Seasons Change, Masks Remain
This morning I put on a jacket I hadn’t worn since late winter. It always amuses me to see what I’ve left in my pockets from the prior season – usually a pair of gloves that I’ve stashed there on purpose, perhaps one of the kids’ treasures, maybe even a $20 bill.
This time when I reached my hand into the pocket, I pulled out a mask.
It was a reminder that this journey has now lasted across seasons – but also how far we have come. We have learned, we have adapted - for better and worse. Our kids and our parents have learned to use zoom, and I think most of us now have a basket of masks on the table in the front hall to be able to grab on our way out the door. Just as we are adapting personally, our businesses are adapting too. Local pizza joints that struggled with shifting to carry out only in April now have curbside pickup down pat; networking and conferences are back on the calendars via video.
In the M&A world, I am hearing from all sides that deal activity is picking back up. While we are still learning how to deal with remote due diligence, COVID impacted revenue, or treatment of PPP in valuation, more and more I am hearing about both buyers and sellers ready to get back to the table and figure it out.
In recent episodes of our podcast, Right In the Middle Market, we have focused on topics ranging from novel revenue sources through government funding to how best to use an advisor to navigate the path forward. Whether your (or your client’s) focus is on running your business more efficiently to be as nimble as possible, seeking novel opportunities for growth, or getting ready to sell, we seek to share our perspectives as well those of experts in our network to provide knowledge, ideas, and support.
As we head back into jacket and coat season here in the Upper Midwest, I’m sure I will soon have masks stashed in many pockets – and when you find one, perhaps you’ll remember it as a sign of how we are all adapting and innovating to find the way forward.
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