“What makes you most optimistic about the future of your industry?”

Many individual employees, corporations, and entrepreneurs initially looked at the COVID-19 pandemic like they view recessions, as negative. However, when catastrophes occur, I always look for the positive or “the benefit”, the advantage in a trial instead of the negative. This is not easy to do because challenges immediately provoke the ability to have a negative attitude. So, a positive attitude, an optimistic outlook must be exercised, like a muscle, prior to difficulties arising. One way to do this is by practicing overcoming smaller challenges daily or even weekly to be in position to handle dilemmas that last for months or even years.

To paint a picture, and since I lead a global conglomerate corporation with ties to a variety of industries, COVID-19 allowed people to realize hybrid work is not so bad after all. New ideas or innovations on how to apply existing technology to events, meetings, social interactions, and more are being revealed. Additionally, technology companies going IPO or are already public; the pandemic has increased sales for a number of institutions. Within the food & beverage, restaurant, and supermarket spaces, home deliveries are now being performed with a variety of partnerships. Like Door Dash and McDonald’s, Uber independent contractors (solo-preneurs) and drive-thru fast-food organizations, and meal and grocery deliveries via Instacart. Furthermore, traditional brick-and-mortar academic institutions, who would not transition before, are now putting more of their content, courses, and meetings online.

I’ve completed similar tactics to help people upskill, reskill, or go into entrepreneurship while living through the pandemic, available here: https://www.drkylalatrice.com/learning-courses . Including specifically for COVID-19 titled “How to Build a Business While Going Through Severe Crises”. Overall, difficulty is not necessarily bad, but can create a much-needed transition for a business to scale.