In case you weren’t aware, COVID isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
Yes, the vaccines are getting out there. And that’s great!
But it’s going to be, at the very least, several months before things begin to shift in the world toward “normal” again. Plus, your customers aren’t going to just stop requesting online, contactless, and delivery services. Those things especially are here for good! So, as I said before: COVID is here to stay for a while.
There are things you can do as an entrepreneur to move forward. And in order to do that, you need to give thought to a few different things that will set up your business for growth.
A Quick Side-Note:
Entrepreneur’s have proven once again through the past year just how resilient, incredible, powerful & amazing we are! We have proven that we embrace what makes us entrepreneurs: the ability to look at a bad situation and adapt to the opportunity in the challenge. Entrepreneurs and small businesses were hit hardest of all, and I am just constantly amazed at how I know so many small business owners who have adapted and come through stronger on the other side. So I want to encourage you before I go on: you CAN do this! This is what makes entrepreneurs a cut above the rest; your ability to adapt and find the opportunity in the bad situation.
Here’s a list of things to consider and make decisions about in order to move your business forward through COVID.
#1: Moving Forward
Ok, yes. This might seem a little repetitive because you’re reading this article to move your business forward. Hear me out.
I can’t count the number of stories I’ve heard about business owners who believe they’ll start advertising again in the fall, or that they’ll open up the store again in December. But give this some thought: we just passed the 1 year anniversary for COVID shutting everything down. The people who are building even bigger businesses (or franchises, like Disney) are the people who are already moving forward.
If you’re not getting your business back up to speed, adjusting, and coming up with new plans, you’re going to find yourself in trouble when the end of the year hits and suddenly everything is open but you don’t have a plan.
So here’s what you need to be thinking about to move your business forward now and when things open back up again:
Your Adapted Marketing Plan
Your Adapted Business Model
An adapted marketing plan may mean you’re reaching out to people on a new, COVID-based level that touches their COVID-sparked needs.
An adapted business model may mean rates slowly increasing because you’re providing greater service that is going to linger even after COVID.
Whatever it means to create adapted models for your business, do it! Sit down, consider what you need to do moving forward, and make a plan. Even the independently wealthy individuals who can just sit around and wait another 2-3 years for things to open up, are going to be left in the dust if they do that. Opportunities present themselves inside of challenges. If you want to take advantage of those opportunities, you need to start planning for the future.
#2: Decide Your Stance
It’s a major issue for Texas-based companies right now, but this applies to businesses world-wide.
Somehow, wearing masks is a political and emotional thing.
Usually, I tell all business owners to stay out of politics as a business owner:
you can’t make everyone happy.
That still applies here! You won’t make everyone happy, but you can’t straddle the fence anymore. Eventually the government will stop standing behind you, and you’ll have to be known for what you stand for (like what is happening in Texas right now).
Here’s my recommendation: make a decision based on your core values.
Do you stand for freedom from regulation? Do you stand for protection of the innocent? What do you stand for? Take a look at your core values, make your decision, and have clear reasons why you stand behind your decision.
Even further, you need to know 2 things: When and Why things might change.