When you started your business, you planned for slow months and late-paying customers. You ran through lists of “worst case” scenarios and made plans for each scenario, meticulously working through each one. All the scheming and planning did not stop the late nights working hard to build your business and worrying about making it on your own. Until you did! Now you run a successful business, and dream of the rewards you so rightly deserve. Then, the unthinkable happened…
At BizWize we pride ourselves on strategic thinking and proactive planning but certainly, we never thought we would be facing a pandemic! Did you? (For those of you who answer “yes”, please give the rest of us some pointers!) – For the rest of us, we will face these challenging and uncertain times with courage and fortitude!
Starting a business is a challenging endeavor, but we persevered. Getting through a global pandemic has us all digging deep but we are doing it! And, just like every year we succeed in business, the most challenging times seem to teach us the most valuable lessons. We would like to share some of our favourite personal lessons with you.
“If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters – 204 if you’re in Japan.”
― Claire Cook- Be flexible and pivot. Sometimes the best laid plans must be fluid to ebb and flow with the current climate.
“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.”
― Henry David Thoreau- We plague ourselves with “could haves” and “should haves”. But focusing on previous missed opportunities does nothing for future success. Take the experiences you have had and turn them into lessons to guide your future decisions.
“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.”
― Catherynne M. Valente- There is much we do not know about the future. But rather than fortune-telling and worrying about ”what-ifs”, we can savor the happy moments of today; the precious time spent with our families, the disconnection from the demands of a busy routine, and most importantly the continued safety and good health of ourselves and our loved ones.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.- Although we are beginning to see the light, it will take time and effort to achieve and accept our new normal. No one can say how much our future will resemble our past, but we do know we will get there. It will take hard work, planning and, no doubt, a few missteps and faceplants along the way. Our future success will be the sum of small daily accomplishments. The most important thing we can do is to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
We are confident that, as business owners, we will continue to rise above the challenges presented to us. We will get back to business, even if it is not business as usual. When you hit rock bottom, remember this…..rock bottom can also be a great foundation upon which to build!
