When the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Joseph P. Kennedy

How Is the Lock Down Shaping Our Business’?

Tawn Holstra Auston
Tawn Holstra Auston

I wonder, years from now, whether we will look at these six months and recall them as a “before the virus” and “after the virus” experience.    This unprecedented, global challenge removing all political POV’s, has changed us at a very fundamental level.   

For one, it has brought us closer as it forced us apart.  It has made us much more aware that our actions (masks, no masks), and our community’s (only 1 per customer) need to share its resources to ensure that we are all taken care of.   We are watching commercials about looking out for our neighbors and we are watching celebrities share their homes and self-done make-up and hair (and lack of haircuts!).   As huge face-to-face events are cancelled and postponed, others have been invented, like the Country Music events held on-line from all different locations and American Idol still doing “live” shows that include the audience while being in separate locations spread all over the United States.    This may never have happened without the virus – or at least, without the quarantine!

Secondly, our small businesses, especially creative businesses, are still striving to make an impact for their clients and community, all without the ability to do any face-to-face networking.  Which means, dialing the phone and learning to share their work in new creative ways.   Creatives are much more prepared pivot and thus able to serve their clients through technology or ‘no touch” services that allow the micro economy to keep going and even thrive while the Stay at Home order is in place.   

Why Are Some Small Businesses Still Growing?

People still have needs, and some are new needs caused by the quarantine.   People still have wants, dreams, and issues that were present before the virus and still need services that they may have gone out for before and now need to do at home.  Many have new needs that did not exist before the quarantine.  

Creatives are prepared to be creative!  Creative Businesses are designed to be responsive to their customer’s requests.   They may even be inspired by the challenge to reinvent their business, expand their business model, or pivot their offers to serve the new needs of their communities and existing customers.   

Twist and Shout Your Way to Growth

Finding new opportunities and creating a new offers that serve your clients current needs, which have recently become urgent — like finding toilet paper — is all about building bridges between your client/potential client and the things they want and need. For example, if you can take your cleaning company truck and find toilet paper, you can create a delivery service. If you are a chef, you can create amazing meals and partner with a delivery service; use your email list to make your offer and get to work fulfilling.

To find these opportunities, try this exercise we use in our marketing program, Market With Heart. The questions are, “What does my ideal customer/existing client need right now?” and then, “How can our business deliver that tomorrow morning?” Work on this until you have 10 -50 answers and then pick your best one and get started!

Can You Start Your Creative Business Now?

Due to our massive unemployment, hundreds, possibly thousands of people are starting their businesses during the quarantine and, in some ways, it may be the best thing that could have happened to them.    They are starting when they have all the odds against them and are succeeding!   Imagine the growth without the quarantine!  If you can succeed when it is challenging, you can certainly succeed when it isn’t.     So the answer to, “can I start my business now?”, is YES!, 100% Yes.

Thank You for Your Creative Courage

If you are one of the determined, passionate, and dedicated creatives in business, THANK YOU for all that you are doing during this challenge.  Your courage and stamina are inspiring and your service is noticed.   

 If you need anything to support you, jump on an absolutely free coaching call with me by using this link or join us for our monthly Small Business Trouble Shooting Call on Tuesday May 5th – open to everyone interested in moving forward now, during the quarantine, and once we re-open, when the flood of returning business will likely overwhelm our capacity to fulfill customer needs.  

Your creative energy is needed now more than ever.  You are not alone… come get your restorative support; we are here for you!

If You Want to Read More on Success on Your Terms read: Where Has All My Passion Gone? The #1 Way We Undermine Our Own Success

FREE FOR YOU!

I started my first Creative Business when I was a single mom with four tiny children.   That was 25 years ago and I started Business 101 for Creative Entrepreneurs to give back.  Of course, I am so grateful for all the support I did get while I was getting started. Yet more than anything I wished I had some business support, some mentoring or guidance.    I want you to know that I know how hard, confusing, and challenging it can be to be alone and have real questions with no one to ask.

Please accept this FREE 30 Minute Creative Business Consult as my way of saying “You Can Do It!”

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