COVID19: How to Show Up For Yourself and Your Small Business

How have you been showing up in response to COVID-19?

I want to encourage you to take a moment to grieve where you thought your business or your finances were going to be right now or this year. Things are changing, and fast.

The faster you accept the reality of what's happening around you, around your city, and around the world, the faster you can adjust and protect your business for what's now an inevitable recession and prolonged social distancing norms (at least until the end of summer).

I know this new reality is tough to accept and that you're probably feeling sad, anxious and maybe a little bit in denial but I just wanted to write a note to let you know that you're not alone. Being an entrepreneur is already incredibly hard, but growing in a down market can be even tougher. For many of us, this is the first recession or bull market we've seen. I don't promise to know all the answers, but I can commit to being here with you every step of the way supporting you and sharing my own journey navigating this new world.

Here’s how I’ve been pivoting, executing and plotting for the coming weeks:

My New Personal Reality:

1. I planned for a world where I would get sick, or at the very least that someone in my quarantine circle would get sick AND that I would do my part by NOT going to medical professionals for help. Therefore, I prepped for being highly uncomfortable, highly drugged and stuck in my apartment. Many of you reading this are under the age of 40, consider how you will treat yourself if (and when) you get sick and make a plan for it. Our world will be better off if you're prepared to self treat vs going into a crowded facility.

2. I planned a new diet to reduce quarantine weight, keep my brain fresh, and sharp. I stocked up on veggies, fats and meats. I've committed to intermittent fasting and keto so that I am monitoring my carbs and not nibbling all day. Consider intermittent fasting or adding some guidelines to your diet while you adjust to being at home. You'll be surprised at how healthy this new world may make you (I'm down 5 lbs in 5 days #carbs).

3. I made a work from home station that mirrors my in office flow. I set up a workstation near natural light, and even brought my work chair home. If you are doing the same, remember to keep this new work corner a separate space as best as you can, for your own sanity. I will be pushing my couch out further and bringing in a little rug. This desk also can adjust to be a standing desk. Think about how you can create a workspace that is productive in a prolonged WFH scenario.

4. I am increasing my steps to 10k a day to keep my immune system strong and my body active. Looking at my historical data I used to take about 5k steps a day and do a workout in the gym or hot yoga 3-4 times a week. With my gym and yoga studio closed, I'll be doing two walks a day and a home work-out plan. I have 30-min calls 2x a day with various direct reports. I will be doing those as walking meetings instead of video hangouts. Think about what meetings you can do walking.

5. It was important that I took care of myself before I started to process all of the business implications and scenarios for Blavity Inc. Once I wrapped my head around the situation here are areas that I had our directors and leaders focus on:

1. Bringing Cash Forward: Collecting Outstanding AR and providing incentives for advance payment.
2. Managing Downside Risk: Creating a list of high risk clients and reaching out to clients who were considering event based contracts.
3. Slowing Down Burn: Preserving cash by looking at every penny and cutting the fat! We also started the process early of renegotiating contracts with vendors and contractors.
4. Accelerating New Digital Revenue Opportunities: We accelerated the launch of the Travel Noire Membership App, accelerated our podcast strategy, refreshed our media kit and built new sales tools focusing on our multicultural ad network.

For those of you who are business owners and need support to pivot and stabilize during this time I will be doing more Live calls and sending more frequent content out in my WorkSmart Newsletter. Join the free email list and come hangout with other business owners so we can all work through this together. Over the next few weeks I'll be talking about how to make decisions, reduce overhead and new business opportunities to consider and how to model out scenarios.