What “good” can come
from the pandemic?
Part 2
We’re not denying the bad effect of the Covid19 pandemic but trying to focus on the possibility of finding some good things to come out of it.
I was fascinated years ago when reading about the Black Plague hitting Europe in the 14th Century. That plague killed perhaps 50 million people.
I read that one religious group wasn’t affected as much. It is interesting to check out what they were doing differently.
It appeared that they had many rules referring to sanitation… what you should eat, what you should touch, etc.
This was the century when you had to watch out when walking along a street because household garbage and you can guess what else, was thrown out the upper windows.
Get the point?
At the start of the quarantine…
It seemed a little strange that I had just picked up a book, published in 2020, at the library telling how technologies were transforming business, industries and our lives. (Title: The Future is Faster Than You Think.)
One study stated that the internet created 2.6 new jobs for every one it eliminated.
So what can we look for from a pandemic?
The “Bard of Sogn Valley”
Here are some of the thoughts from Joe Garbarino from “Lake CoVidBeGone”. (Hmmm. I remember Lake Wobegon from A Prairie Home Companion. Must be nearby.)
Here’s what Joe predicts:
My Bold Predictions for the Post CoVid World. OK. So some are obvious.
These are the “macro “ changes I see for the world where we will live.
Work at home…
Businesses will accelerate converting to more or all personnel permanently working at home. A lot of businesses will now view buying and maintaining a physical building is a big expense and time commitment.
Robots…
Robotics will accelerate. Human workers will be seen as an expensive and fragile option. Just like hi tech military jets became drones because pilots became the weak link requiring too much support material.
Groceries…
Grocery delivery systems will become a significant market share even outside of major urban areas. Local product delivery will eat into Amazon’s market share.
Restaurants…
Eateries will expand their outside capacity for immediate social distancing reasons. But it will remain seasonally.
Remodeling…
Remodeling will be the construction industries’ sweet spot. Homes being modified for better home office space. Businesses becoming more social distance friendly.
Travel Industry…
Who knows? Consumer attitudes will shape it. CEOs will be largely reactive.
Disposable products…
Disposable products will be back in style. Don’t bring your old cloth bag back to Aldi’s. Please use that disposable straw. Disposable restaurant table settings because who knows who ate off that plate or how well it was washed.
Large crowds…
Big crowds of people will be ones we know. Company picnic, Parish festivals. Want to kill attendance? Advertise as “This event will attract people from all over the world !”
Elderly…
Care for the Elderly. More choosing to care Grandma at home than at “Petri Dish-like” nursing homes.
Career Choices…
Health related companies become a consideration.
Rural migration…
With internet, working at home, and health issues… suddenly living in Podunk seems more attractive.
X Factor…
There will be a major shift in something we can’t now see - but in hindsight it will seem obvious.
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(To our readers: Your ideas on possibilities for the future are welcome. There’s always favorite stock investment tips!)
