"When 2020 is behind us ..."
"What a year 2020 has been ..."
"I'll be so glad when 2020 is over ..."
How many times have we said that over the past months... as if we can put 2020 in a cardboard box, slap on a return address label and send it back.
Just like many of you, I've found myself looking forward to the end of this year, to slamming the door on 2020 and never looking back.
And then it hit me ... turning the last page on the 2020 calendar isn't going to magically erase the challenges 2020 brought with it. When I wake up on the first day of 2021 odds are I'll still be dealing with all that was going on in the world when I went to bed the last night of 2020.
I'd been so looking forward to 2021, and the thought that I wouldn't really be leaving all that was "2020" behind left me feeling totally deflated ... at first.
Yes, just like you probably did, I started 2020 with exciting new goals and plans to achieve them! There were tournaments and conferences and self-defense classes and buddy days in the works. New student enrollments were up and we were reaching more and more Hilliard area residents with our programs to increase confidence, focus, self-defense skills. The future never looked brighter!
And then March 2020 ...
I lost about half my students and many of those who continued with us lost their ability to make their monthly membership payments.
My personal and business goals and plans and schedules went out the window. Small businesses needed to put in way more hours for way less return. There were new guidelines figure out how to follow and entirely new business models to implement with zero time for the traditional business model of research - learn - implement - evaluate.
It became a time of pivot or perish, step up or shut down, courage & positivity or complaining & pouting.
With a great team and great student families on my side I chose pivot, step up, courage & positivity!
We aren't yet back to where we were March 1st, but we are in a better place than we were April 1st and hopefully you are, too!
As I turn the calendar from 2020 to 2021, while I may want to leave behind all the frustrating, scary, sad parts from the past 12 months, I recognize it was learning to face up to those challenges and developing a new appreciation for the many things I tend to take for granted that will carry me forward into 2021 with an Indomitable Spirit. And my companions from 2020 into 2021 will be the great team of instructors and the amazing families in our program!
2020 taught me that with a positive attitude I can face insurmountable odds, keep putting one foot in front of the other and come out stronger than I thought possible.
2021, I'm ready for you... I think. ;)
Courtesy - Integrity - Perseverance - Self-Control - Indomitable Spirit
