2020 — what a year!
Last year has got to be one of the strangest ones that I have ever experienced. It has been pretty tough too — but not the worst.
2020 was meant to be THE year, and talking with many of my peers, they felt the same. In the last quarter of 2019, my Exhibition Mastery product was really gaining traction. I had already delivered a bespoke training to a group of graduates, had multiple conversations, networked my socks off and by the time 2020 had come round, my order book was looking very healthy with several companies hiring me for product launches and how to improve their return on the exhibitions they delivered.
In all honesty, I went into 2020 with a real hope.
Of course, the news coming from China about this strange virus didn’t really feature on my radar at the time. It was only as the first quarter progressed did it become obvious that we were heading for something unprecedented.
Then Lockdown v.1 hit and the events and exhibitions industry (along with with many many others) shutdown. All possible work out the door — for the foreseeable future. The best possible year turned to, potentially, the worst.
When you are faced with great adversity, when the situation you find yourself in seems to be insurmountable — you are faced with a choice. Let the situation overwhelm you? or face it head on?
Facing it head on meant working from home, prioritising the family and then looking to see what I COULD do, rather than what I couldn’t.
For the first time in a long time, I actually had time to work ‘on’ my business. To increase my knowledge, my skills and my network. I joined a global think tank focused on exhibitions and ‘what next’, made new connections and some cases joint ventures and even good friends!
During lockdown I incorporated Exhibition Mastery Ltd — some said I was mad! Starting a new business in how to get the best results from exhibitions and events at the time when the entire events industry was shut down? I was never looking at the here and now. I was (and still am) focused on when it all opens again. Everyone is going to be a bit rusty — and almost desperate for the interaction again.
And ever since then, I have been working on ‘something new’ ready for the relaunch in the New Year.
There were challenges. My Mum needed to shield, I couldn’t see the rest of my family. I moved out of Bletchley Park earlier than planned. (The museum has claimed back the buildings of the Innovation Centre) and my kids couldn’t see their friends. This did have a palpable effect on lifestyle, quality of life and in some cases, a distressing impact on mental health.
It has been tough, yet I count my blessings because it could have been so much worse. I am grateful for my family, their resilience and their own can do attitude. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to spend time with them and see them grow and adapt. They have been a constant inspiration to me and the very reason I keep doing what I do.
Now at the beginning of this year and looking back at the end of the year, the entire family took a very well earned break. Bizarrely (but not an uncommon phenomena) Christmas 2020 will go down as one of the best and most enjoyable ones in Lloyd family history. With no pressure to meet anyone, no time constraints or needing to be somewhere else — we just relaxed, enjoyed each others company and recharged.
It’s the beginning of the year, and I am very much looking forward to 2021. New products, new channels, new partners and new clients. Exhibition Mastery and Vantage Point launching and I am very much looking forward to working with businesses to help them develop and exhibit their business face to face, virtually and day to day.
Happy New Year.
