Many small business owners have been frustrated by the federal government’s implantation of Trillions of dollars for the small businesss: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

At the end of another day, for me and other business owners, the demands on retaining employees, customers and vendors is paramount!

Lord, how hard do we work in these uncertain times? How do we take care of others? How do we take care of ourselves?

How do we take care of ourselves and our businesses?

Since the COVID-19 lockdown went into effect I have worked from home almost exclusively. Sometimes I have felt like I’m on an island, alone and frankly, afraid.

Not a good place to be psychologically. I know this and will not allow a “novel coronavirus” derail everything I’ve built for the past ten years. Daily routines were radically altered so here are a few things I have done to keep myself off the COVID-19 island.

• Take a deep breath! Yes, this present reality SUCKS! Breathe! You are alive. And Life is Good!;
• Take a walk. Walk around the neighborhood. A park or beach (if open). Move your body. Release some endorphins. You’ll feel better.
• Call your kids, siblings, parents, grandparents. It may come as a welcome surprise that you are reaching out during a typically busy business day. Remember to tell them, “I love you!”.
• Exercise. It’s been on your annual New Year’s Resolution for years: “losing weight and gaining strength” only to have the daily “life (business) as usual” pull us away from our goals. What better time to do it than now?
  • Toward that, the OC Fitness Coach will give you an easy workout program based upon your physical condition and equipment you have (if any). And, it’s FREE. (next excuse?).
• Love one another.
  • Everyone is stressed.
    • Immediate family members have seen WAY more of us than typical. (Editor’s note: Keep it up post COVID).
    • Employees (current, furloughed, etc.) are anxious. Keep them in the loop! Call, text, email them. Let them know what’s going on with the business. And how are they doing?
    • Customers & Clients are dealing with this too. More on this later.

• Talk to other business owners and/or their employees (social distancing appreciated).
  • How are they? How can you help them? (Nothing helps self healing than healing others);
  • There’s lots of business networking groups that are still meeting virtually. The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce‘s weekly Daybreakers networking breakfast had over 50 local business leaders online. That’s not far off from the pre-lockdown days when we met at the High Park Tap House.
• Do the things for your business and relationships you never have had time for:
  • Internet Search:
    • While we are trying to flatten the curve on COVID-19, your local customers are still searching for your services. And, more than ever, you need to be highly visible to them in their search results on Google when they query your most relevant keywords.
      • What does the future (and current) hold for a local small business? Here’s a recent article that may help.
  • Social Media:
    • Get on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter. etc. Get your followers engaged. A sale or discount isn’t going to cut it just now. Instead,
      • Display staff photos, stories of employee challenges and how they are overcoming them, your own personal story. People are hurting now. They can relate to others hurting also.
  • Email
    • Personal emails to your best customers. Not an email blast, rather direct from you to them, personally. Short and sweet. Again…”How are you? Your family? Your staff? Your friends?…”. How can you help them?
    • Email blasts. What are your hours currently? What discounts or specials are you offering? Share short stories of staff or other customers.
  • An adult beverage
    • At the end of another long and stressful day, there’s nothing like the “old stand-by” to take a bit of the edge off. A nice glass of wine can really help. But remember, you have to work again tomorrow so don’t get a headache. Order some “No Headache Wine” from local King Frosch Wines

We are not on an island! You are not alone! I have many business associates (friends) going through the same thing, and so do you. Keeping in constant contact with your employees, customers and associates helps them and you

Stay “Top of Mind”

Do you have other tactics or strategies you have found that help you through the psychological effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown? I would appreciate hearing about them!

Hang in there everyone. We’re doing great, together!