I don’t think anyone will deny that 2020 was a year of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The odds were stacked against all of us and we simply had to find the strength to muddle through each day. For some, it was a year of endless opportunities to try new things, learn new things and discover new talents. For others, it was a struggle to keep their head above water, their children focused on schoolwork, their bills paid and food on the table.

Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of madness that was created, we can all agree that it was a year like no other. The world simultaneously laughed, cried and raged together and we came out on the other side, hoping that the drama will subside and we can resume some sort of normality. Maybe our old “normal” will never again exist. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe “normal” is the wrong word to use. Maybe “stability” is a better description of what we’re looking for now.

If you fall into the category of those who are thankful that 2020 is gone, hopefully you can find some humor and little smile in this:

I love Will Smith, so this one makes me laugh.

I had my own trials and tribulations throughout 2020, but I’m looking forward to the future, knowing that I can’t change anything that has happened. All I can do is move forward.

How do you feel as you look at the new year that is laid out in front of you?

Angry? Scared? Optimistic? Excited?

Depending on your outlook and where you are emotionally, there are a ton of paths you can take from here. I am personally a little defeated by the events of 2020 because it decimated every industry I’ve ever worked in or cared about. But I also took a chance and made a leap of faith into something brand new and completely foreign to me. So far, it’s working out pretty great. And I pray that 2021 is a year of endless learning, new experiences and new opportunities.

If you find yourself in the same boat – with the loss of a job or significant decrease in household income, you really only have two choices: allow it to defeat you, or pivot and try something new. I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy and I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be upset or angry or feel the emotions that you’re feeling. I’m just saying that at some point, you have to make a decision about how the changes are going to affect your life in the long-term. You can let them destroy you, or you can let them teach you and help you grow.

Coming from a long profession in both the service industry (resorts, restaurants, bars, nightclubs) and the fitness industry, I can honestly say that it’s extremely daunting to move into something new. But I learned that the key to finding success and landing a new job in a new field comes down to your ability to articulate your skills. Yes, maybe your title was “Fitness Director” or “Bar Manager”, but how does that translate into marketable skills?

• Management
• Human Resources
• Inventory Control
• Sales
• Budget Management
• Relationship Development
• Vendor Relations

There is an endless list of skills involved in service industry, fitness industry, airlines and other jobs that are transferable to new positions and new opportunities in industries that haven’t been as greatly affected. Sure, you might’ve had your heart set on owning your own gym, being a district manager for a restaurant chain or something else. But as fate would have it, you’re forced to do something different right now. I found myself in the same place and all I can say is:

Give it a chance. Believe in yourself. Believe that you can do this, regardless of how hard it’s going to be. Maybe you were dealt a hand you don’t want to play. Maybe it’s not the plan that you dreamed for your life. And maybe, just maybe… there is a higher power who has a better plan for you.

In my life, that higher power is God. He knows what I need and what I don’t. Telling Him my plan is futile because He has His own plan for my life. And that’s okay with me. “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plan”… Between my house fire, a job loss, my dad’s death right before my wedding, and now a huge career change in the midst of a global pandemic – He’s never led me astray and He’s never let me starve.

Now consider your own situation and try to trust the process. Maybe you believe in God or Allah or some other higher being, or maybe nothing at all. At a minimum, I hope that you believe in yourself. You might feel like your dreams are shattered, but maybe they’re just on hold for a little while. Maybe you need another set of skills before you can truly make your dreams a success and this is God’s way of ensuring that you develop those skills.

Regardless of where you are in the change process, I hope you’re moving forward. I hope you’re building a plan to improve your life and the lives of those you care about. I hope you spent some time reflecting and maybe even grieving the losses that 2020 may have given you. And once you were done, I hope you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and prepared yourself for the road that lies ahead.

We all have a long road to recovery, but it’s not insurmountable. It will be a challenge, but I pray it will all be worth it in the end.

How are you planning to conquer and overcome in the new year?

❤ JB