Yes … I know that, now that humanity has learned they shouldn’t eat bats, we’re not likely to have the world return to the way it was before, but I’m very excited by two events that are reminders that the New Normal may consist of many things we enjoyed in the past.
Firstly, last week I attended a LIVE networking event … MEA NSW’s 2021 Kick-Off. It was at the Little National Hotel on Clarence Street, which turned out to be an absolute gem of a venue.
But whilst it was great to get out, see a venue and enjoy some very delicious food and drink, it was doubly delightful to be amongst fellow human beings again … just like we used to.
All the wonderful advantages of face-to-face connection came flooding back: the ease of communication, the way it allowed you to cross paths with people you would otherwise not have, the extra depth and dynamism your conversation can be.
Even shaking hands … and looking people in the eye. It really was good for the soul and made me very excited by the fact that more and more live events are being planned.
The other event that has me excited about where we’re at with coronavirus here in Australia is that on Monday, May 10, I’m going to the airport, to catch a plane to Melbourne!
It will be my first flight in about 15 months … my longest stretch of not going to an airport since probably some time in the 1980s!
I’ll have some time for some meetings while I’m there, so will shortly be reaching out to my Melbourne network to see who has time to catch up and talk about how we can make events great again.
But I don’t think I’ve EVER been so excited at the prospect of going through airport security!
I’d love some people to share what evidence THEY’VE seen that makes them smile about our industry’s future.