There is something truly nostalgic about the first smell of autumn in the air. As well as when the evenings finally turn cool enough to require a sweater grabbed as you’re heading out the door. Children return to school, college football is on television and the Halloween candy and pumpkin spiced coffees make their too early return. In addition, in the Jewish faith, it is time for a new year and a new opportunity to freshly commit to how we will do better and be better in the year ahead.
But for me, it is also a time to reflect on the year behind us. A year ago, I would have predicted a different path that we would have all been able to take and while there were certainly challenges to remote work, virtual meetings and limited social interactions, there were also some lessons learned that I hope to take into the year ahead.
For one, family trumps all. Not being able to travel and spend the time I would like with my family has made me appreciate each interaction more. When we are together, we cherish the time and the hugs. We have gotten good at Zoom for holidays, birthdays and wine tasting adventures! This year was a BIG birthday year for me and instead of the family trip to Portugal that we had planned, my daughters surprised me with an intimate birthday celebration and Kelsey put together an amazing video gift of many of my friends, family members and even my NTCA family sending along video birthday greetings. I will cherish those good wishes and seeing Bill and Erin Esbeck’s (of the Wisconsin Telecom Association fame)special dance complete with pictures of my face on their clothing! What I planned? Nope. But finding a way to make lemonade for sure.
Secondly, using technology to meet needs and demand has never been more interesting or innovative. The saying that ‘necessity is the motherhood of invention’ has never been more true on so many fronts as we find ways to interact remotely, ways to experience without touching, ways to pay with a tap of a card and even CLEAR, my handy airport speedy access with eye recognition, has branched into holding health/vaccination passes. This made entry into The Eagles concert in D.C. with vaccine and mask requirements last week very efficient and it felt quicker than normal entry with both my health pass and concert tickets on my phone.
Technological innovation also goes for the work that NTCA members do, providing the connectivity that has literally held us together for nearly two years. I have always been proud of the work our members do but never more than I have been during the pandemic as NTCA members and their teams worked overtime to build and build and build broadband to as many folks as possible. They also took advantage of state programs in unprecedented numbers to build to those outside their service territories who had been left behind knowing that there was no time to spare as medical and educational initiatives - and commerce - were all resting on their fiber builds! Streaming entertainment kept us from climbing the walls, using food delivery apps made a “date night” in the living room feel like a night out and grocery and other delivery apps made a huge difference in being able to stay safe and save time.
I would also be remiss to not note the innovation that has taken place in the medical field. Not only the amazing work of science in developing treatments and vaccines for Covid-19 but also the way we receive care. I have used our GHP Teladoc program a few times over the course of the past year and found the convenience and efficiency amazing. While I am disappointed to see some states looking to rollback their liberal use of state licensing laws, I figure we can join that fight with our colleagues in the telemedicine space when the time comes.
Work from anywhere became “a thing” and I was so impressed with the quick pivot from the NTCA team. In Arlington and Asheville, our team quickly moved to remote work and didn’t miss a beat. We also found that it gave our team more time to pursue their own personal passions without a long commute and have embraced the hybrid model into the future with an eventual plan for 3 days in and 2 working remotely. We’ve even purchased the equipment for our staff’s homes to seal the commitment to this model. But I do take great delight into running into our staff when our paths cross now in the lightly traveled office space and it reminds me that personal connections continue to matter and the reason it has worked so well for our team was the ability to create relationships that could withstand pressure and remote relationships because of the culture we had already committed to.
While there were things I thought I would do when our lives shrunk - like learn a new language, paint more than the mud room, clean out all of the closets, take the piano back up again - I settled for not losing my mind, walking Cassie and reconnecting virtually with old friends.
The common greetings on Rosh Hashanah are ‘L ‘Shana Tova’ and reflects our prayers for a good year ahead. I certainly wish that for everyone in this season of new beginnings.
