KRM22 | On The Road Again!

“The life I love is making music with my friends and I can’t wait to get on the road again” – Willie Nelson

Truer words were never spoken, and they really are music to everyone’s ears.

For the first time since March of 2020, the KRM22 Management Team travelled to visit customers and to deliver presentations face to face!

There was a time not long ago when this behaviour was business as usual, but for the last eighteen to twenty months most of us have been landlocked and working from home or from offices with limited occupancy. KRM22 has office locations in London, Singapore, Amsterdam, Prague ,and Chicago. We have all been nimble and done our best in adapting to the realities of working remotely. However, the energy and synergy of working alongside teammates was sorely missed. Human beings need interaction, and I could not be happier to see a move toward “normal” operations.

The definition of a standard workday may have changed due to Covid, and some previously unknown benefits have been brought to the surface. These include flexible hours and less time spent commuting. However, the return of spontaneous creativity born from in-person office conversations and informal chats is very appealing. Communication is the key to idea generation and problem solving. The buzz of teammates delivering a solution together while interacting face-to-face creates a powerful camaraderie among co-workers. I have missed this feeling during the Pandemic, and I also miss the laughs shared with KRM22 colleagues and customers.  

What About the Food?

Something refenced less frequently, but equally important is the time spent breaking bread with co-workers and clients. Conversations about sporting events, kids, music, and current events have been noticeably missing as we have been separated. Near the KRM22 office in Chicago, there are many “food institutions” within walking distance like Chicken Planet, Ceres, La Cocina, Asian 65, Micky’s Chicken and Fish (known to all as “Prison Chicken”) and Luke’s Beef. These are venues, experiences and menu items that have endured for years and absolutely cannot be re-created at home while on Teams or ZOOM… the personal and social aspects of the profession are what help us all feel comfortable, respected, connected, and appreciated by our peers and customers…we need this!!

What next?

We are looking forward to seeing our co-workers, customers, potential customers, and competitors in person once again. KRM22participated in the recent IDX show in London, and it was an excellent example of industry people coming together and enjoying the energy created by the event. Even more recently (November 2-4), we attended the first in-person Chicago FIA EXPO since 2019…what a great relief it was to see customers and friends again from around the globe. Handshakes and embraces were in order, and we are wishing everyone the best on a return to personal interaction!