A reality of possibilities or a matter of survival?
…or both? I'm sitting here with the introduction to our business plan, trying to summarize 2020 while I'm frantically working to come up with numbers and strategies to face the future.
It's a dark November evening and thoughts are spinning wildly about how we will survive in an uncertain time and in an uncertain future when it comes to our industry.
I, who have always believed in the future, believed in development and better times. And that we humans, through clear visions, clear plans and a well-thought-out structure, create security, regardless of how hard the winds blow or how chaotic it is in one's everyday life, one's brain or in one's emotional registers. We must believe in the future. And have a clear plan for it. I have also always seen opportunities in everything. In the present and in the future. Isn't it in our heritage to develop and drive development? To strive for improvement and efficiency? Isn't that a fundamental driving force for most people?
And what is innovation and new thinking? Isn't it just the desire to develop and streamline what you do daily. Whether it's about logistics with all the children's activities, laundry and dinner puzzles or even the workday and its processes. Maybe that.
For me, it's mainly about trying to see things from new perspectives. Finding the courage to twist and turn the familiar and safe, what has always worked. Through will and strong drive, trying to do things even better, even more efficiently. Training the ability to break your thought patterns and test new methods and ways of thinking. Sometimes we need courage to wake ourselves up from our sleeping beauty sleep and look up. The old ways won't open new doors, I think.
Old ways won't open new doors
2020 will go down in history. A pandemic paralyzed an entire world. For me, it was a year full of challenges and lessons learned. A year where changes became our everyday lives and the pace of change became crucial for our business. Breathing, stopping and reflecting to make wise and sound decisions while at the same time having a clear and ready direction for the future became crucial for me. We all need goals, both as individuals and as a business. We need clarity and we need security. But above all, we need courage to dare to look forward and dare to see opportunities.
Perseverance and focus are my main watchwords and quality rest is what gives space for creativity and innovation. And innovation is needed now more than ever. The future awaits and we are ready for it, we see opportunities and we will survive. Stop, look up and breathe. And see things in new perspectives – the simple form of innovation.
I believe in the future and think it's time to wake up from the sleeping beauty slumber and start changing an industry that has stood still for too long. What do you say? Do we dare?
Kadi Upmark, CEO