What was so great about "the good old days"? If you're craving a return to how things used to be, it might be time to reexamine your real values and priorities as you move forward to create what's next.

1. Return to Normalcy
(and other limiting platitudes)

2. In the past 150 years, the world has
collectively faced many traumatic
experiences, including:
• The Spanish Flu of 1918
• The September 11 terrorist attacks
• The COVID-19 pandemic
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3. 3
• These events transformed what we
considered "normal" into a "new
normal," with changes such as:
• New annual vaccines
• Increased public security
• Wearing masks to the grocery store

4. 4
• People crave comfort, consistency,
control, and going back to the way
life was before COVID-19.
• But how can we grow and evolve
when we're so hung up on "what
used to be"?

5. 5
If you’ve seen Mrs. America on Hulu, then you
know Cate Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, a
conservative activist who adamantly fought
against the Equal Rights Amendment and
outwardly opposedwomen’s rights.

6. 6
• Schlafly began her first speech by
introducing the concept of women’s
liberation as “a threat to the
traditional American family.”
• The word "traditional" here
is interchangeable with "normal."

7. 7
• Ironically, throughout the entire
series, Schlafly displays immense
strength, confidence,
and competency over her male
counterparts.
• She gains increasing influence
in the anti-feminist movement.

8. *SPOILER ALERT*
All the while, her character maintains a
longing for more, and the show ends with
her "return to normal" as a housewife,
burying her pain as she peels potatoes in her
kitchen alone.
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9. 9
• What if Schlafly's mentality had won out?
What if equal rights had never caught on
and people remained as they were in
1951?
• Even in 20 years, we’ve evolved in marked
ways.
• Watching old seasons of reality shows
from 2001 will reveal moments that elicit a
physical shudder and an audible, “We don’t
talk like that anymore,” response.

10. History is full of examples of people
clinging to the past.
• In 1920, just as the U.S. was coming
off a world war and a pandemic,
presidential candidate Warren
Harding won 60 percent of the
popular vote.
• He won by promising a return to
"normal," rather than offering a new
vision or a transformative approach.
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11. 11
Life is always in a state of flux,
whether you notice it or not.
• It may take life-altering world events
or identity-shattering personal
moments for you to notice it.
• Make peace with it—it’s worth
moving forward for.

12. How are you moving forward?
As you return to the office or public life,
are you craving the old or building
something new?
Check in with your employees, your
customers,and your community to level
set, communicate,and move forward
together.
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13. Want more?
Binge watch… Read the full blog… Like some podcasts!

14. Have we met socially?

15. Thank you!