A Year in the Rear View Mirror

Well, it came! 2021 that is ...

Does it feel any different today?

Does it look any different today?

Did your masks mysteriously disappear overnight?

Is your In Box inundated with people who now want you for that job or with interest in your business services?

Are you overwhelmed with invitations to events and parties?

Did you get the flight confirmation emails for all your domestic and international travels in 2021?

Hmmmm ... not different yet?

When will things change? Certainly, not with the turn of a calendar page.

Perhaps, it's already time to just get after the day and the new year (well, at least on Monday) and to do what must be done to co-create the life you desire.

Perhaps, it's already time to become and be the person you most desire to be.

Perhaps, it's time to stop waiting for normal and create your own version of extraordinary.

Perhaps ....

Here's what I know about 2020:

• My speaking business took a big hit due to the pandemic (overall business down 60% for 2020)
• Virtually no travel since March 15, 2020 (after spending 50% of my life on the road the past 6 years)
• Limited face-to-face interactions with friends and family
• Break-up of a personal relationship for which I had so much hope and led to my move to Tampa
• Big adjustments in some parts of how I live my life

So yes, it's been a challenging year and YET, I'm still standing and the business is still here and ready to serve.

And here's a short list of what we / I did achieve in 2020:

• Launched Impact Leadership Podcast (with Craig Mathews) from scratch in March 2020 (and published 81 episodes)
• Launched my fourth book -- Just One Step: Walking Backwards to the Present on the Camino Trail -- which became a best-seller in nearly a dozen categories.
• Retained our whole team of employees despite a lack of cash flow to support them, knowing that letting go of the people that drove outreach and business development would mean the death of the business.
• Conducted nearly fifty (50) online programs or webinars, many of which to give back and support people and organizations.
• Developed new sales and marketing strategies to adapt to the pandemic and speaking business realities.
• Created more than six (6) new training, coaching and mentoring programs.
• Built and launched a new business (Cardivera) with Craig Mathews.
• Started daily video BED Talks with a "Sure, I'll try that" and published 203 videos starting March 20th and every weekday through December 31.
• Learning a lot about myself, the world and life
• Was uncomfortable in many ways and grew as a result (personally and professionally)
• Learned so much about the truth of social and racial justice issues
• Regularly experienced a wide range of emotions
• Made many new friends in Tampa and around the world
• Connected (often on Zoom) with hundreds of new people
• Was a guest on over 30 podcasts during the year
• Learned to be and live even more in the present
• Listened and held space for many friends, clients and mentees
• Was brought to tears of joy, awareness and sadness more often than ever
• Stretched further than ever into discomfort, uncertainty and chaos
• Navigated all the ups, downs and challenges with little stress, deep learning and calm
• Learned to even more deeply understand how little I control and what it means to surrender
• Trusted more than ever
• Had more faith than ever
• Lived in more hope than ever

And in the end, as 2020 closed its door I know that I'm a better person, man, friend, father, relationship partner, leader, business partner, community member, ally, advocate, and team member than I was before. In other words, I grew through the chaos!

All in all I'd say it was a damn good year! Bring on 2021!

With Love,

Jeff Nischwitz, Chief Snow Globe Shaker