2020.... where will it take us
As I enter the second week of my twelve month ‘sabbatical’ from the commuting to corporate life and back again and reviving Lorick Management and the new division Visitor Economy Development, I find myself busier than I was a couple of weeks ago (and I thought I was busy then). However thrown in with a few factors of difficulty that comes with working from home.
Two weeks, two power outages, mobile phone range reduced, no internet and find myself in a mobile office stopping at every wifi zone possible and eyeballs floating as I feel I need to buy a coffee at each location to compensate for my data use. First world problems...although I hear third world areas have better internet connection than Australia. Non the less work is being done. I am juggling volunteering and community contribution with ensuring I am able to pay the bills that don’t stop because of ‘public good’.
As we know Australia has experienced (and continues to experience) some extreme months of weather events that have impacted communities large and small. With a health epidemic thrown in there to keep our imports and exports on our toes. In the words of Simon Sinek “If you want to feel happy, do something for yourself. If you want to feel fulfilled, do something for someone else”, so I inspire all Australians to contemplate doing something for someone else during these times.
Building social assets is more sustainable than building things, its the people that make our life enjoyable not the things we are able to buy. Ask all the rich people in the world what makes them happy and ask the poor people in the world what makes them happy... the similarities define what life is about. So what can you do this year that can start to be an example for others to do the same.
As many of my colleagues know I am a not just a tourism professional, I believe in what the industry stands for and what it can do for communities. I have spent, what feels like a lifetime, convincing businesses that they are part of the tourism industry directly or indirectly and unfortunately the recent events have proved this to be the case. Better late than never businesses are starting to see how they can get involved in the industry for their own business sustainability. So if you don’t know your local tourism group, association or network, I suggest this be the first step for any regional small business to understand how they can benefit.
Keep an eye on my projects and communications to give you an idea of simple ways you can help regional NSW. Stay safe everyone and make 2020 about your community.
