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A life lived in fear is a life half lived Adapting to the new normal By Paul Waite FCA FCCA - Chief Executive, Aspen Waite Group In March 2020, the Government announced we were in a Pandemic. Here we are coming to the end of 2021 and the world, certainly our world, is finally waking up. I am, by nature, a very positive character and I value my civil liberties, so I really struggled with the lockdowns. I was not especially well in March, so the Pandemic did me a favour, breaking up the traditional work routine, allowing me to get plenty of sunshine. I have probably visited as many people as anyone over the last 18 months or so, travelling the length and breadth of our land. I remember the first time I went across the Severn Bridge and expected the Welsh Archers to meet me on the other side.
Governments across the world have scared their populations to death and, unfortunately, many people have lived their lives in fear and will probably never be the same again. 2021 has been a tough year with the full implications of the Pandemic finally working through, many of them being felt as negative. Aspen Waite’s success has been based on our network and our willingness to collaborate. The network practically closed down, staff were often at home and face to face contact was practically eliminated. On the positive side, I was convinced that there would be wholesale business failures with particular concerns over a few clients.