I feel like I just finished the last slice of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and, on New Year’s Day, I ate pork and sauerkraut for good luck in 2021.

With 2021 now here, I dedicated some time to make some resolutions, and I hope you did the same.

First, be patient and don’t rush success. When I reflect back on the challenges that 2020 created, every month of the pandemic felt like the last quarter of a football game and you’re down by one point. I am thankful that each lead change proved to be a turning point to move our industry forward to be more successful. We were huddled and came up with our best play, checked the statistics and played to our strengths to get us through a pandemic, and we’re here today because of it. We drove the field and set ourselves up to win, and even if the ball hit the upright and went through, we won the day and moved to the next challenge.

Next, set examples. As leaders, it is our job to be the change for our teams. When things seemed like a swing earlier in the year, I made it my mission to stay positive though the ups and downs of 2020. When we work together, we set the playing field for a win, and by positively leading our teams to overcome whatever new opportunities 2021 throws in our direction, we will be able to accomplish it together.

Third, listen to the experts. Though I am coming up on one year in the collision industry, I still have a lot to learn. As a continuation of this year, I want 2021 to be a year of better understanding. One of the fastest ways to learn is to listen, and I have learned a lot from our industry partners and contributors who have dedicated their time to teach me about collision repair. Though I won’t be suiting up to paint a car in 2021, I have the ability to learn from those who do in order to better serve them with our publication.

Feel free to share your resolutions on our social media pages. I look forward to learning about what you will be focused on in 2021.