Are you watching the news or have you already turned it off? I bet you are like us: taking breaks and trying to listen to a few different sources of information to try and see a bigger, more informative picture... the problem is there is SO much information out there that it can quickly become overwhelming and cause us even more worry. If you are a small business owner, this time can be very uncertain and can cause even more fear and worry. I don't blame you for feeling this way- this is uncharted territory for all of us and we can only do our best to try and carry on despite closures, cancellations and social distancing efforts. If you didn't already know from following me on social media, I am a glass half full kind of gal. Yes, that includes moments when the glass only has a single drop - 'At least it's not EMPTY, right??' << me to a fault. My employer moved us all to remote work last week and after stocking up on a few of the essentials in order to hunker down at home for a bit, I've been spending quite a bit of time thinking about how best to spend this time and the opportunities that could come out of this - and no, I don't mean hoarding toilet paper and re-selling it on eBay or taking advantage of customers who are in crisis (seriously, please remember to practice kindness and be cognizant of those who may be struggling more than you during this time). The three main opportunities I am talking about are:
Create and Foster a Stronger Community.If you own a brick and mortar store, it is very possible that things will slow down for you or stop altogether if you have to close your doors for a while. If you are a maker, artist or freelancer you may have to cancel jobs (or have them cancelled by clients) in an effort to help with social distancing or to protect a family member who may be more susceptible to the virus. Instead of being upset at your community, your clients or anyone for that matter, consider turning your focus to your online presence to reach out to your customers and let them know that you are thinking about them and their families during this time. Let them know how they can support your business if you are indeed in a tough financial situation as well as how you can support them if they are in need. Use this time to truly connect to your followers and have real conversations with them about their situations and let them know that you are listening. Reach out to other small business owners and makers in the same way. There has never been a better time than now to come together (albeit remotely), build new connections and create an even stronger network of support. Find Alternative Ways to Better Your Business.If you are facing slower times in your retail space, cancelled jobs or are working from home this may be a great opportunity to learn a new skill or take an online class in a subject that will benefit you and your business. There are a lot of free business focused online courses & programs out there and finding something like this to focus on can help you keep a positive mindset despite the negative news and updates that may be bombarding you on social media and mainstream news channels. Another thing you can do is to focus on your inventory. If you're a maker or artist faced with show cancellations, you can take this time to re-focus on your inventory. What are some of the things you've been needing to re-stock but just haven't had the time? What supplies do you need to work through? Do you have some items you usually don't stock up on just yet, but know you'll need them at a later date? Are there things you've been wanting to TRY but have not had the "free time" to do so? You can also take this time to take a look at your online presence. Consider working on, updating or refreshing your website; go through your product listings to be sure everything is up to date in your online store or even consider starting/updating your blog. When it comes to blogging you can take this time to work on a few draft posts and get them ready to go to be published at a later date! The same goes with social media, this could be the perfect time to check out app like Planoly, Later or Hootsuite (all of these have free versions) to pre-plan and schedule your social media posts! If you use Facebook you can get (even) more familiar with their new Creator Studio and work on some scheduled posts there as well. Re-evaluate Your Personal Self-Care Routine.I know I have this listed last, but in my option it's the most important point. If you're like me, this situation has already taken a negative toll on your mental health in some way. I find that with each update on the current situation and state of our community and our country, the knot in my stomach grows a bit bigger. I'm a natural worrier so despite my 'glass half full' mentality, I've struggled with my fair share of anxiety. Knowing yourself and knowing how to de-stress is very important during times like this. Maybe that means taking mental health breaks to plug in your headphones and listen to relaxing music and do some meditating. When I say meditating I don't mean anything complex - find a quiet space in your home, close your eyes and try to focus in on your breathing. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use breath counting. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold at the top for 4 counts, breathe out for 4 counts and hold at the bottom for 4 counts, then repeat. Yoga, stretching and working out are another way to fight stress and anxiety and if you aren't used to doing these thing in your home, you can search for free exercise videos on Youtube to guide you. There are lots of options and I will even list some of my favorites at the end of this post to get you started! Do you enjoy working around your home? I find that cleaning and organizing is a great stress reliever for me, so I'm taking this additional time here at home to do some early spring cleaning and organizing (especially in my crafting space). My husband has been doing the same, finishing up some organizing in the garage and basement. If you are a gardener, you may want to start planning and planting for your spring garden, especially if you are planting from seeds and using compost that you already have at your home. My Recommendations:
During this time, remember that although you might feel isolated, you are not going through this alone. Don't completely disconnect from the world around you and reach out if you need support. Stay safe, be smart and remain alert. Take care of yourself and do what you can to keep from getting overwhelmed by everything going on around you. I hope that this is helpful in it's own way and I would love your thoughts in the comments about how you are working to stay positive and dealing with your own personal situation during this time!
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If you read my last post you know I've started listening to the Business Boutique podcast by Christy Wright and on this dreadfully soggy morning commute, I listened to her talk about how to share our stories. I don't mean talking about how you started your business and the steps you went through; it's the deeper tug at your heart that sits at the root of your "why", the long nights, the tears, the struggles, the things in your past that have given you the strength to stand up and say "I can do this, I am strong enough". You may not always feel this strength but it's there and it drives you to follow your heart and embrace your passion and run your business the way YOU want to run it. The Easy Answer. I've talked about my why before and it usually starts with the fact that my mother died at only 35 years old after a three year battle with cancer. I remember seeing my birth certificate for the first time and although I have no memory of my mom wielding a professional camera, her profession was listed on my birth certificate as "Photographer". I don't have a photographic memory, but I VIVIDLY remember that little yellow tattered birth certificate and the effect it had on me. I distinctly remember asking my grandfather for a camera when I was maybe 13 or 14 and he bought me my first Canon (a Canon Rebel 35mm to be exact). My Dad and stepmom weren't so happy about this, feeling that I was too young and irresponsible to have this expensive piece of equipment, so the camera sat in the top of their closet, hidden away until I was a senior in High School. At that point I was finally able to explore photography and knew that in some way, shape or form it would always be a part of my life, even if it wasn't my profession. It would be easy to stop my story there and say "I do what I do because my mom was a photographer" but if I'm being honest with myself, it's far more complex. Befriending the Broken. I've always felt a need to help people, make them feel cared for, loved, supported and that they mattered. Looking back at my close friends over the years (which was never a very long list), I was always drawn to those souls who'd gone through very tough circumstances despite their age- parents passing away, walking out on them or going through ugly divorces, living at or below the poverty line, constantly being moved around as a military child, abuse by parents or significant others, drugs & alcohol abuse, forced abortions, the list could go on. It was like I could see past their walls to a kid (just like me) who needed SOMEONE, ANYONE to tell them that they were WORTHY, that they were LOVED, that they MATTERED. I saw their pain and I wanted to help. This kind of approach to my relationships with others has guided me through my own worst personal tragedies and allowed me to heal by first helping others to heal. When I look at how this affects me as a photographer, one of my biggest goals for my clients is to help empower them to tell their stories, so that they can embrace the things that have given them strength; allow them to connect on a deeper level with their clients, friends, family and support systems and remind them of that strength through visual imagery. The Life she didn't get to Live. The other piece of this puzzle is not the fact that my mom passed away at 35, it's the fact that I am getting to live the life that she never got the chance to experience. It brings me to tears anytime it hits me that by this time in my mothers life, she was about to find out that she had an aggressive, invasive cancer that the doctors just couldn't seem to explain or fight. THIRTY TWO. That's it... just thirty two years old when she was thrust headfirst into a three year fight for a life that would be cut WAY too short. If I don't honor her and go after my dreams and embrace my strengths and grow as a person, what justice does that give to lives like hers, ended way too early? I used to get upset by the fact that I didn't get a chance to know her better. What made her tick? Was she emotional about little things or was she a rock of strength? What were her favorite jokes to tell? What were her favorite memories growing up? What made her feel safe, comfortable, relaxed, happy, joyful? Would we have been best friends now that I am in my 30's? But as I have gotten older, I realize that at 32, my mom was just starting to get to know herself... I'll never know what it's like to pick up the phone and call my mom just to say "hi" or chat about my day but I DO know that I'm FAR from the only person out there who's gone through something like this and if I can bring joy, healing, love and understanding to others through my gifts then that, to me, is the next best thing. I DO believe that I've had enough teary-eyed moments for one morning, but I hope that this post will encourage you to explore your own creative stories. Start a little journal it's helpful but get it out! Don't be afraid to hold your breath, plug your nose & dive into the deep end; really think about those moments in your life, as you've grown, that have shaped who you are and that have guided your values and your relationships with those around you. You don't have to share every intimate detail with the world but know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are not alone in your struggles, in your fears and in your worries... people will connect with these parts of your story and by sharing your story, you could literally change their life.
Thanks for listening :) Evelyn |
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