Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Goodnight
As we wrap up 2020, all of us will certainly remember this year for the many things it was, but likely something will stand out for each of us individually. For some, that is grief – the loss of a friend, family member, or coworker to COVID. For others, it may be resilience – 2020 was a year of bouncing back. Some may say anxiety – jobs were lost along with benefits, schools were closed. Some might even say gratitude –they were spared the loss of a loved one and still have their job.
On a societal level, we’ll remember the shutdowns leaving us without the services we are so familiar with. Managing through an election in the midst of a pandemic. The whiplash from schools - open, closed, open, closed, kinda open, kinda closed, closed again, open again. Toilet paper, or lack thereof. Zoom.
All of us, individually and collectively, have a story to tell about 2020, and I’d like to share a little of mine. One of our children had COVID-19 early on and thankfully recovered. But we did lose an aunt and sadly mourned apart. Our 4-year-old grandson had a drive-by birthday party and I was amazed that he, like so many other young children, thought he was the only kid to have one and was amazed at the line of cars honking as they drove past “just for him.” I visited my mother in a senior facility by placing my hand on the window outside against hers on the inside.
It was a bad year, but not all bad. First responders and healthcare workers rose to the occasion and were an inspiration. Seeing Italians sing from their balconies while quarantined was heartwarming.
As we close 2020, it seems like the world is on the mend. A vaccine for COVID is on the way and defeating that will be the key to solving so many of the economic issues still plaguing so many. But news of the vaccine, as welcome as it is, wasn’t the big driver of hope and resilience that I saw as we wrap up 2020. Instead, it was the birth announcements – so many, so hilarious. It’s so exciting to see a whole new generation (they definitely need a cool name for this group) join us to face the future. This is a generation that will be digitally native, did not experience COVID, and are ready to lead.
My hope for them is that they will be virtuous in their leadership. Ethical in their decision making. Fair in their judgement. And true to their moral center.
To that next generation, I look forward to your leadership and the impact you will have. Like most of my generation, we’ll do our best to try to hand the world over to you a little better than we found it. A little cleaner than we found it. A little safer than we found it. And more ethical than we found it.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Goodnight.
The ETHIX360 blog brings you weekly updates on all things human resources and compliance.
MEET THE AUTHOR
J Rollins is the co-founder and CEO of ETHIX360. J is a well known leader and innovator who has served on senior leadership teams ranging in responsibility from Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, SVP of Product Strategy and Chief Operating Officer.
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