[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.5″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.5″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Moving-from-Surviving-to-Thriving-What-Does-That-Mean.jpg” title_text=”Moving from Surviving to Thriving What Does That Mean” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
As a veteran small businesswoman (I\u2019ve survived 11 years!), I regularly reflect on the difference between making ends meet and creating a thriving business. Financial security has always been one of my greatest fears in running my own business. So, what happens when your fears are realised?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I started my behavioural leadership and coaching practice, 11 years ago after I had experienced the last of several incidents of discrimination in the workplace. I received a three thousand dollar tax refund and began my journey into entrepreneurship, smack, bang in the middle of the 2009 global financial crisis \u00a0(not quite surviving!). \u00a011 years later, and I have a sense of dejavu. \u00a0In March this year, my clients in hospitality and aged care postponed all my bookings as a \u2018precaution\u2019\u2026 \u00a0Within a fortnight everything was cancelled indefinitely and no tax cheque in sight. (O.M.G! how will I survive?)\u00a0<\/p>\n
I see and hear stories of colleagues and friends in small to medium businesses who are devastated by this pandemic. Some because of their loyalty to their teams and their unwavering efforts to keep all \u201ctheir people \u201cemployed, with the hope that things will return \u2018back to normal\u2019 (precovid). \u00a0I have watched leaders and owners generous to a fault, stretching themselves financially through the assistance of banks, friends, and family to continue paying wages, rent, and keep the \u201clights on\u201d in their business.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly, people are integral to the success of any business, particularly small business. \u00a0That barista who remembers you\u00a0\u2013 always smiles and gets your order right or the salesperson, who takes the time to explain features and benefits to you, or your favourite travel agent, the one you trust to make sure you get the best value, the best service and\u00a0an experience to remember, as well as safe passage home. \u00a0These people create the incredible brand of their business, they make me want to go back to and engage them again and again. \u00a0These people deserve, and get paid, commensurate with their experience and expertise, they bring value, and are, rightfully so, a significant expense. \u00a0Recognising this, the government created \u201cJob Keeper\u201d, to help small businesses, but, does it cover the wages of someone who wants to work for your business but can\u2019t? \u00a0What happens when you have outgoings and no commensurate income to cover them?<\/p>\n
What\u2019s between Survive and\u00a0Thrive?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n What do I mean by surviving? \u00a0To me, surviving is mince ten ways, eggs for dinner and not with a side of halloumi and beans! As well as instant coffee, \u00a0no Uber Eats and the weekly outing is a trip to the local park with the dog or a coffee at the neighbours, hopefully the one who doesn\u2019t have International Roast!. (First world problem I know!) \u00a0It means austerity measures including; cancellation of subscriptions and direct debits to entertainment channels, \u00a0coffees at home, and \u2018Freezer Surprise\u2019 for dinner replacing Uber Eats! Finally explaining to a six year old why he can\u2019t have a class birthday party this year!<\/p>\n This also comes with dread and uncertainty about how to get through each day; financially, mentally and physically, as well as unwavering gratitude to my partner, friends and family for prepared meals and dinner invitations. Sounds like a mixed bunch of emotions and priorities. Well it is!<\/p>\n To\u00a0thrive<\/strong>\u00a0in my small business is to be secure financially, stable mentally, able to meet my commitments easily\u00a0(and for the foreseeable future).\u00a0 To have my work calendar filled with bookings.\u00a0 The ability to take a holiday once or twice a year with my family, cafe coffee and Uber eats once a week alongside adventure outings with my six year old.<\/p>\n Right now, I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m in either place, though my motivation and outlook is always to see myself moving away from survival and toward thriving.\u00a0<\/p>\n Recently I took a four day road trip with the family to Byron Bay, with \u00a0this in mind. During this time, I had a discussion with a friend and business owner who said, \u201cI have been working so hard for twenty-two years only to end up with a business that is worthless!\u201d I was devastated for her as a super talented leader, mentor and inspiring and influential leader, I really felt for her at that moment. I though this pandemic does not discriminate it gets to the best of us!\u00a0<\/p>\n Anyway, as I was driving in the car we passed the burnt trees from the recent bushfires that devastated the country both north and south. \u00a0Whilst the trunks of the trees were black, the burnt leaves and strips of bark had fallen to the ground and returned to the soil acting as a natural fertiliser, part of the story of new growth. The new buds were formed and sprouting, and the air was fresh and crisp.\u00a0The renewal had begun!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I thought about this as I considered the daunting options and decisions for small business owners to continue to function. In particular the travel, tourism hospitality and entertainment industries. An industry I too, have been a part of for over 30 years and am still involved with today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n On one hand leaders and owners want to be loyal to their followers and do everything to keep them engaged, even if it means the business is running at an unrecoverable loss. So, the inevitable crisis point comes regardless of your efforts.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the employees believe that their leader will do everything to keep them on and so sit in a waiting pattern to \u201csee what happens\u201d and take no action waiting for someone else to have the courage to decide their fate.<\/p>\n There is a way for us to help each other and ourselves. Let\u2019s face it, we all want to be able to pay our mortgages or rent and to earn a living. It seems to me it\u2019s time to \u00a0be on the lookout for opportunities yourselves and not be dependent on the good heartedness of the people you work for. \u00a0It takes an honest conversation about the state of the business, pride and ego aside to create true awareness of where one is at.<\/p>\n If there is an opportunity to strip back in your business to provide you time to revive down the track, take it now!<\/p>\n I am aware of at least one path to take, to prepare for your future, grasp opportunities and the offering that they may bring. We still don\u2019t know what life after a pandemic will look like as this is a lifetime event that we haven\u2019t seen since\u00a0the\u00a01918-1919 influenza pandemic<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n I want share that idea with you. Over the last three months I have discovered that four ways to revive my small business.<\/p>\n I have personally had to reinvent myself three times in my 3 careers!\u00a0Each time required new ways of thinking, new connections and a\u00a0willingness<\/strong>\u00a0to understand that\u00a0if what I\u2019m doing does not work, then it\u2019s time to do something else!<\/strong><\/p>\n It has required fresh perspectives, great mentors and new learnings. The opportunity to strip back and begin over. This has been the same in Covid19. Having lost all my business in lockdown I took the time to:<\/p><\/div>\n 1. Home school my son (6)<\/em><\/p>\n 2. Reinvent myself online<\/em><\/p>\n 3. Build online courses\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 4. Coach via zoom<\/em><\/p>\n 5. Review finances and manage subscriptions<\/em><\/p>\n 6. Investigate the ongoing need for my business offerings<\/em><\/p>\n 7. Get a low interest loan to invest in the technical and online revamp of my business and products.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 8. Create awareness of timeframes for re-engaging clients and budget accordingly.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In this last week I have confirmed \u00a0two new online clients, reconnected with past clients and created opportunities to do some face to face facilitation from the end of August!\u00a0<\/p>\n To my colleagues in SME business, there is hope.\u00a0Part of leadership is being able to make the tough decisions as well as celebrate success and be able to live with both outcomes.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n To employees of small business, keep your eyes wide open, be aware of what\u2019s happening in your environment. If there are no sales, consider your options to upskill, look at your transferable talents and opportunities to move into a financially stable business even for a short term. Allow the SME business time to recover and rebuild.<\/p>\n My hope for you is renewed resilience, self awareness and the ability to claim your strengths and put them to work for the best results you can achieve, mentally, physically and emotionally. Best of luck to you all!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.5″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.5″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjcxIn19@” button_text=”Back” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.5.5″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#583481″ button_border_color=”#583481″ button_icon=”%%2%%” button_icon_color=”#ffffff” button_icon_placement=”left” button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”10px|25px|10px|40px|false|false” button_icon_color_last_edited=”off|desktop” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_bg_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on” button_icon_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_icon_color__hover=”#583481″ button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_text_color__hover=”#583481″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a veteran small businesswoman (I\u2019ve survived 11 years!), I regularly reflect on the difference between making ends meet and creating a thriving business. Financial security has always been one of my greatest fears in running my own business. So, what happens when your fears are realised?\u00a0 I started my behavioural leadership and coaching practice, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":938,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1440","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/937"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.corporatemagic.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Business considerations<\/strong>\u00a0<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n