future.
• Great job to all the teachers and parents/family members who changed learning from “we’ve always done it this way” to so many new approaches and new ways.
• Shoutout to the children who are home without access to their friends, while trying to be quiet when the adults are working, and trying to stay engaged with school, and still just wanting to be kids and not have to worry about adult things.
• Our appreciation to essential workers who wade through challenges and anxiety help keep things moving.
• Shoutout to all those facing times without their families, without hugs, without friends. We see you.
• Thank you to our clients who are helping their clients deal with so much more during these tumultuous times. Based on that, we have had it easy we know.

And there are thousands more we can all add. What is your hindsight 20/20 this year? What have you learned? What are you thankful for as we close out 2020? Let me know at tjelinek@wipfli.com, subject line: Hindsight 20/20.

And if you have an idea for a blog topic you’d like me to address, let me know. I am happy to try.