How did a pandemic change us? This December, track lessons in resilience

It’s not just silver-lining thinking to consider what can be learned from hardship. And the past two years have served up plenty of that.

Pivots happen because what you’ve been doing isn’t working anymore. Making changes, both professional and personal, can lead to even better opportunities.

Think about the first-time entrepreneurs who launched companies — in 2020, more than any year on record — because they saw an untapped market, had more free time or were forced to try something new after a layoff. It’s not a fluke that the tech job market has continued to grow while others shrink, with sector employment rising steadily to pass its pre-pandemic levels following a March 2020 dip, as those skills are being used to build solutions for the future. And the increasing urgency of climate change has finally forced some leaders to enact measures fighting for the preservation of what hasn’t yet been destroyed.

That response to challenge, or to outright failure, is what resilience is all about.

In December 2021, Lessons in Resilience Month, Technical.ly is focusing extra reporting on the outcomes of pandemic pivots, technology of the future, business continuity planning, mental health amid mass burnout, growth after failure and economic signs of progress. A full year from 2020 and the start of a pandemic, recession and racial justice movement, what have we learned? How can adaptation make our economy, our businesses, and us as professionals and individuals better able to withstand coming challenges? How can technology help?

Overall, we are focusing on the lessons — the surprising outcomes of the struggles or challenges of 2020 and 2021 that led to growth. To get a taste, check some relevant stories we’ve written recently:

• Maryland Tech Council launches task force to help companies navigating economic downturn
• ‘I had to learn to step back’: Lessons in ‘leadershit’ from Founder Factory 2021
• What System Source’s founders learned over 40 years in tech
• The founder of Pittsburgh sustainability startup Kloopify won an international supply chain innovation award
• Following a move to virtual events, Happied enters Minnesota Twins Accelerator

Are you an expert we should talk to, or do you know of one? Is there a report we need to read to better explain this topic? Are you working on a product or solution of the future? Want to write a first-person guest post about your relevant experience, or to share some relevant resources? Let us know:

This editorial article is a part of Lessons in Resilience Month of Technical.ly's editorial calendar.