“Happy New Year” has never meant as much as it will in a matter of weeks.
I’m foregoing a few topics such as achieving consensus, process mining, and an Industry 4.0 primer (for the layperson). They can wait until 2021. Instead, I want to reflect on what has happened this year. Feel free to add your comments below.
I’ve had the chance to look back at some of my writings this year (not surprisingly, many of my articles have involved COVID in some form or another), and like many of you, we have read, heard, and watched the news on COVID-19 and the impact it has had this year on humanity. There was never a quiet moment when we weren’t being overwhelmed with data and information. As we wind down the year, two opposing storylines are unfolding that will intersect in 2021. On one hand, there is an increase in COVID cases, hospitalizations, and further restrictions on people’s activities to help contain the virus spread. On the other hand, just yesterday, the Pfizer vaccine began being administered to people here in Canada and in other parts of the world, with more vaccines on the way.
I know I’ve been a bit optimistic throughout this pandemic, and the vaccine news will give more concrete evidence to most that the tide has begun to turn. I’ve had numerous discussions over the past year with healthcare professionals who have witnessed the tragedies occurring, including front-line nurses, physicians, personal support workers, and others supporting the overall network. I’ve been steadfast with them (hopefully not inappropriately so), suggesting that with so many great minds around the world working on a vaccine, it wouldn’t take that much longer, and it will be the ‘silver bullet’ (granted, not with the same speed of success).
2020 will be a year nobody will forget, though maybe even more for some citizens, especially health care workers and families who experienced loss. For Gen Z, this could be the 1st significant global event in their lives. The emotional and mental toll it has taken on those under 18 (including my kids) may not be felt for another number of months (or years) once the pandemic is largely behind us. Let’s be sure to support all of them in the short term, as they are our present and future.
Personally, as a Gen Xer, 9/11 will still go down as my most apocalyptic world event. Working in aerospace at the time added to its impact – it will stay with me forever. Watching the war “live” during the 90s Gulf War also stands out to me. As a student, both the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion and the fall of the Berlin Wall were momentous events. This will rank up there.
The Silent Generation and Baby Boomers had global wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) and events such as the Kennedy and MLK Jr. assassinations. Out of these tragedies, the Kennedy assassination was bookended with the Lunar landing, JFK’s personal challenge to America, the human spirit (and mind) will triumph. Every generation has to encounter these difficult moments – call it a rite of passage. It’s only unusual that it’s been a century since we had a forerunner to this type of event (and I’m referring to the Spanish Flu, others may consider HIV or H1N1 on the same scale of impact). This was a different type of war, not based on a person, country, or religion, but on a disease, an illness.
Those under 30 will surely look back at COVID-19 decades from now and remember this as a pivotal life and historical event. I believe for some in Gen Z, it will be a seminal moment that will spur innovation and invention. They will not want to see future generations (their children) go through this same type of hurt, heartache, and isolation. I still foresee a day in my lifetime where a universal cure for cancer will be found – the unveiling of mRNA vaccines might only be the beginning – there is no limit to technology and the human mind. I believe more than ever that it will be today’s youth who will find such a cure.
Let’s not forget the year that was 2020, but as usual, let’s ensure we succeed in making the next one even better. And yes, I’ll be honest, the bar was set pretty low this year.
From tragedy to triumph, that’s my prediction for 2021.
I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Darren