One morning, I was talking to Jay Schneider about his return to Albertsons, and we both reflected on how wonderful it was to catch up, to hear each other’s voices and learn what had unfolded in one another’s lives over the past several years. Before long, we were talking about the industry—because how could you not?
At the heart, Jay said, it is still the same. It is still founded on a deep sense of partnership. On showing up when times get tough. On celebrating the victories when they come. The fundamentals haven’t changed, even if the pace has.
He used the words of a past colleague to describe today’s experience: We are in an “informational blizzard.” That phrase struck me as so appropriate. At times, the very resources and tools designed to make our lives easier and more efficient can leave us isolated in a storm, unable to see more than a foot in front of our faces. Data flying. Messages pinging. Dashboards updating. In the middle of it all, we can lose sight of the person on the other end.
That blizzard can keep us from picking up the phone. From walking down the hall. From meeting a coworker, a partner, or a customer face-to-face. Jay told me he still loves to pick up the phone—even though texts, emails, and other digital platforms often try to make phone calls feel obsolete.
I do believe today’s technology carries incredible advantages and benefits. It has expanded our reach, sharpened our insights, and streamlined our operations. But perhaps one of its greatest unintended outcomes is this: It has made human connection more premium, more intentional, and more treasured than before.
Maybe that’s what a return to connection really looks like. Not abandoning the tools, but remembering the foundation. Not resisting progress, but reinforcing partnership. Because at the heart of this industry—still—is the relationship. And no information blizzard, no matter how intense, can replace the power of hearing someone’s voice on the other end of the line.
