From the Editor and Publisher

WE LIVE IN STRANGE TIMES. WE ALSO LIVE IN STRANGE PLACES: EACH IN A UNIVERSE OF OUR OWN.

—Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Take a look at our new i4 Business TV Channel The Great Global Pivot: Lessons from the Pandemic

One of my friends says she’s tired of the word “pivot.” Actually, she said that in May, billions of pivots ago. The whole globe is venturing through new territory this year.

I’ve always embraced change. It’s part of growth. But there’s something eerie about going through constant, daily change without leaving your house or speaking in person to another soul outside your immediate family. Something odd about fixing your hair and makeup, picking out a nice blouse and jewelry, and finishing your attire with workout pants and a pair of Crocs before you jump into a full day of video calls.

People have described this year with words like unprecedented, surreal and some others I can’t repeat in print or my mom will wash out my mouth with soap.

But it’s also been a year of incredible growth. I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned so many new things since March 11. That evening, I was leaving a Solar Bears hockey game at the Amway Center when I got a news alert on my Apple watch that the NBA was shutting down its season. It felt like the beginning of the end. That was a Wednesday. That Sunday, Walt Disney World closed its doors.

We had just wrapped up production on our April issue. It would be the last one we would publish until this one.

In this issue, we share the words and viewpoints of people here in Central Florida who’ve been showing us how to navigate big change. For our cover story, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings talks about how 40 years in public service has prepared him for this moment in time.

I’ve thought about all the ways I’ve grown this year — not including around my waistline, because that’s just sad, and I know I’m not alone in that!

We’re all learning new skills. With the departure of our former publisher, Cherise Czaban, I’ve learned how to have more confidence in selling, and how to read our revenue figures to project what the coming months will look like. I’ve been comfortable speaking on stage for years, but now I’ve learned how to master a videoconference without breaking a sweat or breaking the internet.

I’ve learned how to publish an e-book in one day and how to record a podcast. I’ve learned which camera to look at when you’re hosting a TV show and the other person is on Zoom — in fact, you can check out our new i4 Business TV channel on YouTube, because I’ve learned how to create a YouTube channel and upload videos.

Sadly, I’ve learned how to conquer my addiction to spectator sports. I’ve discovered the beauty of my neighborhood through my daily walks, and I learn more about business and travel every day via podcasts. I’ve learned how to pair spirits from one of my favorite wineries, Medlock Ames in Northern California, with some terrific food. I’ve learned the words to “The Rocky Road to Dublin” to impress my guy in Scotland.

This year has been unfathomable. But it has forced us to think differently about our world and everything in it. Let’s keep sharing our positive stories as we persevere.

Have a great month!

Editor and Publisher