MANISTEE, MICH. - Recently, the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce released their 2024 Impact Report, a recap of everything the Chamber has been up in the past year. It's a great read, and I encourage you to take a minute and peruse it, especially if you want to learn more about what your local chamber of commerce been up to. 

But you know what else? Our impact report reminded me of the value in taking time to  reflect. This could mean looking back on a day's, week's, month's, year's work. Because sometimes, I'll catch myself in tunnel vision and the next moment, I look up and say, "What do you mean, it's the end of April? I thought 2025 just started!" So let me be your cue today to allow time to reflect in your life. Don't be afraid to review where you are versus where you were. 

What were some of your wins? Your challenges? Let's say you've set yourself a notable goal, like writing a novel, traveling to all 50 states in the United States of America, or training for a marathon. Have you seen progress versus where you were 365 days ago? Are you stagnant? Are you regressing? 

Now that I think about it, what was I up to 365 days ago? Let's see… in April 2024, I was about six months into my role with the Manistee Area Chamber. Outside of work, I was involved in the 10-Minute Play Festival down at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts. And I had just written a newspaper column about the state of Gen Z and Millennials in Manistee County. Attracting new talent and the emerging workforce is an incredibly relevant topic and I am so grateful to have written on the subject… but boy, do I wish I wrote it just a little differently.  

"Why didn't you interview even MORE people with even MORE unique backgrounds?" I would ask me from a year ago. "Why didn't you delve into even DEEPER research? Why didn't you ask more THOUGHT-PROVOKING questions to your interviewees?" 

Hindsight has a funny way of revealing to you what you wish you considered sooner. For example, have you ever written a pretty important email, proofread it a dozen times, even have a couple sets of eyes look it over, and only after you click send, you spot the most glaring wording error known to mankind, an error so deep and profound that it tears the fabric of the space-time continuum? 

Maybe I'm exaggerating a little. 

The point is, time has a way of showing you ways you could have done things differently. But you learn to laugh at yourself when mistakes happen. You learn to learn from your mistakes and you grow from it. Time marches on, even in those moments where you thought it wouldn't.

But don't let me scare you: taking time to reflect also reminds you of all of the WINS you experienced. Sometimes, I forget that I get to work at the place where I work. Did you know the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce saw over $20 million invested into Manistee County in 2024? Over $20 million! You might be asking what that means. It means that the Chamber saw over $20 million put towards significant economic achievements in Manistee County, like costs required to open up a new business or expansion efforts on an existing venture. In the moment, you don't always think about how all of those individual, smaller wins add up. It's exciting to see resources and support poured into your community, and it's even more rewarding to look back on what was done in the past year. I am incredibly proud of the work the Chamber and its partners have put into Manistee County. 

My final thought for you is this: yes, take time to reflect, but make sure to take time to actually live in the present too. It can be easy to get caught up on what you wish went a little differently, or focusing too much on where you want to be in the future. That's not to say you don't put in effort– you absolutely should work hard, prepare for what life throws your way, and look forward to the fruits of your labor. Just don't let that get in the way of today. Because 365 days from now, when you look back on where you were today, what will you see?

I am assured when I look back on the Chamber's 2024 accomplishments and I can't wait to look back on 2025, where hindsight will show me the Chamber's current chapter and the role I play within it. In the meantime, as we all continue to work towards our goals, let us all remember to take time to reflect. It might be one of the most insightful things you can do for yourself.

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Blade Gates is the Marketing & Communications Specialist of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit 501 C (6) organization, whose mission is to build a dynamic and sustainable organization to serve the Business, Workforce, and Economic Development needs of all in Manistee County. You can contact the Chamber at 231-723-2575 or communications@manisteechamber.com.