2020 was bad?? Not really!
As we approach 2021, many people have looked back on the year and have expressed their utter disgust to what 2020 was. Yet, 2020 was so much better than people think.
2020 is indeed, in many ways, a game-changing year. We had tremendous amounts of tragedies that befell us globally. The most significant to our day to day lives to be a global pandemic. I think, for many, the effects of the pandemic has defined what 2020 is. To most, it was the sudden restrictions! It brought in—the fear and confusion. As millions of people died and governments scrambled to protect their greatest asset (the citizens) we found our selves in a “new reality”. A reality where our freedom of movement and freedom to gather was taken away in the name of safety and protection. A necessary draconian procedure to protect people and the most vulnerable.
In this reality, traditional mom and pop stores that relied on walk-in customers found themselves in trouble and impossible situations. Many businesses also died during this pandemic. Many 9–5 workers found themselves telecommuting. Those who asked for WFH before the pandemic suddenly found out they were ill-prepared to work from home and naive in thinking it would be better. Peoples lives were turned upside down. The fine lines that were there to separate work, home and socializing collapsed. Some of us found ourselves isolated and alone physically but virtually connected to everyone. Some of us found ourselves isolated with others, to what seems an eternity, testing our patience. Some of us had to work, play and relax in the same physical location with no change in scenery. All of this sounds like a nightmare! It was for those that caged themselves unable to cope up with the changes.
Yet, in reality, those that tried in these times not only survived but also thrived!!!
The new normal broadened the definition of essential services and workers. Suddenly your local baker is an essential service/personal. Your uber eats delivery rider is an essential worker. The food and service-based economy became essential within weeks! Some did find themselves suddenly unemployed. Yet, a whole new different demand for goods and services had opened up during the pandemic.
For the past decade, people have been finding ways to disrupt one verticle after the other. Truth is during 2020, Covid-19 came and delivered that non-technology driven disruption to a scale never seen before. However, essentially it was still a disruption. As in the past, if a business did not adapt to disruptive technology, it could not definitely survive the disruption brought in by a pandemic. This is where exactly, those that responded in a calm, calculated fashion and not in depression and uncertainty won 2020 on a grand scale. These winners were NOT the exception but the norm!
Unemployed workers turned to figure out how to supply food and water to their neighbours stuck at home. Traditional brick and mortar businesses finally adapted virtual storefronts. Services integrated in scales never seen before with unforeseen speeds!
Oh! and those friends you never had a chance to drink out with due to geographical distances? You were suddenly partying with them over zoom and house party! The new normal sprang up a new model of business! Manufacturers adapted to new demands! While the global tourist industry halted, some converted their hotels into carefully managed and safe activity centres with packages for locals. While passenger demand suffers, global logistics picked up for cargo and ferrying stranded citizens back home. Airlines adopted by giving flying experiences. Many “crazy” ideas became lifelines for companies and their employees.
Also, in their forced quarantine, people started exploring themselves. This may be the greatest blessing in 2020. Side businesses skyrocketed here in Sri Lanka during the past few months. They might have been fueled by uncertainty, but in reality, these were untapped skills and businesses. Untapped skills that would have just disappeared without adding to the economy if not for what 2020 was.
Now the question is, as we head into 2021, would we “go back”? Back to the pre-pandemic life? The answer is kind of a yes, but also a hope it would be a different environment. This momentum in technological innovation and adoption should not be undone as we move back to a non-pandemic life. Instead, young and old entrepreneurs must look for even greater opportunities.
As we herald 2021, hoping to have the freedom to gather for work, party and relax, we must also focus on not losing the new gained confidence and skills during the lockdown. We must be more active and come up with ways to create a new economy. Online and offline. I think for example, for Sri Lankans, demand for experiences than consumer goods would increase. Demand for more convenient urban lifestyles and living conditions would increase. All of this means, we should stop being bitter about 2020 and look forward to conquering the ever-changing “new normal” in 2021.
