Uncertainty
Everyone saying that these are “uncertain times”. The reality is in the life of a businessperson, entrepreneur, or sales professional there really is no such thing as “uncertain times”. The one thing we can be certain of is what we control. We have control over the outcome in everything we do. Everyone must adapt, adjust, pivot and shift in order to accommodate needs, wants and desires of the world.
Is there a spectrum of emotions out there? Absolutely. Are things unprecedented? Not entirely. Every decade we experience something economically. 2009 we had the mortgage industry crash. 2001 we had 9/11. Early 90’s we had the Gulf War. 80’s we had Iran. 70’s was the gas crisis. 60’s was Vietnam. 50’s was the Korean War. We can do this all the way back to the turn of the century and beyond. Every decade has presented something to us that effected our economy. What happens is the people who adapt and allow paradigm shifts, they are the ones that grow. The people who panic tend to react rather than respond. They put their head in the sand. Reactors dissolve, or get absorbed. The wave of change drowns and crushes them. There’s no such thing as an uncertain time when you embrace the control your destiny. Because you do have that control.
Someone always NEEDS something
There is no person out there that can’t find a need RIGHT NOW and fill it. Many people out there who allow themselves to stand in empowerment and to be a solution to a problem. It doesn’t mean that we have to do the same thing to get the same result. The current situation has shifted that. What do we do? Step back, and take a look at what our skillsets are. Think of what you are knowledgeable about. What solution can we offer. Then we find the needs, wants and desires that it fills. Now, plug that need in.
Need a real world example? I know an entrepreneur that sewed loungewear for women and shower caps. Her business wasn’t really “thriving”. It was more like a hobby. She has known the apparel industry for 20 years. She is really good in that industry. What happened when everyone needed masks? It was time for her to step in. This business person took all her fabric which was 1,500 square yards and got started. She contacted many of the seamstresses that she works with to shift the nature of her business. Her business is now making $7,000 – $10,000 / month. All of that from something she made a couple thousand a month for in recent times. Does everybody know how to sew? No. Do we have 1,500 yards of fabric laying around? No. But, we DO have a skillset. Everybody has knowledge. It’s a matter of taking a look at your business and seeing how you can solve a problem right now. Adapting to accommodate the needs immediately. It’s a matter of allowing yourself to be seen differently. Now is the time to be heard differently and most of all, respond differently.
Opportunity to strengthen
With my business, I’ve always been able to coach virtually allowing me to coach anywhere in the world. With that being said, I’ve always been a “live” trainer, as well. I like to be face-to-face with people. So now, we are needing to adapt and adjust with my company. Does it mean this is the new normal? Who knows? When we get to the other side of this, if we work hard we will be better for it. The people who adapt, adjust and embrace the paradigm shift are going to be stronger. They will provide more value and offer more solutions. The people who stick their head in the sand and buy into the uncertainty of the economic times are the people who are going to get stuck. They will be crushed by the wave of change and left behind.
When I started my company one of the very first things I had to do was name it. The company name was easy for me. I played All-Army basketball and was an all-star. The one thing they teach you in that sport in particular is when you are in trouble, pivot. Businesspeople need to focus on a point. They need to be able to adapt, shift and pivot so they can always maintain the advantage. Because honestly, you can make excuses, or you can make money. You’ll never be able to make both. The choice is a powerful thing. Suffering is always optional. In order to pivot yourself through this pandemic you get to look at your business. Take a step back and work ON your business…not IN your business. Allow yourself to get out of your way so that you can have your way.