A few thoughts from my first in-person conference since 2019:

It’s okay to be awkward. People are thrilled to see each other in 3D. Every smiling face strengthens our relief. We’re quickly learning whether to kiss, bow or shake hands. Masks are still popping on in elevators, while deep sighs of joy can be heard at outside dining tables. Some sit too close, others stand a bit further than before. We’re working out how to be back, but comfortably different. It’s all good.

Unsubscribed: That’s the number one thing I’ve heard from everyone. They’re done with hype and hyperventilating. TVs have been thrown out; the cable media have lost them forever. So have many former “leaders” - political, social and industrial. Definitely for Twitter: People wrinkle their nose at it now and wonder how we could be so foolish. Similarly for the industry media: People shake their heads when they hear about the latest unnecessary headline, unthoughtful controversy and unfounded animosity between companies competing for business, not waging pitched battles for existence. The old inputs are withering and people are ready for new ways of thinking, and being.

Health, and then wealth. A year of dodging danger shifted pauselessly into a light-speed market. As one person put it, we must be careful “not to light ourselves on fire just to keep others warm.” Sage advice, for the challenge ahead isn’t inventory or interest rates but exhaustion and burn out. Yea, record breaking sales and earnings make for great headlines, but let’s make sure the rest of the story doesn’t foreshadow a nervous breakdown or physical collapse. A good lesson learned from the pandemic is how we got along fine (maybe better than before) with enough. Now, the opportunity to do more should be an adventure, not a punishment.

Lastly, more than a few tears of gratitude. For those who have remained steadfast, open, caring and kind. It recharges the spirit to find old friends remained their wonderful selves: They did not let the pandemic jade them or degrade them, while letting it temper them sharper than before. They are rocking the stages; they are walking the halls with determination; and they remind me that since the last time we met, it wasn’t a period of time-off, but game-on.

Extra effort by them, me,

And YOU!

And for that,

I’m grateful.

#alwaysinspiring