Faff Free Friday #13 - the Keep Your Light Shining Issue
Keep Your Light Shining
In spite of being in a time of crisis, now is not the time to hide. Here's my take on the reasons why and the lessons learnt from two years ago...
Flashback
On March 31, 2020, I posted this article:
YES you MAY still market your business - in fact, you MUST.
A little under two years later and a few days after Putin The Not So Great (note: Newsnight discussion this week, Putin is said to idolise the tyrannical Russian Emperor Peter the Great...) invaded the sovereign state of Ukraine, I find myself pondering almost the same sentiment.
Back in 2020 I observed the following happening for smaller businesses:
Turning the Sales Tap on and Off Again Is Not Easy
In March 2020 I saw pages of well meaning content condemning selling. It actually made me feel really uncomfortable.
Because many of those commenting were confident in sales - turning the tap off and then back on again was not going to be a huge problem over time - for them!
The people I talk to tend to lack a love for sales and marketing themselves and their business.
And if they develop any level of confidence, often it is out of building new habits and good systems which work for them based on their strengths.
But it does not take much for many to retreat into invisibility again.
I Leaned In
In my own small way I offered help.
I put together free training to help my audience pivot. I also put out that it is ok to market and sell even in a crisis.
Because, in 2022, the knock on effects of the horrors of the invasion may be taking its toll already and in a similar way to back in time...there are things we can do to prevent sales being sleazy, or condemning them as such.
My message now is as it was then
Please think before suggesting to anyone that selling is in poor taste right now. There are ways it can be ok.
And if you find you are one of those who worry that being visible isn't a good thing, think about how you can help without feeling sleazy.
Visibility WITHOUT Sleaze
This may help - perhaps use this as a touchstone:
Outshining Darkness
We can only control what we have in our control and we need to do good to outshine the dark in the world.
Ways to help:
Networks for Good are Everywhere
I wrote in issue #12 about the power of prayer and mentioned I would be part of a nationwide candle lit vigil last Sunday evening.
It was very powerful to share a solemn but positive space with a community I realised I’ve know for almost 23 years locally and a wider Christian community I’ve been part of since as a child I attended church with my friend and her family.
It’s this network created by a common cause that binds a community of care across the world together, in place and in time.
Please be there for your networks, don't become invisible.
Keep your light shining.
Please do comment below to get the discussion going and also comment if you would like to share with your own audience and connections in Linked In.
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Managing Director, ioda
2 年Love this Rachel ??
No waffle, just words ? Editing for small business owners, indie authors and academics who need to write with impact and clarity ? Anthropologist ?? [email protected]
3 年Wise and compassionate words Rachel. Sometimes the best response in a terrible situation is to keep on with our lives, because we can - not just because we need to make a living. I'm not usually one for inspirational quotes but these lines from Mother Theresa gave some comfort recently: "Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not yet come. We have only today, let us begin."