Most of us do some type of planning. This time of year, along with resolutions, you might embark upon reviewing budgets, setting annual business, career, or personal objectives, or even long-term planning. Many of our plans for 2020 were derailed by COVID19. However, I’ve been studying the futurists who warned about the high probability of a pandemic.   

While we probably can’t anticipate and plan for every possible circumstance, taking some time for alternative scenario planning is something to consider adding to your planning process. As part of long-term planning, it can be beneficial to incorporate what-if ideation, especially with a trend extrapolation framework. (This kind of imagining a worst case can actually help folks avoid panic, i.e. buying 10 year supplies of toilet paper during the next crisis).

In 2021, I plan to examine my expectations about the future and consider alternatives: Do we have a sufficient rainy day fund and emergency plan?   

I was caught off-guard when some items were missing from store shelves in 2020. While I understood panic-buying had stripped retailers of certain items (again, I’m talking toilet paper), reading the analysis of supply chains opened my eyes to one more way diversity improves systems. Diverse supply chains are more robust. This year, I also heard about the benefit of diversification in: investment portfolios, the Oscars, your diet, work forces and leadership. And then, I considered the widening political divide we face. 

When it comes to experiencing that political divide, if I find myself thinking, “OMG, how can someone believe THAT,” I know I have a relative or neighbor I could ask, “tell me more about why that is important to you.” I try - and I know this is the hard part - not to argue, but to understand. I also try to avail myself of news and viewpoints different than my own, at least occasionally.

In 2021, I hope to continue to examine areas in my personal and business life that are very uniform or stagnant: What needs a little shake-up with a diverse perspective?

During the pandemic, I heard myself telling my kids to wash their hands, and I was reminded of my mother. I hope I’ve passed along her wisdom to my kids:

• The purpose of good table manners is to make others comfortable eating with you.   
• Dressing properly is not to show off anything, but to show respect for the place, occasion, or people you’re visiting.   
• Regardless of the cut of beef you start with, the meal can be wonderful - higher priced cuts take less prep, lower priced cuts require more ingenuity.
• When cooking or baking, read the recipe and set a timer, but learn to trust your senses. 
• If you’re ever in a bind, you can trust your mom to help.

In 2021, I want to make sure that friends and colleagues also know that I’m here to help when needed.

Please don't hesitate to reach out!