Update after 8 months of the pandemic as a struggling small business owner. Am I still above the fog?
What can you do to help small businesses stay above the fog?
Author: Liz Frome
Things have not been easy during this time as most small businesses already know. (At least for the ones that are struggling; there are some small business that are thriving during the pandemic.) The Job Shop has accomplished a lot over the last 8 months, and we are thankful for the business we do have. We have dipped below the fog many times, but we come in each day and we work hard to lift ourselves back above the fog. We keep smiling, we keep supporting each other and the entire team is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure The Job Shop can make it through the pandemic. I am so proud of my team and they are not only just my team, but my employees are family to me. When you are hired onto The Job Shop’s team; you are hired into a group that respects each other’s differences and truly cares about one another at work and outside of work. That is what is so hard about what is happening right now as a small business owner; you want to ensure your family is taken care of.
It is not easy to get up each day, to keep the smile on your face, to not hang your head with your employees, and at times not break down. We as small business owners always feel we need to be the strong ones but please do remember you have many family and friends that will listen; that you can run ideas by and will lend a shoulder to cry on if needed. I get up, put both my feet on the ground, and say to myself, "Today is a new day! Seize this day, it is a gift!”
Growing up as a kid I loved rollercoasters, so I am used to the ups and downs of the ride, the sick feeling you get sometimes in your stomach, the light-headed feeling you can get but that is not the hard part of this ride; the hard part is the hard decisions that you need to make as a small business owner along this pandemic ride! Can you afford to invest in this now? What should you cut back on? Should you move? Should you spend your own personal money? The hardest decision I struggle with each day; is if I should ask my employees to go out on furlough again. The key is to save your company, so your employees will have a job to come back to once we get through the pandemic.
From the first week of the pandemic, I promised myself to exercise each day, commit to healthy eating, and limit the alcohol intake. By doing this I have eliminated some stress, I have stayed healthy, I have been sleeping well and this has helped me think more clearly to make sound decisions for my company.
Exercise has been one of the keys that has helped me get through the last 8 months. It has helped me have a routine I can count on each day and I feel I am doing something for myself. I would suggest all small business owners find something that they can count on that will help them eliminate some of the stress.
What Can You Do To Help A Small Business?
Do you know a small business owner? Have you reached out to ask them if you could help?
Are you a small business owner? Have you reached out to ask other small businesses how you can help?
Here are a few ways you can help small business owners and they sure could use the help; so please take the time and reach out.
SOCIAL MEDIA SHOUTOUTS ARE FREE – Give them generously. For my company, this is key right now. The more you can like, share, and comment the more we can reach a new possible target audience, help increase business and build more awareness of our services. Check out our Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and our Job Shop Blog.
Donate your expertise with a free consultation. The Job Shop has been very fortunate to have been lined up with some amazing business consultants who have held zoom meetings with me on a weekly basis; to go through all aspects of my company, to help me come up with ways to get The Job Shop through the pandemic. I can’t say enough about the help I have received. You can start with your local SBA office or your local chamber of commerce.
Business owners need legal help, accounting, design, website help, and insurance help negotiating issues. If you are retired or off during this time reach out to small business to see if they could use your expertise. Ask them what they need right now.
Been meaning to leave a positive review? Now’s the time to do it! The Job Shop gets a lot of new clients and candidates from all of our 5-star Google reviews. I can’t put it out there enough to ask everyone to take the time to leave a review! Google, Yelp and Social Media reviews; it is easy google your favorite places leave a review and you will be done in 30 minutes or less.
Think about your purchases for the holidays and switch 1-2 gifts you would buy on Amazon to buying from a small business instead. The spread of the pandemic has undoubtedly affected the economy. We cannot stop this, but we can make a choice with our dollars to help local economies stay afloat and give small businesses a fighting chance to rebound.
Buy a $10 gift card for a friend and encourage them to buy for someone else. If you give a gift card to a friend that didn’t have any prior awareness of the business before, that person who received the gift card is more likely to purchase at least one time and may become a repeat customer.
Order takeout. Ordering takeout is one the of best ways to support restaurants right now.
Be patient. We’re all adjusting to this new normal. The pandemic has disrupted everything – vendor reliability and employee productivity. Much of the world is scrambling to keep things together.
Small businesses are defined by their spirit. Their founders tend to be scrappy, ambitious, and resilient. Their risks lead to innovations that move the world forward. And we need them. Small businesses are important to the economic and social fabric of our society, and we all play a part in their survival. So, I ask you to reach out in any way that you can to help small businesses at this time.
As I write this blog article my company is above the fog most of the time and my team is working hard each day for our survival and to stay above the fog. I will do whatever it takes to get my company through this pandemic; in a better place than it started and to take care of The Job Shop family.
One of my favorite quotes is: “Whatever comes out, we’ve got a better chance of survival if we work together.” -Maximus
So please take the time to reach out today!