Drawing Hope from our History
Ours is a family of driven professionals committed to partnership – with our clients, and with each other – and our interactions have shifted dramatically. I’m grateful to see how our partnership bonds have held fast, even as many have been, and remain, stuck at home.
Or, I should say: I’m grateful to see our partnership bonds have held fast, even as our team members have been safe at home.
A one-word change can prompt an immense shift in mindset. And reframing our reality is more than a psychological survival trick – it is also a business tactic. The way we frame our business experiences in the face of the COVID-19 crisis can dramatically shape our path through it.
It’s accurate to say our businesses face significant challenges right now. But what if, instead, we say: Our businesses face significant opportunities right now. No less accurate, this shift in mindset is characteristic of the way our team members think. Together we find innovation, new ideas and new paths forward over even the largest hurdles. In fact, because of your demonstrated initiative and enduring, entrepreneurial drive, our family of companies has not only survived tough times but thrived long-term.
Though the COVID-19 impact is more severe and widespread than the 2008 recession, our experience and resilience in 2008 and the years that followed gives me great hope. Let’s remember:
- Our top-performing OTO hotel assets were born out of the 2008 financial crisis and have continued to see great success.
- Our strong, strategic loan originations in 2008-10 laid a foundation for immense business growth for ACA.
- Our strong, diverse portfolio of assets made JDA uniquely positioned to weather storms and come out stronger, maximizing yield in all asset classes.
We don’t know what lies ahead, but we do know what lies behind, and our history should give all of us hope, pride and confidence in our ability to push through. In each of these cases, team members stepped up. And today, as we deal with the psychological, emotional, physical and financial challenges that COVID-19 has brought, I am inspired to see so many of you stepping up to meet challenges – or rather, opportunities – head on.
Geordy Johnson
President, The Johnson Group