Think back to the beginning of this year. Everything was still shutdown. We were waiting for the number of COVID-19 cases to drop off so things could start opening again. We hoped vaccines would get the pandemic under control and help boost economic growth so we could return to a normal way of life. Upwards of 20 million people were still unemployed, but consumer sentiment was up from an eight-year low in April 2020.
Then 2021 happened! And what a year it has been. Just think about some of the unexpected events we saw.
- There was political upheaval during the change of power to a new President like we’ve never seen before in this country.
- In March a massive container ship, the Ever Given, blocked the Suez Canal for six days. This was the longest obstruction since the canal reopened in 1975 (the second longest was in 2004 when the oil tanker Tropic Brilliance was stuck for three days).
- We continue to see supply chain constraints, backed up ports, and driver shortages. Things are slowly improving, but still far different from what we were used to before the pandemic.
- Labor shortages that started with low-paying and entry-level jobs have expanded to all levels of supply chain professionals as labor force participation remains much lower than it was before the pandemic.
- Consumer sentiment hit a 10-year low in November and rebounded some in December. But what will the reaction to Omicron be, as we face a surge in cases and possibilities of another shutdown?
On the positive side, half of humanity was fully vaccinated in one year. Things did open again. Our children did get back to in-person learning. Stuff from Asia might have been slow getting here, but we as a country still have more than enough to meet our needs.
What helped companies navigate through these disruptions? One key element is strong relationships with suppliers, customers, and logistic partners. Strong relationships support transparency. When suppliers, customers, and partners understand each other’s capabilities and needs better, they can make better plans.
On a personal note, my wife and I had mild cases of COVID-19 (before the vaccines were available to us). We had insurance to pay for my daughter’s two surgeries on her feet. My business is slowly recovering from the hit it took when COVID-19 abruptly shut down the foodservice industry in 2020. We are doing OK.
What has been great this year is that I have met a lot of new people. I’ve made new contacts by networking through professional organizations. I’ve developed more and deeper relationships with new and existing clients. I’ve gotten to know some folks at software companies whose planning solutions I helped my clients evaluate. All of these are relationships that I prize deeply, and not just because it is important to my business. I truly enjoy interacting with all these people.
If I limited my interactions with people to just business, I might think everyone is doing fine. But that is not the case. I know people who lost loved ones this year, some to COVID-19, some to other causes. I weep with those who weep. My heart goes out to those who struggle to provide the basics of food and shelter for their families, especially considering the impact of recent inflation. I try to support organizations that help feed the hungry and ministry to the lonely. I expect to do more of that next year, and I encourage you all to do the same.
To those who are clients and friends reading this, know that I appreciate each of you and look forward to more time together next year. To anyone who may have stumbled on this blog that I haven’t met before, drop me a line and let’s get acquainted.