If you know anything about me you will know that I love dogs, but I also love business and I wonder how you are during this time of lockdown due to COVID-19, the Coronavirus.

Make no bones about it, these are difficult times for business and even more so for start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses.  So, I wanted to share some ideas on how small businesses can not only survive, but even thrive and prosper through these times.

Firstly, it is important to recognize and acknowledge that the economic situation is going to be challenging for quite some time to come. When lockdown ends, business will not instantly go back to what it was before COVID-19 hit your shores. And so, I suggest that whatever planning and adjustment you are making in your business right now in response to the virus situation, keep long-term planning in mind. Business owners must accept and take this current reality into account in order to think ahead and plan appropriately.

There are many challenges and for many businesses these challenges are insurmountable. Some businesses, and maybe yours, may even be forced to close its doors. Before you make that decision, however, I want to challenge you to dig deep and and either look for any opportunity there may be or create the opportunity. Do whatever it may require for you to make it. It may mean that you do temporarily have to shut your doors, but do whatever you need to do right now for yourself and the business to stay afloat.

The situation in South Africa has developed rapidly, so it may require you to make immediate and bold changes to your business; to your products or services; to how you do business and possibly to your pricing too.

SOME TIPS FOR YOU

1. Firstly, take time a little time out to settle into the new parameters that you are dealing with and try not to panic.
2. Don’t resist what it is happening. That is futile. Rather focus on possibility where you see yourself and your business in the future.
3. Read and listen to the facts only. Do not be bamboozled by fake news.
4. Practice the preventive measures, guidance and laws that have been put in place to protect you and the community.
5. How you manage employees, clients or customers now will be remembered a long time after the virus has passed.
6. Adjust how you can and need to work.
7. Be super supportive of your clients and go the extra mile for them.
8. This is not the time to slack off. It is the time to give it all you’ve got.
9. Set aside a brainstorming session for yourself to identify possible opportunities for you and your business.
10. Keep abreast of the game and keep on marketing yourself. Your clients will need many of your services or products right now!

Assess your situation. Gain control of what is possible. Explore what is within your (1) CONTROL and (2) what is within your CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE. Do not stress out about what you cannot control. There will always be things in your business that you will have no control over. Focus instead on what you can change or shift.

As a Business Owner, it is imperative that whenever you have a challenge and especially at such times of unexpected events which could threaten the life, profitability and even the continued success of your business; that you place your energy on whatever it is that you have some degree of control or influence. Take your focus off of that of which you have absolutely no control over.

Take a step back. Identify what you can change and place all your attention, your genius, your creativity, your hope, faith, trust and actions on that.

Lastly, let’s support our fellow entrepreneurs and the business community wherever possible.

In Your Support!

Much Love, Light & Resilience at this time.