As a business owner and entrepreneur, never in a million years would I have guessed that we’d be in this situation. Never. It’s just not something that’s been on my radar. Hurricanes? Yes, I got a plan for that. Flood? Yep, plan for that too. But if you had told me that my multiple streams of income would dry up in ONE DAY due to a nasty, killer virus I would’ve looked at you crooked and laughed it off.
Yet, here we are.
Housebound with a 3 year old and no pay. I have enough food to last four weeks and I set up a mini splash park in the backyard to keep us busy and happy at home. But as a 1099 worker, I am left to figure out how to make ends meet. There is no unemployment for me as of yet. Will there be a stimulus? Loans? Anything?? I have so many questions with no answers. But I’ll tell you what I do know.
Now is not the time to quit.
Now is the time regroup and figure out how to come out of this on top. Here are a few things that I am doing now to keep my business rolling in the right direction.
Morning Mindset and Routine
If you work for yourself, then you know the only person keeping you on track is you. As tempted as I am to enjoy sleeping in since I don’t have any clients at the moment I know that’s not the best idea. Getting up and keeping a routine will remind you that business is still operating. Get dressed and have breakfast. Get a morning walk in and listen to your favorite podcast if you can. Any thing that keeps your mind focused on the positive and moving forward.
Make New Office Hours
Sure you might not have the work load that you had last week, but there is always work to be done in a small business. If the kids are home, you’ll have to get creative. Maybe you can work while they have quiet time in the afternoon. Offer them a movie and popcorn to buy yourself a few hours. Find what works for you and make it happen everyday.
Clean and Update
Now’s the time to clean out those files, emails, websites, Instagrams and Facebooks. Check through your website to make sure all your information is up to date and all links are working correctly. Take time to organize your hard drives and files.
Stay Social
You should be posting content often. Keep yourself in front of your clients, even if they aren’t spending right now, is important. Showcase older projects, blog about a technique or product you love, or teach a tutorial online. Make time to reach out to your clients individually and see how they are doing. People are watching how businesses are handling this crisis. Presenting a positive and encouraging vibe will encourage your customers that you will be there when the crisis has passed.
Refresh Your Storefronts
If you operate via internet only then you can work on your storefronts. Clean up your listings and even set some advertising rolling if you have a product that will do well in the current spending climate.
Research Your Options
I will be attending a webinar that has been set up by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. They are closely watching the current trends and laws that are being put in place. The webinar will be Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at9:30 AM. It will be addressing SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, LWC Unemployment Insurance and online sales and expanding sales. Please visit their Facebook page for more up to date details and to register for the event.
These are just a few of the things that I am doing for my business niche to keep my mind clear, my positive thought flowing, staying focused and not giving up. If you are also facing a slow down in business due to the COVID-19 pandemic do you have any suggestions or tips to share? I’m taking all the advice I can get.
