f there is one thing that has been reinforced to me over and over this year, it’s that human beings are creatures of habit. For the most part we crave a sense of “normalcy” in our daily lives. When our habits and established patterns are disrupted—well, we’ve all seen what’s happened over these past seven or so months—chaos, anxiety, and fear have prevailed as each of us tries to just live our “normal” again. And even though my sense of normalcy and yours may be diametrically opposed, we still have one thing in common: the need for consistency.

Sometimes looking to the past can be a source of comfort. Knowing that we’ve made it through more than one pandemic with far fewer resources and limited technology is reassuring in an odd way. My thought process is: If we did it then we can certainly do it again.

Economically the picture is muddled at best, especially for those operating in industries that require travel, face-to-face interactions, or being in close quarters. But again, we can look to the past for guidance and encouragement—many of the companies we’re celebrating in this very issue have endured some of Alaska’s worst economic moments.

It’s these companies that prompted our predecessors at Alaska Business to dedicate the October issue to celebrating Alaska-owned companies that consistently employ Alaskans and keep the economy chugging along, in good times and bad.

Right now a lot of us are far (in some cases, ahem, very far) outside of our comfort zone. We haven’t yet nailed down new habits and patterns, we are still migrating from one “normal” to another. And the trip is not an easy one. But, as corny as it sounds, if we look out for each other as we feel out our future, we have a far better chance of finding success than trying to go it alone.

Like normalcy, success is subjective, but it’s a pretty universal truth that in the world of commerce, a business is judged on longevity, growth, and income. The 2020 Alaska Business Top 49ers are textbook success stories—most have been employing Alaskans for decades, they seek out growth opportunities, and last year was one of giant revenue jumps for many of our Top 49ers which reported 2019 combined revenue of more than $18 billion. That’s a 7 percent increase compared to 2018 and another record for the Top 49ers.

This year we dedicate the annual Alaska Business Top 49ers issue to all the companies and their more than 21,000 Alaska-based employees making the journey from fear and uncertainty back to success and stability. We’re right here with you.

Congratulations Top 49ers!