It feels strange to say. I almost feel guilty saying it. And I understand that not everyone will join me in unison to say it as well. But it needs to be said:
2020 was a great year.
Before you call me insensitive or out of touch, I want to acknowledge the obvious horrors of the last twelve months. The pandemic has taken 1.7 million lives worldwide. We went through an absolute dumpster-fire election that proved just how divided we are as a country. There’s massive unemployment, homelessness, and a growing gap between the haves and have nots. None of this is lost on me.
But right now, in the twilight of a twilight zone year, we each have a choice. And I choose to believe that sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together.
Looking through the debris of 2020, I can’t help but feel optimistic for the future. And I believe that when all is said and done, we’ll look back on this year as the catalyst for the greatest decade of human progress in history.
A round-house kick off a cliff
Covid expedited the inevitable in both life and death across global markets. Any industry, job, or skill set that was already on life-support received a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick off a cliff this year. And anything built for a post-pandemic world felt a steady elevator ride turn into a rocket ship blast off.
The same went for shaky marriages and doomed relationships. Quarantine either brought households closer together or shattered the glasshouse once and for all.
Why is this a good thing?
Because Covid made tough decisions for many people who couldn’t make them on their own. Thousands of people lost jobs they were unhappy in, yet couldn’t leave because of complacency or fear. These decisions were (and remain) difficult for many, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Many of these people have already embraced this “great pivot” and started companies of their own, or found new jobs that are a better fit for the future. The extra free time of quarantine created the space needed to pursue a passion. It helped families slow down and reconnect. It forced humans all over the world to take stock, look forward, and adapt.
I know this isn’t the case for everyone. But I have heard from countless friends, family, and readers around the world that this forced reassessment of life has been a blessing. And after a tough year of planting seeds in the rain, I believe 2021 will be an incredible year of growth for those who view it this way.
What made the 1920’s roar?
The Roaring Twenties (beginning in 1920) was a decade of economic growth and prosperity, driven by recovery from wartime devastation and deferred spending, a boom in construction, and the rapid growth of consumer goods.-(Wikipedia)
Like America after WWII, the pandemic of 2020 sparked a number of events that I believe position us for a Roarin’ Twenties v2.0.
Here are just a few factors that position us for a killer come-back:
American’s saving rates are up. Deferred spending mixed with a year of cabin fever is going to make 2021 pop off like a bottle of champagne at Jay Gatsby’s house.
Unlike 9/11, Coronvius attacked the whole world. This unites us all through a shared experience and common struggle (aka, Trauma Bonding). It’s unclear how this will play out, but I believe it will be a positive force on the long tail. It makes the world just a bit smaller, in a good way.
The rise of Remote Work. 2020 was the year that income and geography finally signed the divorce papers. This is already allowing second and third-tier cities in the US to raise up and welcome talent that was once chained to California or New York. Bye-bye, San Francisco. Bienvenidos a Miami!
A whole generation is set up to receive public or private education fully remote and online. Now I know what you’re thinking. It is probably best for kids to learn in person and be around other kids. I don’t think the remote schooling model is a long term upgrade. But I do think it’s a GOOD thing that we’ve been forced to create a system where remote learning is a viable option. It will improve over time and will add to our overall resilience as a species.
Innovation on hyper-speed. The number of new tools, software, and businesses being created right now to support this global pivot is mind-blowing. The future is here—and it’s getting distributed faster than ever. This will lead to new jobs, new ideas, and overall progress for everyone.
Vaccines. Regardless of how you feel about the Covid vaccine (there’s a spectrum of feelings), you have to accept that the global “all hands on deck” approach was a great thing for humanity. In medicine and science, one discovery almost always leads to another. And the groundwork we laid for developing, testing, and distributing a life-saving medicine is almost certainly going to be valuable for future generations (not to mention, this generation).
Global collaboration is at an all-time high. Physical borders might be closed for now, but more people are hiring remote from around the world and starting companies with people overseas. I believe this will have a huge impact on entrepreneurs’ ability and appetite to think beyond what’s happening in their own backyard. Zoom, zoom, zoom, your meeting host will let you in shortly…
What’s normal, anyhow?
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” —G. Michael Hopf
I’ll admit it. There were plenty of times this year where I mumbled to myself, “I just want things to go back to normal.” And of course, there are many parts of this pandemic that we all hope disappear. But I think this year has and will continue to make us a stronger, more resilient society, nation, and planet.
Just as WWI brought America to its knees only to be the catalyst for a major comeback, this pandemic can be the catalyst to reimagine what greatness can be.
There is no more normal. There is only forward. And this is not the end of the story.
I hope some of these factors make you as hopeful as I am for an amazing decade ahead. And I truly hope that 2020 provided some hidden blessings for you, even if they haven’t revealed themself yet.
Thank you so much for reading and supporting my writing throughout 2020! It’s a real honor and one I don’t take lightly. And a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has picked up a copy of the book. Publishing has been one of the highlights of my life.
If you have read the book, it would also be an amazing gift if you could take a moment and leave a review on Amazon
And if you want to share a story from 2020 with me, agree with my assessment, or yell at me for being overly optimistic, just hit reply.
I am always open to feedback :)
For now, cheers to holding the vision that 2021 will be the year that brings the big picture into view.
And remember…
The best is yet to come.
Happy New Year!
The temperature is gooood!
-Corey