HERBIE'S HINTS (named after my dad!)
I remember somewhere in the late 70’s my dad was convinced that the computer would be the future of everything. The first company computer he bought filled an entire room. Herbie was always thinking about the future, a few steps ahead of the present.
As we turn to 2021, we have few answers. We may not even be sure of the questions. We are not sure if any month of 2021 will look the same as 2019. I am pretty sure Herbie would be thinking about a post-Covid world.
For all the talk of a “return to normal,” large chunks of the old normal are due for a post-Covid-19 rethink.
I doubt that the idea and location of “office” is truly over; in fact, the pandemic has highlighted the value of personal contact. But it’s easy to imagine most office workers getting their collegial fix in a couple of days a week rather than every day.
That, in turn, probably means reimagining homes — who still loves the open-concept home after nine months of 24-hour family time? Quick commutes become less valuable when you are not commuting daily. Personal living space becomes more valuable. Will the handshake return and will masks become a normal part of our day in areas where large groups congregate?
I don’t know of anyone who has the answers. Perhaps we can follow Herbie’s example and ask the questions. This newsletter is dedicated to the questions.
