We are reaching the one-year mark where most people in the US experienced the first COVID-19 related shutdown.  At that time, many believed it would be a temporary adjustment, and then we would get back to normal. It turns out we were way off base with that prediction.

Over the last year, we have gone through an evolution in how we work, how we communicate, and perhaps a re-evaluation of our priorities.  The pandemic forced companies to implement new working models across all sectors and industries.  The technology sector was the quickest to adapt, but traditional manufacturing and farming sectors also implemented transformative practices. Many of these practices have proven beneficial and will remain in place after the pandemic has passed.

One change I've noticed in social forums is an increased focus on engaging in conversations and creating meaningful connections. Content is less one-directional -- talking at you -- and more bi-directional -- talking with you.  I enjoy the perspective of building a relationship with people I may not have had the opportunity to engage with in the past.  While interacting beyond our geographic area was possible, we tended to focus on our immediate circle. Specifically, as physical location becomes less important in the technology industry, we will benefit from a global workforce.
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What positive changes have you seen as a result of the challenges of the last year?  What are you happy to leave behind?  What are you looking forward to in the future?

I finally received an invite to join the new social app Clubhouse. I created my account, set my interests, followed some people, and proceeded to spend 45 minutes trying to find something of interest. 

If you're not familiar with Clubhouse, here is a quick primer:  http://wapo.st/3qxx57v 

When I joined Clubhouse, my goal was to gain insight into interest topics from a diverse set of viewpoints. I've stumbled across a few engaging chats, but I do not feel like I'm getting what I wanted from the app. I hear about some fantastic discussions with industry leaders, but I miss out. Yes, turning on notifications would probably help, but I intentionally have notifications off to minimize distractions, you know, following best practices to maintain sanity and avoid burnout during COVID.  

Features that would help:

• Let me listen to conversations I missed. That feature is probably anathema to the app's intent, but I'd love the option.
• Recommendations on what to follow based on your linked social media profiles. Mix a little AI with the content I publish and follow and point me in the right direction.

Are you on Clubhouse? If so, what do you think? How are you using it, and are you getting what you want out of the app? What changes would you like to see? How do you see yourself using Clubhouse in the future?