Optimism, resilience and sustainability

Dear readers, while writing this editorial, the first words that came to my mind were inflation, gas crisis, shortage of material and skilled labor, followed by the  generally poor prognoses for the 2023 construction sector. The Central Association of the German Construction Trades forecasts a decrease in turnover by around 7 %.

When I saw these words on my monitor, I quickly realized  that what I was just about to write was exactly what I did not want to express. The year 2022 was difficult, as we all know. The year 2023 will also be a year full of challenges and of – I dare once again to enter the taboo word on my keyboard – crises. But that is exactly the reason why we must work on our optimism and resilience, in our jobs the same as in our private life. Optimism is not only an attitude – optimism is also a strategy for action. Optimists are not simpletons who close their eyes to the current state of affairs or to the world, or who gloss over the situation. On the contrary: optimists are ready to face up to any problem, and it is exactly this readiness, paired with the required resilience – the strength to resist stress – that I wish for all of us for 2023. We cannot solve all these problems, but we can all make a contribution to a livable future.

The topic “future” is inevitably tied to the topic of sustainability. A good reason for us to finally devote our own chapter to this subject - even if already frequently thematized as a general message or similar - also in BFT International (pp. 38 ff). 

I wish you a healthy and strong 2023, full of hope and much enjoyment in reading your BFT International.

x

Related articles:

Issue 02/2017 BetonQuali: Information and Qualification Platform

From semi-skilled to skilled worker

Shortage of skilled workers and digitalization are two of the trends that will present the working world with enormous challenges. These are precisely the two issues addressed by the German Federal...

more

Industrial prefabrication to combat the shortage of skilled workers and housing shortages

Flexible, sustainable, cheap and fast: In the industry, modular, serial construction using industrial prefabrication is a promising all-purpose solution to the lack of housing, lengthy planning and...

more
Issue 06/2015 Letter to the Editor/Leserbrief

Regarding the “Real progress” editorial, BFT International, 04/2015

Dear Mr. Jahn, In your editorial in the current issue of the BFT journal, you write about the egalitarian-inflationary usage of the word “innovation.” This is certainly thought-provoking. Is simply...

more
Issue 09/2022 Engineering Days 2022

Engineering Days 29-30.11.2022: Prefabrication in the New Normal

What impact do the global pandemic, shortage of skilled labor, and climate change the have on the precast industry? Where are the challenges and opportunities for the future? These and other questions...

more
Issue 02/2019 Measures against shortage of skilled workers

Fishing in the company pool

Owing the demographic change as well as the trend towards academization that has been observed for years, there exists in some professions and regions a shortage of personnel on the German job market....

more