Log in

SOUTHWEST VALLEY CHAMBER

Reflection: Let’s look back, learn and move forward

Posted 10/19/20

Over the past couple months, I’ve written articles and blogs with a focus on government action and inaction in response to the virus, stories heard on the street, and my attempts to be uplifting.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
SOUTHWEST VALLEY CHAMBER

Reflection: Let’s look back, learn and move forward

Posted

Over the past couple months, I’ve written articles and blogs with a focus on government action and inaction in response to the virus, stories heard on the street, and my attempts to be uplifting.

Recently, in a rare quiet moment, my mind found its way through all that I’ve experienced from the first mention of the virus late last year to present day. Just like you, a lot has happened in my life.

The waves of memories played like a digital movie in some instances and others more like a movie montage; a cinematic technique used in the 1980s.

Each memory was followed by the questions I ask myself at the end of every day, “What could I have done better?” and “What could I have done to ensure the best decisions and actions were taken based on available information and past experience?”

I hoped the government decision-makers asked themselves similar questions during the virus situation. I’m not sure about them, but I’ve had some experience with the impact a viral infection can have on a business.

Here’s a story that happened way back when I was in the restaurant profession for a franchised chain. There was an outbreak of Hepatitis-C at several restaurants, including one of the cooks at a sister location. Having the same restaurant was bad. Having my restaurant and the infected one on the same street miles apart didn’t matter to the public.

This happened before the Internet (showing my age), but it still hurt. Sales dropped, employees had fewer work hours, and I did a lot of public relations with the local community and media to make sure as many people as possible understood my restaurant was perfectly safe.

Thankfully, it helped and we recovered faster than other establishments. Obviously, my story is nowhere close to what we’ve all endured this year.

I’m sure you’ve made decisions that you never ever imagined you would have to make. I’m also sure you’ve made the best choices possible.

I hope you had family, friends or both who gave you useful suggestions or assurances you did the right thing. You might have been that “go-to” person for others. Bravo to you for helping!

Good or bad decisions should be learning opportunities. Bad choices can be fixed in many cases. I can name dozens of choices where a different or better outcome would’ve been preferred, but I try not to dwell on them. You never know if a different decision would have made things worse.

Actress Judy Dench in her role as M in the “Quantum of Solace” movie when asked if she ever had regrets, replied, “Course not. It would be unprofessional.”

A prolonged sense of remorse or disappointment will cause doubt, hesitation or some level of fear, which will drag you down. Learn, but don’t regret for too long.

Let’s focus on a positive future. I’m making decisions to ensure it happens. I know you’ll do the same!

Editor’s note: John Safin is president/CEO of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce.