Resilience, kindness, optimism—these are some of the things that got many of us through 2020! What a crazy rollercoaster it‘s been. I‘ve asked my team to share their favourite lesson from 2020. Here are some of their responses!
One of my biggest 2020 reminders:
We always have a choice.
We can lead with courage and love or with fear.
We can be kind or ignorant and entitled (two of my biggest pet peeves!).
We can go down the rabbit hole of pandemic news and lose ourselves in contradictory information, or we can focus on strengthening our businesses, keeping our team members safe, and working our butts off to support our customers.
Life is full of crossroads. Which way will you walk, run, or skip?
“What’s one thing you’ve learned from 2020?”
Here’s what our team had to say:
Christo:
*”It’s been highlighted that there are constant changes in business, so you really need to be reviewing your marketing, market, points of difference, and product or service offerings constantly. We recommend checking in on these areas at least every quarter, whether there’s a pandemic or not.
Many of the awesome businesses we work with adapted in creative ways. For example:*
- A whiskey business that also started selling trendy hand sanitiser.
- A chain of restaurants that transformed into an eCommerce home delivery service almost overnight.”
Aga:
“One thing I have learned in 2020 is that even the poopiest situation can help you see what to be grateful for. Rather than sitting and watching TV, complaining about how crappy the pandemic is, look at the opportunities this change has given us:
- Spending more time with family and slowing down—without the distractions of always being busy.
- Not travelling—now we truly appreciate the beauty of where we live!
- Better hygiene—proper handwashing and coughing etiquette have reduced the spread of all kinds of germs, not just COVID. Haha, I’m grateful for that!
Just being grateful for what we do have—a job, a home, and an opportunity to make a real change. Many people don’t have that privilege.”*
Marusja:
*”A fortune cookie at the start of the year set the tone for my 2020:
“Coincidence cannot be planned.”
2020 taught me that even the most bulletproof plan may not work out—and that’s okay! When you hit a dead end, don’t try to run through the brick wall. Step back, look around, and choose a different path. It may take longer, but it will lead you to your destination—maybe not the one you originally envisioned, but the right one. Trust me!”
Martina:
*”To surrender, to be present, and to appreciate every single moment. To fully be aware, let go of outcomes and expectations, and just live fully.
Change will always be part of life—there’s no need to fight it. Let it happen and learn to navigate through it.”*
Kevin:
*”What you focus on, you feel.
If you focus on the news and the drama cycle, you’ll continually feel negative. And when you feel negative, you take less action and get fewer results in life. Instead, choose to focus on what helps you feel positive.
My go-to questions:
-
What can I be grateful for right now?
Even with sick family members, challenging circumstances, and uncertainty, I can be grateful for my health, the weather, my family, my friends, living in a beautiful country, and having amazing (and bananas) colleagues! -
What can I control in this situation?
I can’t control the virus, politicians, or other people’s reactions. But I can control my own mindset, kindness, and how I support my clients.
The negative is always available—but so is the positive. Choose wisely.“*
Haidee:
*”You have to be patient in life.
We often believe things work out if we rush them, but patience is one of the biggest keys to success.”*
Steffee:
*”Always strive for a better version of yourself.
With everything changing, I’ve had to adapt. Some changes are uncomfortable, but I know they will make me better. Change is good—not to compete with others, but to compete with yourself.“*
Shandra:
“There’s no such thing as loss—there’s only transformation.”
— Dr. John D. Martini
“This mindset shift opens up possibility and positivity instead of focusing on what’s gone. When something disappears, it doesn’t leave a vacuum—there’s always something new or different available if you look for it and take advantage of it.”
Udo:
*”2020 was a reminder of impermanence.
Nothing is permanent. We like to hold on to the way things are, but COVID-19 made many of us more aware of change—in business, relationships, habits, and beliefs.
Impermanence doesn’t just mean loss. Because of impermanence, we can change—if we want to.
It also reminds us that we don’t have all the time in the world. This realisation can be the wind at our backs, urging us not to waste the precious opportunities we have right now.“*
Denise:
“Just because someone carries it all so well doesn’t mean it’s not heavy.”
Infinite gratitude goes to our teams at @basicbananas, @the_businesshood, and @oceanlovers.global.
