Last night I went outside and stood there for a while. I looked out the darkness of the bushland across the road. I watched the full moon rise over the hills. Aside from frogs croaking, and an owl hooting, it was very quiet. It was peaceful. My family had just finished dinner, kids were in their bedrooms and I have just finished cleaning up. That peacefulness and calmness was in stark contrast to the year the Peak family just experienced.
How do I reflect on this year? Where do you start with this year? It has honestly been the hardest year we have ever had to face at Peak. Frankly it was bloody tough. But this year has enabled us to be very thankful that we do what we do. We have a good business that helps a lot of pharmacy owners around Australia. We have kept the Peak family employed and in a safe and secure business. We have provided jobs to 4 additional people this year. There is a lot to be thankful for.
But this year was hard. We were tested more than any other year. Covid came and hit us hard. This is because us accountants became the conduit between governmental policy and business implementation. There were a lot of long hours, long days, long nights and many weekends lost trying to do the best we can for our clients. We had to help our clients, so that they can help their local communities. We were all trying to do our best. No doubt you the reader have many tales to tell about how this year has impacted you as well, we were not alone. Pharmacy was on the frontline. You lot were so vital to the welfare of our community. You copped all sorts of abuse, but you did your best, often thankless roles. We bow in your presence. We thank you.
I will be honest here though; I have the best team in the world. The Peak family have been extraordinary. I don’t know what I have done to deserve this mob, they are beautiful souls and are amazingly talented. They are so committed to Peak and to our clients. I am in awe of them. They had everything thrown at them this year. They took it all, they did their best, they were challenged more than what they should of been, some copped some heavy blows, they sacrificed a lot, they did it for the Peak family, they stood tall and kept putting one foot in front of the other and kept climbing the next hill. To quote a line from the Lord of the Rings “You bow to no one”. It is I who should bow in your presence.
So to Vic, Pri, Sare, Marcusman, Cakes, Kiran, Ryano and Arnie….you guys are simply amazing.
To all our clients, no doubt you guys need a breather as well. You had to react quickly, teams sorted, getting stock ordered, new policies implemented quickly. There were some crazy times after hearing from some pharmacy owners. All while trying to lead your teams through a very uncertain time, whilst your customers are getting upset at your team, and trying to figure out how all these governmental policies impact you. Yet the months went by and life somehow continued. Pharmacy land continues, business waits for no one.
Now we dust ourselves off, we put the kettle, brew a nice hot tea, sit down for a while and reflect. Don’t reflect for too long though. That is not the space you need to be in. 2021 is close. You need to be thinking forward. Where do you want to be by March 2021? Where do you want to be by June 2022? What about June 2024? What about June 2030? You need to be thinking ahead and need to plan. You need to know what strategies you need to be adopting to grow. Reset the vision, review your strategies, renew your team and lead them to an exciting place.
Lastly thanks to my amazing my family, they are my why. They are why I do what I do.
So Merry Christmas to you all. Here’s to a happy, successful and healthy 2021.
Written by John Thornett