What's Next for Business Owners?

Covid-19 has forced the world to go home and go digital. A paradigm shift has occurred in which we are all navigating the best way we know how.

The businesses that have made a pivot or digital native businesses have weathered the Covid-19 storm and are ahead of the curve. Those that were first to market with needed products and services related to Covid-19 are seeing a revenue returns like no other time in history.

I spoke to a entrepreneur in Birmingham yesterday who has worked with several successful startup. He was working on a million dollar second round in the spring when the investor pulled out of the deal. He has used his knowledge of the start up world to pivot to onsite Covid-19 testing technology. He is set to be first to market on this technology and make millions. 

What about the rest of us? What is the next step?

We have weathered the worst of Covid-19 and we are dealing with the aftermath and a divide world and divisive culture.

It is time to reassess our business in light of the current realities. 

• What do we want/need to achieve?
• What revenue do I need to make to pay expenses and employees and make a profit?
• What point do I need to double-down, pivot, or abandon the project or business?

For me personally, I took a huge step and then stepped backed to center and pivoted to illuminate a few things.

You may have heard that I took a break in August from Mitzi Jane Media to run for a City Council place in Hoover, Alabama. My team held things together at MJM while I still consulted with current clients.

This was the opportunity to pursue something that I had wanted to do for years, but had been putting off until my kids were out of the house. However, I saw a need that was not being met in our city, so with the support of my family I put my name in the hat for a City Council race. I didn't win the race, but I did learn so much about myself, politics, and about people. 

The experience was a dose of courage and strength for me personally and professionally. It has changed me. It woke me from my Covid-19 paralysis. I do not want to go back to the hustle of pre-Covid or the fear of Covid. 

Moving forward, I am focusing on what I'm good at doing for others and what brings me joy. For example, I love networking, meeting people and helping people find their way. I love helping people learn about technology and marketing. I love assisting businesses owners create a business/marketing plan and guiding them to make that plan a reality. On a macro-level, I love politics, economic development, and being a part of creating business opportunities. I love thinking deeply and talking with people of differing beliefs and backgrounds to better understand and work through difficult issues.

I can not do all the things I love at the same time and still steward the other responsibilities in my life. My plan is to simplify and double down on Mitzi Jane Media.

From a work perspective, that simply means sticking to hosting seminars/ workshops, focusing on marketing consulting and marketing plans for business owners, and writing a business plan for a new project. Politically, I'm taking a break for a season and distancing myself from news media and social media.

What about you?

How has Covid changed you? Are you moving forward personally and professionally or have you got discourage or distracted? 

As part of my self assessment, I asked myself the following questions to hone-in on the areas that I mentioned above. Feel free to use these questions to help you map the next steps for you and your business.

• What matters most?
• What do I really want to do?
• How can I financially support myself while I do what I want to do, or better yet, make a living doing what I love?
• What are the things/relationships I need to let go of to do what I really want to do?
• What are the gifts, talents, and resources that I can steward to invest into others personally and professionally?
• What on my list needs to be put off until a later date? What on my list do I need to do now to reach my future goals/desires?
• What do you need to make a pivot or change?

I would love to hear your feedback!

How has Covid-19 changed your perspective?