From the Editor From the desk of Kevin Cole, Editor & Publisher, and ISFA Director of Communications
There Is a Time for Everything, and a Season for Every Activity This time last year I was challenging myself
a ways to go to get back to a more normal
benefit others. And I still believe it is based
you are like me, then you’ve heard the term
to take more time for me, which would in turn
business model, it is coming. However, if
on sound thinking. However, when I wrote it, I
“new normal” more times than you can count,
crash our economy was just around the corner.
previous “business as usual” that we may have
had no idea a worldwide pandemic that would I bet anyone would be hard-pressed to
so certainly there will be changes from the been accustomed to.
find a person who didn’t think 2020 was an
But, isn’t it always about change? Certainly
agree that it wasn’t the year of taking time for
two decades in the countertop industry,
extremely difficult year. I think most would also
change is the one constant. Over my nearly
yourself. In fact, it seemed quite the opposite.
there’s not been a time where something
In 2020, if you were like me, you had more challenges than you could handle coming
your way at breakneck speeds. Many of us
take great pride in our work ethic, making sure
everything gets done and done well, with every “i” dotted and “t” crossed. But, sometimes it
wasn’t in flux. Whether it was market or
economic conditions, product offerings, new
methodologies, advancements in machinery,
equipment and other technologies, changing paths to market, or numerous others, things have come a long way.
was just getting critical tasks completed to the
Sometimes the changes are gradual, and
next item that absolutely couldn’t wait.
conditions beyond our control, such as the
Many of us have heard all of our lives that
new software systems to connect remotely
best of my abilities so I could move on to the
if we work hard and push for it, we will get
ahead, but sometimes in 2020 it was just not getting too far behind. And you know what, that’s all right.
There’s nothing wrong with pushing ourselves to complete a tough project or a task in a
difficult environment or under a demanding timeline when we need to. Accomplishing
those things can bring me a great feeling of
satisfaction and contentment. However, it was difficult to be content in a year that has been unprecedented in our lifetimes.
Most of us have faced at least some pain,
suffering and loss over the course of the year, and while we may know that we still have
8 • Vol. 13 / Issue 4 • International Surface Fabricators Association
other times they are forced on the industry by current case. If you haven’t spent time learning with your team and peers, and revising your
well as my family, my friends and myself, I’m
going to also to try to remember to take time for the other important things in life.
I still would argue that one of the key elements of all of the time and effort that goes into a
job well done is that it comes with rewards.
While certainly there are a number of benefits — financial security, a feeling of satisfaction,
social status, etc. — one of the rewards should be time for yourself. And that is often the one thing we sacrifice when we should be taking
advantage of it. There’s not always tomorrow to take a day off or to spend time with the family or take that vacation you’ve been
looking forward to. So, while there’s always more to do to advance our businesses and
our careers, we must learn to also look for the
opportunities to reap the rewards of our efforts when possible.
I wish you all a safe, healthy and prosperous
new year, and I hope we’ve all learned that our situation can change in spite of anything we
safety protocols, for starters, then you are
do. While we need to push hard to keep our
will just go away in the new year, or in some
to plan time for the other important parts of
probably in trouble. It isn’t likely these things
business lives moving forward, we also need
cases ever.
our lives outside of work.
So, the happenings of 2020 have kept us on
Work will be around long after we are gone, but
our toes, and I will admit I broke my vow to
find more “me time” this past year. However,
that time will come because one of the biggest lessons I learned was that we can’t take the
some of the things we love most might not be. As always, I look forward to your feedback. Sincerely,
things we love and appreciate for granted.
So, while it might not be tomorrow, or next
week, or even next month, in the new year, I’m once again going to challenge myself to work hard, but also, for the benefit of my work, as
Kevin Cole, Publisher & Editor kevin@isfanow.org
