2020 – What a crazy year!

Despite a new decade full of promise at the start, 2020 hasn’t been the year we all expected. It’s fair to say we anticipated a few ups and downs but none of us expected the year we’ve had.

It started well but then when COVID hit in the Spring, throwing most of us into lockdown for months, and if you are lucky enough to work, a virtual working situation. The world changed very quickly.

…and now, here we are again with a new virus strain, heading into more isolation and further lockdown for who knows how long.

The start of 2021 isn’t looking too great either.

BUT…

For all of the negatives, I want to focus on the many positive from this year …because they are there if you look for them

• Learning – there is so much scope for learning out there this year – even if you just stick to BA learning there is so much available online. If you open yourself up to other areas you can get training in almost anything you want. Whether free or paid for, you name it, it’s out there. Because it’s all online, you can do training from across the globe, and you get a different perspective from across the world. It’s a great time to take advantage and enhance your skills. So just go out there and do as much or as little as you want …I did and have learnt loads.
• Taking part – Don’t just listen to learning, take part! Again, because it’s all online it’s your opportunity to get involved with webinars, conferences, open mikes, panels. You name it, you can get involved. If you don’t believe me just check out some of the things I’ve been able to do this year.
• Being part of a community – Either as a volunteer or a member you get to attend all great online events, bounce ideas off other BAs and feel part of something bigger. Being part of the IIBA Scottish Branch Committee has been great over the last year, as we meet regularly (virtually), and along with committee talk, we also have a chat as friends.
• Working with my Team – I work with a great team and we’ve done brilliant and important things throughout the year here in Scotland. Not least, helped people renting their homes to keep their home with no fear of loss.

Finally, working from home has also given me two extra gifts…

• It means that every day I work within shouting distance of my husband and have lunch with him. We are celebrating 25 years of being married at Christmas and if this year hasn’t shaken a solid foundation nothing will. Michael suffers from depression and anxiety and has done for many years, so being able to spend this time with him is really important for our peace of mind.
• The other gift is I get to work every day with one or both of my dogs chilling in my office, sometimes they even invite themselves to morning stand up.

It’s easy to see the negatives in a situation, somehow they seem to drift easily into our thoughts. It may be more difficult to find the positive, but its more worthwhile when you do because they are far more rewarding.

I’m going to finish on this, Rene Carayol gave a great inspirational talk at this year’s BA Conference Europe and one of the many things he said that has stuck with me is this: ‘Focus on the Exit’

…and that exit is closer than we think.