Translated from 日本語 • View original This year's New Words and Buzzwords Grand Prize was selected for "Three Cs". More than half of the nominated new words and buzzwords were related to Corona, and it was a year that started and ended with Corona.
The common sense of the past has become insane, and that nonsense has become the new normal.
I would like to write my last blog of the year while looking back on 2020, which can be said to be the year that changed the world the most after World War II.
The shock that all Americans are wearing masks
I can't say it out loud, but I'm not good at wearing masks. To be honest, I still don't like it very much. I take it off as soon as the person is gone. Laughter
Even before Corona, there were people wearing masks. There are many reasons not only for infection prevention, but also for dry skin, no need to wear makeup, and a look more prosperous.
In general, I think that many people in Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea have been comfortable wearing masks for a long time. And society accepted it.
Europe and the United States are opposed, and when I was stationed in Europe, a colleague even told me, "Japanese people are scared because everyone wears masks in winter."
Before Corona, people wearing masks on the streets of Europe and the United States clearly looked "suspicious". I think there were almost no people wearing masks other than doctors.
However, now on TV and on the news, everyone in Europe and the United States is wearing masks in public places.
Seeing that, I thought, "Even Americans... Common sense has really changed."
Social Divisions
2020 was also the year when the divisions that began four years before Mr. Trump, who professes to be America First, became president, became even more pronounced. After imperialism, World War II, and the Cold War, the direction of humanity becoming one without discrimination has been slowly continuing, but it has finally turned in the opposite direction.
Not only the division between the rich and the poor, but also the division of the world by ideology, the division by race, etc. Black Lives Matter also became a hot topic.
When everyone pretended not to see the division that originally existed, Mr. Trump and others began to express their true feelings, and people who agreed with it appeared and it may have just become apparent.
In a capitalist society, companies are always destined to be divided into winners and losers in the market.
We want to become a company that can contribute to a better society while surviving. To that end, we want to realize our vision of "enjoying the world", and it has become a year where I feel more strongly than ever.
Business Impact
The number of infected people began to increase rapidly around March, and from the time the state of emergency was declared on April 7, Colorkrew's business was also modified.
From January to March, I was in better shape than usual, so I thought it would be okay even if the influence of Corona came out a little. However, the April-June quarter was the worst in years.
I thought, "I won't be in trouble if it continues like this," but thanks to the team's hard work, it has rebounded since around July, and now it has returned to more than normal levels.
As a company, I was quite scared because I had just become independent from the parent company, but I'm glad I managed to pick it up.
I realized that in the world, "you don't know what will happen an inch ahead".
What we learned from the drastically changed market
In the meantime, there were a few things that I thought were good.
One of them was that the business suddenly deteriorated, and there were things that we had not seen before, but there were things that we could see.
Karakul is an IT company. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it stagnated in April and June amid the advancement of digitalization and online, and it was not surprising that there was a tailwind in terms of business. This is the fact that our business model is not up to par with the current era of change.
If you look at the company, there is a clear distinction between those who produce results even in such a difficult business situation and those who find it difficult to achieve results.
A recession like this one will reveal the true ability.
Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita said: A **recession is an opportunity for improvement and development. **」
Issues that were clearly recognized were opportunities to improve. I am now thinking positively that I can use this experience to evolve as a whole.
Remote Work is the norm
Karakul has recommended remote work from mid-February and mandatory remote work from the beginning of April, and most employees have been working from home since spring.
At first, I remember that almost all of the positive opinions were "I don't have to commute, it's efficient, and I can spend time with my family."
Conversations over video conferencing have become commonplace, and the use of online tools has progressed to the point where there are almost no obstacles to work, and communication and operations have evolved.
This change in work style may have made it overwhelmingly easier for the child-rearing generation with family circumstances to work.
Basically, not going to work means that there is no problem no matter how far away you are from the company. Recently, we have started hiring on the premise that you will not basically come to work.
On the other hand, more and more members are gradually feeling the boredom of not being able to meet their friends in person every day.
I also work from home most of the time, but when I go to work once in a while, I feel once again how much fun it is to meet and talk with people live.
By the way, when I had a health checkup at the company in December, 60 to 70 people came to the office for the first time since March, and there were several members who said to me, "It's fun after all!"
On the premise that infection control measures will be solid, real work will be gradually interwoven. And even after Corona is gone, I am now thinking that I can take advantage of the advantages of remote work and combine real work with real work.
2021 to Bali Flat 2.0
Karakul is a "vari-flat" system with no departments, no positions, and full open information.
(For more information on the origin of burr flats, please see the "How to make burr flats" series.) ）
▼ Until the burr flat was created (1) ~ The buri flat was not a goal, but a result~
It's been five years since Bali Flat started in 2015. Overall, it's going pretty well and we like it.
However, this year's corona also made us realize that we still lack strength.
In 2021, we will evolve Bali Flat. I would like to write about it again in my New Year's resolutions, so I hope you will read it again.
Now, I would like to close 2020 here. During the year-end and New Year holidays, let's take a good rest while being careful of corona infection, cultivate our spirits, and see you again in the new year!
Happy Holidays! Have a good year!
▼ Organizational reform seminar will be held again in 2021! Click here to apply.
