Will the new normal❓ become the newer normal❓ and eventually just normal❓
A deep dive into what will stay and what will return after the pandemic is fully under control.
We have spent the better part of many newsletters (and the better part of 2020) discussing the “new normal” in regards to the pandemic. As we near a potential end (over 50% of US adults have at least 1 vaccine dose! 💉 ), what does the new new normal look like? Will the world ever go back to pre-pandemic levels with gratuitous high-fives ✋ and sharing $150 fish bowls full of sugar and alcohol at Vegas day clubs? Ok, high fives were out way before COVID…but will you ever fly from New York to Boston for an hour-long client meeting? Will Amtrak 🚄 cease to exist as we know it (and will it finally have a good excuse to not provide anything resembling working WIFI)? For this week’s newsletter, Unfold Weekly takes a deep dive into how the rest of 2021 may look, and what changes we can expect in the years following.
Shake it fast, but watch yo’ self!
Who would have thought that there’s now a legitimate excuse to close business transactions in the open air golf course 🏌️♀️? Writing off those double bogeys has never easier! However, how will our work environments forever change and will the networking handshake ever return?! Let’s start at the top — remote working. If you’ve been on the internet at all over the past few months, you’ve heard of many companies permanently adopting looser WFH policies. Even after we are all vaccinated and back to sweaty dance clubs and $14 Coronas, many companies, particularly in tech, will continue to allow employees to work remotely. However, for every Facebook, there is still a Goldman Sachs. There are differing opinions about whether remote working is more or less conducive to productivity. We like to believe the study that suggests remote workers procrastinate 10 fewer minutes per day and work 1.4 more days per month. According to Pew Research, roughly 20% of workers worked remoted prior to the pandemic — by the end of 2020, this number jumped to more than 70%. Over 50% of these workers want to continue working from home once the effects of the pandemic end. But will employers play ball ⚾?
I really don’t think this next pun will fly✈️
In 2019, I traveled around 100k miles for work. In 2020? Nearly zero! So what does 2022 hold for us consultants and sales folks eagerly trying to maintain their airlines status? While the pandemic has negatively impacted restaurants, hotels, and traditional retail, many industries (cough-tech-cough) have been flourishing. Revenues have hit all-time highs 📈, while costs have been reduced. Amazon saved $1B in travel expenses. If these companies can still generate revenue without the airline and hotel costs, why would we revert to our pre-pandemic travel happy nature? Many industries are adopting a “vital client travel only” policy when it comes to business trips. Unless you’re physically closing a large transaction with a required face-to-face client meeting, you may be stuck Zooming your way through internal calls and discussions. Delta is estimating that business travel will settle into a new normal (I truly apologize for saying it again) at roughly 10-20% less than 2019 levels. This is big news for airlines and hotels as business travel made up about 20% of all bookings. Keep nursing those airline points like a warm beer at a college party because the status may not last 🍺.
I’m committed to not committing
It took 9 months of shared remote working before my significant other and I finally invested in some quality, ergonomic chairs. If you’re still holding off on that second monitor or standing desk, it’s finally time to commit. In the past, we have covered some ways to boost productivity in a remote environment, but how can you prepare for the long-term change? Besides a proper work station (desk, chair, monitors, keyboards, espresso machine ☕), you can greatly benefit from a separate office office space. Stuck in a 500 square foot Manhattan apartment? A simple room divider can really separate your living space from your work space. You might think working from your bed is convenient and comfortable, but it makes it very challenging to separate work from life. Soon you’ll be dreaming of vlookups and SWOT analysis and be in a constant state of Inception, constantly questioning your reality 💭.
Since we claim to bridge the gap between business and technology (some newsletters more than others), we’ve gathered a few of our favorite apps for making that permanent WFH transformation.
Clockify - track your time for projects across your teams. Derek, we can clearly see you only logged 12 minutes this week 🕐.
Doodle - you think meetings are bad? Try scheduling meetings with 40 people across 8 time zones. Speaking of time zones, worldtimebuddy makes it easy to sync across your global team.
Forest - stay focused and save the environment 🌲? It’s a win-win!
Skitch - one part of team environments we miss is the brainstorming session. From the minds behind Evernote, Skitch helps you turn your ideas into reality.
Focusmate - if your significant other or roommate won’t hold you responsible for productivity, perhaps a virtual accountability partner will 👨🏻🤝👨🏿!
Did we miss your favorite app for making remote work easier? Let us know!
Looking for more in depth analysis on how your work life may change? Check out a few of our favorite reads below: