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Category: Chamber Corner Chamber Corner
Published: 22 December 2020 22 December 2020

It has been a real pleasure to come to you each with week with words that have, hopefully, been inspirational to you. Personally, I find the words inspirational because I give myself a chance to write about random subjects. One of my passions in life is public speaking and I like to say that my style is primarily that of an off-the-cuff delivery so writing this article each week has truly helped me to learn how to really organize my thoughts into something that will be interesting to you.

As I think about the subject matter of the week, I sometimes find myself stumped. I understand that some people, okay most people, don't think like me and the things that I find interesting aren't always high on your priority list but my goal is to write about subjects that are thought provoking and motivational. Each week I try to speak to business owners when I write. I also hope that my writing includes a bit of humor that might just bring a smile to your face.

Twelve months ago, I had just been offered the job as the Executive Officer of the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce. I had given notice to my previous employer and I was eagerly anticipating my official start date in 2020. January 6, 2020 was the day it was all going to begin. I was looking forward to meeting all of the fantastic members of this awesome chamber. I was excited to be able to learn about the community events that I was going to help with. I was a bit nervous about bringing my own flavor to all of the fun things we were going to do. During the interview process I had the pleasure of meeting the Board of Directors here and I was convinced that 2020 was going to be a great deal of fun. The board is supportive and it was immediately evident that they had the best interest of the members and the community in mind. I was refreshed by the number of things we all had in common.

It sounds cliché to say this, but this has been one of the strangest years I've ever had. January went well as I got my bearings together here. The staff at the time were very helpful and made sure that I knew all the intricacies of my day-to-day duties. February was more of the same, but it was all a little easier as each day passed. March started out like the first two months of the year and then the Earth spun off its axis.

Since March 13, 2020 we have been in a crisis mode in one way or another. I'm pretty sure I've had hundreds of hours of zoom calls this year. I've learned how to say COVID-19 and Global Pandemic, comfortably as they are the new buzz words. I've seen this pandemic shift from something that's happing "over there," or in another part of the world, to something that is happening right here in God's Country. I've seen it take hold of people whom I know and love and, sadly I've seen it take people whom I knew and hoped to know better.

As I share my wish of "Happy New Year" with you I don't share it as a seasonal farewell, or a "obligatory close" of a conversation. Instead, today I want to share "Happy New Year" to you as a prayer for the kind of year that we hope to have. In 2021 my prayer for us all is that we've learned about ourselves as business owners and entrepreneurs and we've taken what we've learned and will build a thriving business. I pray that those busines owners who were forced to permanently close their businesses will find the silver lining and better opportunities that have been waiting over their horizons. Your future is still what you can make it and your dreams are still intact but you now have a new path to follow with a different definition of SUCCESS.

Finally, to those of you who have lost loved ones to the COVID 19 pandemic, I'm so sorry for your loss! I pray that you will find peace and understanding as you search for answers to the many questions, I'm sure you still have. If your loved one was an entrepreneur, then I encourage you take their dream and keep it going. Continue to do what your loved one set out to do so that their death will not be in vain.

Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2021!