For the second straight year, BizTimes closed out 2020 by asking readers to share their best business decisions from the past 12 months and lessons learned from the year. The responses were posted to BizTimes.com in late December. Here is a sample of some of their lessons learned:
‘Resiliency takes practice’
After Kahler Slater principal Tom Miller passed away unexpectedly in 2019, the architecture firm made a point of investing in resiliency across the company.
“In all business there will be times of uncertainty and it requires openness and trust to navigate through as a team,” said Glenn Roby, executive vice president of Milwaukee-based Kahler Slater. “We had no way to predict the impact of our newly forged resilient mindset, but the pandemic has certainly highlighted the strengths we have gained.”
‘Money is a tool’
Aaron Saray, owner of Milwaukee-based More Better Faster, pointed out that money is for taking care of needs, acquiring things and experiences, or removing pain.
“We use money to help measure success in business and to help collateralize risky ideas,” Saray said. “Make sure it isn’t the goal, though. It’s not the basis of meaning. Businesses exist to generate money and potentially wealth, but they also exist for many other reasons. Don’t let your temporary monetary setbacks make you question your reason and meaning.”
‘Perseverance’
Paul Hager, director of solutions at Madison-based Elevity, said the company’s mission is to help people succeed through technology, and the COVID-19 pandemic did not change the need or the mission.
“Things are changing rapidly, but one thing that doesn’t is the need to get up every day and keep doing your mission,” Hager said.
