CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Embracing the Marathon
H EE-S O O K N EL S O N G ELS ON’ S MAR K E TS
Grit is the essential factor in finding success during the pandemic and into the future.
there to serve customers every day and show up to work. They have become the pipeline for food and necessities.
Some of my fellow columnists in this issue have astutely pointed out that 2021 has, so far, felt similar to 2020. Covid-19 continues to dominate our thinking and have an everyday impact on our lives.
compassion and support to our customers and one another. They have shown the four characteristics of grit:
To that end the pandemic seems to be comprised of its own unique time outside the normal turn of a clock or calendar page. For this reason, operating throughout the pandemic has truly been a marathon, not a sprint.
• Conscientiousness, being careful and vigilant to keep our stores safe
Another aspect of grit is flexibility. The doggedness grit requires might seem like the antithesis of flexibility, however, adopting grit requires a growth mindset. Covid-19 is a generation-defining obstacle, and so the roadmaps from the past will not do. Lessons must be learned, and we are all inventing the path as we go. Implementing programs that may have taken a year or longer basically happened overnight to serve our customers.
What’s the key to successfully navigating this historic time and maintaining success into the future? Grit. From in-store social distancing to managing exhausted teams, passion and perseverance especially are essential. These two characteristics must flow throughout the company, back office to the store floor. Every challenge from Covid-19 provides an opportunity to keep moving towards your desired outcome.
• Courage to come to work and take care of communities
• Perseverance, they show up to work in times of crisis • Resilience, they power through any challenges and help keep communities going This takes the entire team from warehouses, truck drivers, our staff in our offices and especially our front-line workers who are
“What’s the key to successfully navigating this historic time and maintaining success into the future? Grit.”
Our grocery stores have become the hub of our communities. Our teams have not only been providing an essential service but they have been the ones who have shown
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8 | CAL I FOR N I A G R OC E R
Finally, there is something most people miss when thinking about grit, and that is how it relates to the future.
