How do you get through a year like that without once using the awful ‘C’-word?
Simples.
Just make a decision to be about the only place not to give it any more visibility. Like New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinderella. She’s globally acclaimed (oddly, not by all in NZ) for her handling of things. I like to think it’s because she took a firm, early, decision not to use the word, nor give it traction and status. What? She chose not to name it? I don’t believe you.
Yup. That’s right. No one can name the guy who shot all those innocent people in Christchurch – and that is largely because Ardern as PM opted not to give acknowledgement to something truly awful.
You don’t have to search too hard to find the name…if you must. But you do have to look quite hard indeed not to find the C-word almost universally used daily for twelve months plus. But not here. Not now and…not ever. It won’t be found in this odd little corner of our ever connected planet.
What you will find here however is a paean of praise for those who’ve survived. Against all odds.
The defiant ones. The stubborn ones. Those who have – despite all; despite fear; risk, tragedy and despair and, yes, despite politicians and their SW1 hangers-on – just kept trundling on. Trudgers.
Three quarters of a century ago a new world started to take shape. It’s another new one now.
Faster, more febrile, wealthier and healthier…despite everything and in large part, in the UK at least, because of post-war vision and decisiveness that triggered lasting change. For the better.
Maintaining priceless momentum in the wake of the victory to hand is the biggest challenge of all for those shell-shocked survivors still coming to terms with the fact that they are indeed in action anew.
How can that continue…? Probably by accepting the fact that while our Pre C-word world was still clinging to carbon-led growth plans, the reality was that Data had already overtaken Oil as the only true driver of economic growth. A while back The Economist mocked up an image featuring an array of oil platforms branded Google, Facebook, Amazon to make just this point.
Anyone who didn’t get it then – in May 2017 – certainly sees it now as we double check our spare room Zoom call links, and the Queen (…really?) talks about ‘gigabit connectivity’ to an arm’s length audience of oddly-dressed peers; lonely wallflowers in a Century-21 Elizabethan masquerade ball.
Tempting to insert WTF in place of WFH as the acronym of an annus horribilis for all classes. But that would miss the point, dwelling on what’s gone, not celebrating what’s ahead as the pace of our collective pick-up in new – or resilient old – businesses seize the opportunities that are right here.
Some even know the successful formula matches compassion with pace; online and face-to-face. Digital tools with handheld care, a mix that gives a priceless personal touch to distant dreams for all.
