Code Enforcement With Purpose: A Commitment to People, Principles, and Community

Code enforcement is more than a profession—it is a calling rooted in service, responsibility, and compassion. When done well, it is one of the purest demonstrations of how government touches the everyday lives of its residents. “Code Enforcement with Purpose” is not just a slogan; it is the reminder that every knock on a door, every inspection, and every conversation has the potential to strengthen a community or break its trust. The choice belongs to us.

At the heart of purpose-driven enforcement is the understanding that humanity comes first. Every officer and inspector who steps into this work must know why they serve: not to punish, but to guide; not to intimidate, but to educate; not to create barriers, but to remove them. Purpose is what transforms regulatory actions into acts of stewardship. It allows us to see the person behind the complaint, the story behind the violation, and the community behind the policy.

The Inner Work: Mental Health and Maslow’s Hierarchy

But purpose is not sustained by good intentions alone. It is grounded in the well-being of the men and women who wear the uniform or carry the badge of responsibility. Code enforcement can be emotionally taxing—officers absorb conflict, frustration, fear, and sometimes hostility from residents who are struggling in their own ways. That is why mental health cannot be an afterthought. It is an essential tool of the profession.

Maslow reminds us that human beings can serve at their best only when their own foundational needs are met. Code enforcement professionals need:

  • Safety, not only in the physical sense but in the assurance that their leadership supports them, values them, and equips them.
  • Belonging, through teamwork, shared mission, and departments that foster respect instead of isolation.
  • Esteem, built on meaningful training, strong policies, and acknowledgment of the unique contribution they make to public service.
  • And ultimately, Self-Actualization, reached when an officer knows they are working in alignment with their gifts, their integrity, and their purpose.

An inspector who is mentally healthy, properly supported, and emotionally grounded is more capable of serving with clarity and consistency. They communicate better. They listen more deeply. They resolve conflict with empathy. They enforce with integrity.

When officers are cared for, the community is cared for.

The Duty of Municipal Leaders

Purposeful code enforcement does not happen by accident—it must be built, protected, and prioritized by municipal leaders. Managers, directors, and elected officials carry the responsibility of shaping departments where officers can thrive.

Leaders must:

  • Make code enforcement a visible priority, not an afterthought delegated to the margins of government.
  • Provide ongoing, accredited training so officers are confident in both the law and their ability to apply it fairly.
  • Invest in staffing, tools, and technology that elevate accuracy, safety, and efficiency.
  • Create policies that empower inspectors, rather than restrict them through unclear directives or lack of support.
  • Model the respect they expect officers to show the community.

A purpose-driven department is not measured only by how many violations are corrected, but by how many lives are touched with respect, patience, and fairness. When leaders set this tone, officers can serve without fear, residents can respond without defensiveness, and the community can grow without division.

A Closing Embrace

To the men and women doing this work every day—those who show up with courage, compassion, and consistency—I thank you. You walk into unknown situations, you manage conflict no one else sees, and you carry the responsibility of protecting neighborhoods while honoring the people who live in them. You are educators, mediators, problem-solvers, and peacekeepers.

I see you. I appreciate you. And I embrace you. Thank you for what you pour into your communities.

You are the heart of Code Enforcement with Purpose.
And because of you, our cities are safer, stronger, and more humane.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marcus Kellum is a trainer, facilitator, and consultant who works with local governments, private businesses, and professional organizations nationwide to train and optimize their staff. An innovative and dynamic speaker, Marcus’ hands-on training style, engaging topics, and informative classes are nationally recognized. Marcus spent three decades in public service working with various cities and counties throughout the country and has held positions of compliance planner, code division manager, chief of enforcement, and department director. A registered civil mediator, certified code enforcement administrator, soil and erosion inspector, and property maintenance and housing inspector, he received a Leadership Effectiveness certificate from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of
Business, and he holds a Master of Management and Public Administration Degree, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. His consulting firm, Metric One Training and Consulting won “Best of Gwinnett” in the continuing education category, and he has appeared in periodicals including Georgia Trend magazine, Diversity MBA magazine, Who’s Who in Atlanta, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
With over forty accredited classes, presented in over 20 states to thousands of officers and inspectors, Marcus’ presentation style makes learning enjoyable.

Using Mediation Skills to Improve Code Enforcement Within the Community  

The concept of using mediation techniques and tools to enhance the regulatory experience with residents is necessary to explore in the field of code enforcement. As I contemplate the mixture of these two worlds, I imagine using mediation techniques to offer a unique way to effectuate compliance without the need for legal action, and to equip officers and inspectors with an extra set of tools and skills.

This blog will explore the potential role that mediation skills can play in code enforcement, focusing on its impact on regulatory compliance, ordinance engagement and community dispute resolution. The field of code enforcement has evolved significantly over the years shifting emphasis away from a heavy-handed citation-driven process towards a more community-centered approach that values collaboration and communication.

By incorporating mediation techniques into their practices, regulatory departments can theoretically enhance their code compliance efforts and build stronger relationships with the communities they serve.

Let us start by clearly defining these terms. Mediation is a form of alternate dispute resolution that provides a non-adversarial way to resolve conflicts. By bringing together all relevant parties in a safe and neutral environment, mediation allows for open communication active listening, and collaborative problem-solving. This process not only helps to resolve immediate conflicts but also promotes long-term relationships and trust between the parties.

Code enforcement is an essential aspect of any community’s “quality of place.” It ensures neighborhoods are safe, orderly, and compliant with local regulations. I contend that mediation can play a crucial role in code enforcement by facilitating discussions between code enforcement officers, property owners and residents. Instead of resorting to fines or legal actions, proper mediation opportunities may offer a more constructive approach to addressing the actual code violation. By understanding the concerns and perspectives of all parties involved, mediation could help find mutually agreeable solutions that promote compliance.

Violations of the code are inevitable in any community, but how they are handled can significantly impact the overall well-being of the residents and the community. Mediation processes provide an effective way to resolve disputes by empowering individuals to communicate openly, express their needs and concerns, and work together toward finding common ground. By encouraging active participation and collaboration, officers and inspectors can create a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members, leading to sustainable and satisfactory resolutions.

Mediation techniques mixed with conscious code enforcement offer a valuable approach to enhancing regulatory compliance with communities. By promoting dialogue, understanding, and collaboration, code enforcement services enhanced with elements of mediation practices can create a safer, more harmonious environment for all community members.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marcus Kellum is a trainer, facilitator, and consultant who works with local governments, private businesses, and professional organizations nationwide to train and optimize their staff. An innovative and dynamic speaker, Marcus’ hands-on training style, engaging topics, and informative classes are recognized by professional organizations and local governments. Marcus spent three decades in public service working with various cities and counties throughout the country and has held positions including, chief of enforcement and department director. He is a registered civil mediator, certified code enforcement administrator, and property maintenance and housing inspector. He received a Leadership Effectiveness certificate from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, and he holds a Master of Management and Public Administration Degree, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Code Enforcement Regulators and Public Service Excellence

Public sector services are a key part of any economy and are integral to the way that society runs; however, the people who are responsible for enforcing regulations and ensuring that citizens and businesses are compliant with the laws and regulations are often overlooked as a major contributor. Code enforcement (and compliance), and all other regulatory services are essential for the functioning of a local government, as they provide vital infrastructure for a community to thrive. This includes monitoring the activities of citizens and businesses, conducting investigations, and imposing penalties or fines if a violation is found. Regulators are also responsible for providing information and guidance to citizens and businesses on how to comply with the regulations all while ensuring that regulations are applied fairly and equitably to all parties.

Throughout my many years of leading code enforcement and regulatory teams, and also training regulators across the country, I have always stressed how crucial it is to actually comprehend the role of a regulator in order to perform the job effectively. Understanding the responsibilities and duties can help ensure that regulations are enforced properly and fairly. Additionally, having a clear understanding of the job can help any code compliance person make informed decisions and take appropriate actions when necessary. Ultimately, understanding the job as a regulator is essential for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of regulatory systems in any community.

Our everyday practices, policies and activities must include making sure individuals, businesses, and organizations are not discriminated against or treated differently based on their race, religion, gender, age, or any other characteristic. Regulators should also ensure that the regulations they enforce are not used as a way to limit the free expression of ideas or opinions.

As history has shown us, there are shifts in culture, economic highs and lows, and other variables that traditionally bring change to communities; therefore, it is important that regulators take the time now to ensure that code and laws are updated to reflect changing needs and technologies. As noted by the writer Idowu Koyenikan, “Opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared.”

All public officials should note that understanding the responsibilities and duties of a regulator, and how this essential public service is performed is an important step in ensuring that all citizens and businesses are protected equally by the laws and regulations that are in place. I am proud of all my brothers and sisters who perform this often-thankless job, and I am proud to acknowledge and celebrate your public service contribution.

Why do people complain?

The act of saying that something is wrong or not satisfactory.

During my training sessions, I often proclaim; “Does anyone have questions, comments or concerns? I don’t take complaints!”

In my professional life, complaints came to me fairly often about a variety of issues be it from a co-worker, elected official, family member, neighbor, busy-body, hater or just an average concerned citizen; so, I now get to pick and choose when I receive one and I don’t want to hear it while I am having fun teaching (LOL). Nevertheless, when you really take the time to think about a complaint, it is a dynamic force and each one literally has a life of their own.

Let’s first examine what a complaint is so we can then discuss the topic of why people complain. According to the ProWritingAid website, ” The words complains and complaints are often confused because they are easy to mistype. But what is the difference? Complaints means expressions of discontent, pain, or grief when used as a noun. Complains means expressing discomfort, pain, or unease when used as a verb. A good way to remember the difference is Complaints has a T because they are things.”

As such, many organizations, especially local governments have developed processes associated with customer complaints that account for a large percentage of their service delivery and resource utilization. Ways to make complaints, the stages of the process, flowcharts, diagrams and even legislation has been passed to protect complaints (and the people who complain), their identity and their confidentiality. In other words, complaining is a big deal! Many organizations feel that complaints are an important way for management to be accountable to the public, as well as providing valuable insight to review individual performance AND the conduct of the people hired to resolve these complaints. A complaint response or resolution is explicitly or implicitly expected and, in some cases, legally required. Where complaints are handled properly, a good system can improve the reputation of an organization and strengthen public confidence; in other words, do it right and you will shine.

The desire to satisfy a complaint has become a part of our culture, and quite frankly, many folks who have regulatory jobs have a level of security in the fact that there are always going to be people who are unsatisfied and always a need to have someone try to “resolve” that dissatisfaction. Whether someone is expressing dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; talking about pains or ailments; or making a formal accusation, someone (YOU) is paid to listen and “respond.” I challenge you to take it one step further and analyze WHY the complaint was even made OR more importantly, CAN it be “resolved”. If a complaint is based on resentment (or even prejudice or bias), can it ever truly be resolved?

Prejudice is often confused for discrimination. Prejudgment may cause a person to ignore information that contradicts their prejudice. This is called confirmation bias. 

So using your enforcement power to make sure the grass is cut in the neighbor’s yard, in response to a complaint rooted in resentment, will only get “temporary compliance.”

Complaint resolution for regulators refers to the process wherein complaints are recognized, and you as the official work towards an acceptable “end” for the situation. A complaint indicates a gap between expectations and reality. This is an important concept to remember. Sometimes the residents’ expectations or assumptions create a gap and it’s your job to find what works to fix it. It isn’t always pretty, but the goal can be achieved only when you address these queries, worries, or complaints from the perspective of John Assaraf who once said, “The most wonderful gift one human being can give to another is in some way to make that person’s life a little bit better to live.”

Human Trafficking and Intersections with Code Compliance

Approved for CEU’s by International Code Council (Code Enforcement and Human Trafficking course #27613)

Friday January 20, 2023 @ 12:00 P.M. (ET)

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. 

This course is important to the code enforcement and regulatory community because it will introduce the “intersections” between what we see in neighborhoods, inside homes and other physical structures, as well as other signs & identifiers where sex and labor traffic take place. Human trafficking is often a hidden crime and victims may be afraid to come forward and get help.

Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Attendees will learn common indicators to help recognize human trafficking clues while inspecting properties.

Exploitation can involve the use of threats, manipulation, or force to get someone to do something they do not want to do for the benefit of another person. Attendees will become familiar with many forms; it could look like an employer forcing an employee to work for little or no pay or it could look like a romantic partner threatening harm if their partner doesn’t perform sex acts for money or drugs.

Code officials can help play a role in ending human trafficking by learning key indicators of the crime, raising awareness of human trafficking within the community/industry, and reporting suspected trafficking incidents. Due to the interactions with specific audiences, code officials may be more likely to observe human trafficking by nature of their day-to-day job duties or surroundings.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Dr. Keba Richmond-Green Ph.D. – Dr. Richmond-Green has over 10 years of experience in the Criminal Justice field and is certified in leadership management and crisis intervention. She is known internationally as not only a marriage & family psychotherapist and relationship coach, but a published author and visionary. She is dedicated to the empowerment and education of youth through her no-nonsense approach of promoting accountability, responsibility, and integrity.

Marcus Kellum, MMPA CCEA– Mr. Kellum is a trainer, consultant and thought leader who works with local governments, private businesses and professional organizations across the country to motivate and train staff (with a specialization in regulatory, compliance and enforcement). In 2021, Metric One Training and Consulting won “Best of Gwinnett” in the continuing education category and Kellum has appeared in several periodicals including Georgia Trend, Diversity MBA, Who’s Who in Atlanta and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Balancing Passion, Purpose and Perspective

Last week, I was invited to speak to a group of professionals who were embarking on a new journey at their current job. The new director who is a colleague and friend asked me to share some words of encouragement and advice with his staff. Several years prior, I led a similar type of change in an organization that received awards and industry accolades, so I would say with a certain amount of confidence that the program I led was a success. However, during the preparation for my talk with his staff, I took inventory of the many comments, suggestions and criticisms I received during that time. I distinctly remembered my staff mentioning their anxiety associated with change, and I also recall being told that they actually trusted me and not “the process of change.” Hmmm.

So how would I allay concerns, foster trust in leadership and help smooth the transition process for this team? After long and careful consideration, I realized that I had absolutely no idea of the nuances or what would actually happen with this endeavor; therefore, I was not equipped to “sell a used car.” What I could offer was a few nuggets on what they could do to personally prepare for change and embrace their new “experience!”

I opened the conversation with a comment on the new series Bel-Air which imagines The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will’s journey to Bel-Air. This led to a discussion about how one can retell a familiar story, with the same characters, from a different perspective and how they have a chance to do exactly the same thing. This change involves delivering a similar product (in this case public service) to and with the same people (same residents and same staff), but with a new “perspective”
So, how do we get there?

It should be noted that there is a difference between perception and perspective. Perception is what you interpret; it is your understanding of a given situation, but perspective is your point of view, so if the first step is to develop a new perspective, then the second step is to “Organize Around a Purpose.” I challenged them to identify and embrace the core purpose of their daily activities. Why do they do the job? While understanding that developing a clear “purpose” in the organization may involve doing away with barriers that held them back from previously reaching goals. The fact is, organized teams find ways to eliminate nonsense and streamline services. I reminded them to think about their “contributions” deliberately and that everything they do should have a purpose.

Lastly as Jim Collins said, “Great vision with mediocre people still produces mediocre results”, so the last step was clearly rekindling or finding passion for what they did. I told them the story of the 3 stone masons (it is a great story, no spoiler alert necessary). In the story, when asked what they (the stone masons) were doing, all three answered differently with different attitudes and levels of enthusiasm and pride they took in their job. I reminded the group that not everyone will understand their journey and they did not need to have a reason to do their job with passion, if it made them happy.

I challenged them to start telling their story differently (just like Bell Air) and not be the mediocre people getting mediocre results. I truly believe they all got the message, and I think he and his team will be a huge success. Not because of what I said, but because of who they are.

So how could anyone be passionate, be purposeful and have perspective all at the same time you ask?

I think Gandhi said it best “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”

WELL, I GUESS I’M LOST!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marcus Kellum is a trainer, consultant and thought leader who works with local governments, private businesses and professional organizations across the country to motivate and train staff (with a specialization in regulatory, compliance, and enforcement officers and inspectors). He spent nearly three decades in public service working with various cities and counties throughout the country and has held positions of code division manager, chief of enforcement and department director. Marcus is nationally certified; he is a preferred educational provider and has a master’s degree in management and public administration. In 2021, Marcus’ company Metric One Training and Consulting won “Best of Gwinnett” in the continuing education category and he has appeared in several periodicals including Georgia Trend, Diversity MBA, Who’s Who in Atlanta and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Navigating Interactions with Difficult People

Register now for the March 15, 2022 DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE accredited online class.

Have you dealt with a difficult person? Can we learn to accept a difficult person for who they are while not tolerating or even accepting their difficult behavior? In order to gain perspective on the true nature of “difficult” people, let us first understand what the term actually means (as it may be interpreted differently at different times.) The word difficult is an adjective meaning something that requires effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand; but in this case, a difficult person is simply not easy to please, get along with or satisfy. With this, we can begin to develop strategies to cope in an environment where dealing with difficult people is a common occurrence. Quite frankly, the skill set is rooted in the premise of resisting the urge to respond negatively to someone who is being difficult with you. Understanding the basis of the difficult behavior allows us to get some distance from the behavior itself. Many of us encounter unreasonable and difficult people in our lives at work or perhaps even at home. It is very easy to let a difficult person affect us, so what are some of the keys to empowering yourself in such situations?

For those of us who are frontline workers, either in regulatory enforcement, public safety or other positions that require public interaction, we have historically been told that using verbal de-escalation tips including listening and staying calm is the key to effective communication. Theoretically, I agree but when a difficult interaction is heightened or becomes emotionally charged, it is very easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and want to respond accordingly.

A recommended step after assessing any physical threat, is to possibly determine what the person is really trying to gain or avoid by acting this way? The answer to this question usually lays the foundation to then decide if their behavior is vulnerability or fear. In my experience, you don’t necessarily need to know what the other person is going through, but you should approach the situation with some level of professionalism and respect because any other response will not help productively resolve the situation.

Lastly, let the person know your intentions. In order to allay any concern with them about why you are interacting with them, let them know where you are coming from. Often times, they think you have somehow singled them out and they are simply being resistant. Your response is equally as important, so showing empathy, sticking to the facts and keeping it real with them can help keep interactions with people you find difficult in check.

About the author:  Marcus Kellum, MMPA CCEA

Marcus Kellum has worked with local governments, private businesses, and professional organizations across the country to train their regulatory, compliance and enforcement officers and inspectors. He spent nearly three decades in public service working with various cities and counties. He held positions as code division manager, chief of enforcement, quality and sustainability specialist and department director. Marcus is a Certified Code Enforcement Administrator and ICC Certified Preferred Provider with a master’s degree in management and public administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice administration.  

Reclaiming your Relevancy

The Standards and Codes Academy afforded me the opportunity to develop and present a training class last week (during the Becoming Agents of Change two-day training event) with the same title of this article. During the preparation for the class, I had the opportunity to explore feelings which led me to determine that this presentation became cathartic to me. 

I started the session by asking the attendees if change is inevitable. The overwhelming majority of folks responded in the positive with clapping emoji’s and hearts. The chat was filled with affirmations. To that, I followed up with the simple question, “if change is in fact inevitable, what’s your plan?” Suddenly, the chat fell silent and there were no streaming emoji  hearts or handclaps to be seen. This amazingly simple question stumped a virtual room full of very smart people from all over the country. It was that moment I understood how impactful this training session would be for both the attendees and for me.

The first take away from the class…you must have a plan!

Why is the change happening, why now, and what if I do not change? All valid questions to ask yourself but understanding how to plan for change makes changing successful. Easier said than done right? but trying to develop coping mechanisms for responding to change has worked for me in the past.

The second take away from the class…inevitably, in addition to change happening, you are going to encounter hate in the form of someone disliking you, or what you do.

Potentially, the hate can come from someone deemed irrelevant to you and your personal mission- no problem; but when there is in fact a connection, it can render your quest for relevancy difficult. People who I have come to believe are simply “detractors” are just unhappy with your “personal brand” and progress. In other words – a critic. During the class, I mentioned the process of personal branding, and how it involves finding your “uniqueness.” I have personally spent years building a reputation on the things that I want to be known for and worked hard to be known for them. In the public sector world, this was a strike against me because my “brand” meant being an integral part of my organization- but my detractors were seeking relevance themselves. 

Their hate started with bias that was left unchecked. Bias in this case was a preference against me that affected that person’s ability to judge me fairly. When that bias is left unchecked, it becomes normalized and accepted. I became a perceived threat to the status quo, which I have grown to understand meant I was doing something right! In these times,  negative word of mouth can have damaging effects on you, but thanks to the power of social media, people can now easily gather and share information on their experience with you and your brand and choose for themselves. Simply put, use negativity as motivation!

The final take away from the class…align yourself with someone traveling forward in the business you choose.

Build your personal brand around significance; meaning, the activities and values involved in your desired field. Learn how to share your brand values clearly so that those who are in your field recognize your potential and want to connect. Your brand should resonate with your “audience” so even those with high visibility notice you. Think about your contributions deliberately and with a purpose.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “relevance” as “the state of being intricately connected or appropriate to the matter in hand.”  In my opinion, the matter at hand is you, so get connected

Becoming Agents of Change

A Standards and Codes Academy Two-Day Online Training Event

Whether you’re a planner, code enforcement officer, zoning inspector, building official, plans examiner, regulatory agent or anyone in between, this ICC accredited, two-day Standards and Codes Academy event will deliver inspiration and maybe even spark some new and innovative ideas.

In local government, regulators (inspectors and officers) can be the catalyst for change; these are people who can make things happen by inspiring and influencing others. This Becoming Agents of Change event will promote, champion, enable, and support those who are ready to make changes for themselves and in an organization. A change agent inspires and influences key individuals to make the necessary transformations including attitudes and behaviors.

Scheduled for April 21-22, 2021, this incredible two-day event will provide training and brand new regulatory courses taught by industry leaders and renown trainers. This event is designed to help attendees understand that becoming an agent of change is the new requirement for leadership success. Change management has become a much bigger, more interwoven part of the overall regulatory fabric; it has become an embedded leadership requirement that plays into everything that we do on the field every day, and how we go about getting things done. All code officials must become agents of change. The requirements to be a successful leader have forced many to reinvent themselves to reclaim their relevance; without a strategy, change is merely a concept.

TRAINING EVENT CLASSES AND DESCRIPTIONS
(select one or two-day registration)

Pete Roque will be the Master of Ceremonies for this training event, and will act as the event host and moderator.

OPENING SESSION ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 21, 2021

Session 1 – Wednesday April 21, 2021  Mental Illness and Code EnforcementCecilia Muela-This class will discuss Mental Health tactics in the field, as well as mental health tactics for the Code Enforcement Officer.

Session 2 – Wednesday April 21, 2021  Reclaiming your RelevancyMarcus Kellum-This course is designed to help inspectors and regulatory officials reclaim the relevancy by achieving a level of mastery through a process of continuous improvement of your talents and abilities, combined with an active role in change management both professionally and personally.

Session 3 – Thursday April 22, 2021 A Servant Leadership Mentality- A Code PerspectiveKelvin Beene– This course assists in understanding the importance of the servant leadership model. These strategies will change the culture of your department, division and the identity of your inspectors when embraced by leadership.

Session 4 – Thursday April 22, 2021  Officer Safety and the Guardian MindsetGreg Smith– This class will go over the basics of the Guardian Mindset, Communications Skills, De-escalation Techniques, Safety Culture and Situational Awareness.

2021-04-21T08:30:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

The Two-Day Event Begins

2021…Here We Come; Like It or Not!

With a “hopeful uncertainty,” I embrace the new year!

Hopeful because I am just hardwired to focus on the positive and embrace all the positive energy I can gather. After all, despite the “turbulence” experienced during 2020, many old relationships were rekindled, new relationships were forged and the universe “shifted” to reveal a new normal. Tired of that term already? Well, what I actually mean is the events of 2020 changed the way we work; the way we interact with one another; and the things we value (didn’t know how valuable toilet paper was, did you?). As I reminisce on the last 12 months and try to focus on the positive, I see potential opportunity presented to us to make the necessary changes in our lives that will get us through the next phase of “craziness” (whatever that may be).

I am however a bit uncertain because…well, just because!

While It is comforting to know that the upcoming year will be the year of the Metal Ox according to the Chinese zodiac, and that messaging suggests that success will come to those who work hard. If working hard includes getting out of the house more often than I have in last 10 months than I am totally in! But the reality is, we are quite the distance away from “the way it used to be.” Let us take this opportunity to reshape ourselves (literally and figuratively), retool and grow. I implore you all to use this time wisely and focus on what has changed. If you prepare yourself for how your industry will deliver its product or service in the “new economy,” and use this “pit stop” to learn something new or double down on what you already know, you will be super prepared for any new challenges.

With more online classes and training being offered than ever before, it is time to expand your potential and take advantage of learning and training opportunities. Create a plan, establish a budget and get to it!

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.”
T.S. Eliot