August 27, 2021
In-Person or Virtual?
I feel really conflicted about how in-person gatherings are faring these days.
Being the eternal optimist, I want to believe that we are making phenomenal progress in beating COVID-19. Clearly, recent statistics say otherwise in many states. So, are we getting together – or not?
Many people who are vaccinated feel comfortable attending client meetings, networking events and family gatherings. But there are many others who are not comfortable being in a large group – outdoors or indoors.
Here is New Jersey, it looks like only about 60% of us are fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, our hospitalizations are spiking and the overwhelming majority of those cases – more than 99% – are folks who are unvaccinated. Still, there is ongoing fear and uncertainty as there has been since last March. And with the guidelines constantly changing, it’s hard for anyone to know just what to do.
I am finding that more in-person gatherings are being scheduled – more often than not in outdoor settings. And I couldn’t be happier! I crave in-person happenings and am personally done with Zoom. Again, the optimist in me thinks there are some kindred spirits out there. But so far, the face-to-face events are smaller and more sparsely attended than pre-pandemic.
Don’t get me wrong – virtual meetings have been vital for our business and they serve a valuable purpose at times. But it is really hard to develop a relationship with someone through a computer screen. So, for now, I am going with the odds, still being smart, but being 3D whenever I can.
