What a wild ride this year has been. Bring on 2022!

By Rosaria Cain

NAWBO President

 

This year has been a recovery year for so many businesses. We are plumped up with government money, consumer demand is up, workers are scarce and events are back.

 

In the last couple of years, we learned to survive.

 

No one could have seen 2020 coming and the disruption it caused to our businesses and our personal lives. But we learned to appreciate the little things. Like being home with our families, enjoying dinner in, and exercising outside. We learned to find breathable face masks and how to wash our hands like surgeons. We learn through tough times and we pivoted. NAWBO went virtual, former President Jean Briese provided members with necessary information on PPP and EIDL loans. We learned empathy. We learned from grief and loss. My fellow board member Madeleine MacRae compared it to pruning. “You cut away more than you think is good for the plant so that a more beautiful flower can grow back,” she said. She likens it to business. “When we do things we find uncomfortable, we shed the things that are a drag on success and we come back stronger too.”

 

And this year, learned and we gathered.

 

We have had NAWBO Happy Hours, event programs and yes, even a party. The Red Affair was an evening event this year at Chateau Luxe and features a DJ, dancing and a silent auction. For some of us, it was the first party since 2019.

 

We learned to pivot.

 

We learned to do more virtually. We learned how to work from home. We kept on going. We became more aware of social causes. We all have online shopping habits. Many of us even buy our groceries online. Most movies we now see are in our living room. In business, we have learned to be flexible with the workplace. We learned that work can be done from anywhere. We were reminded that our employees are valuable and that employers need to do more to keep them. We learned the value of more time off, more perks, more fun!

 

 

What’s coming up?

 

Our first national event is coming up for NAWBO- our Leadership Academy, open to all NAWBO members, happens on January 31st in Tempe. Women will be coming from all over the country to partake in a full day of learning, laughing and sharing at the Tempe Westin. There will be two tracks- one focusing on Leadership tools and the other focusing on personal leadership skills. Find out more here: https://www.nawbo.org/events-channel/nawbo-leadership-academy-winter-2022

 

Later in the year, Ania Kubicki will take over as the new chapter president and will continue to build on what we have done this year. Just as I did with Jean Briese, who came before me.

 

Wishing you a wonderful year of growth and prosperity in 2022!