Entrepreneurship in the Face of Crisis
The Gift of Adversity
The 2020 Coronavirus crisis and worldwide COVID19 pandemic, has grabbed our attention like nothing in our lifetime. Not since World War II, has there been a single global focus, and unlike WWII, we are all on the same side; fighting the same enemy and grieving the same casualties. Tens of thousands of lives worldwide, with the U.S., recently topping the charts for both the number of total cases and deaths.
It is a time of uncertainty.
For business owners and entrepreneurs, the notion of “business, as usual”, is not only impossible, it is hard to imagine when things will return to “normal” and what the new norm may feel like. But that in itself is not all bad. Much like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, we have been given a tremendous gift.
Adversity is a powerful motivator. It can unify us, humans, like nothing else. Adversity causes us to look inward and to view the world with a fresh perspective, and dare I say it, "Dream of a better future!"
Adversity refines us.
For many of us, it has been a time to get closer to family, friends and our Maker.
But what about entrepreneurship? What does innovation look like in the face of crisis?
Business as Usual!
Taking Care of Business
Take full advantage of this time to think deeply; to consider what opportunities are hiding in plain sight. Now is a time for entrepreneurs to double-down and plan for success. Now is the time to be bold and lead with confidence. As the Canadian television director, Daryl Duke was fond of saying,
Opportunity is everywhere, you simply need to be willing to bend down and pick it up.
Taking these words to heart, at MojoMediaPros we are using this time to improve our methods of service execution for existing customers while developing a whole new marketing platform for startups and small businesses. And if that is not enough, we are also well along in planning the launch of an entirely new business.
I’m reminded of something I learned early in life, which seems keenly appropriate to entrepreneurship in this day and time:
Constraint is the springboard to creativity.
Certainly, if there is one word that describes the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, it is "constraint".
Entrepreneurship and ingenuity form the backbone of our global economy. The world is counting on us to rise above the uncertainty and innovate, like never before. As we all prepare for the re-opening of our economy, we need to harness our creativity and our energy to improve the world — starting NOW!
Get Inspired
As I step off my soapbox, allow me to close with a few inspirational quotes, selected from brainyquote.com:
Every great person, every successful person, no matter what the field of endeavor, has known the magic that lies in these words: every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.
You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider.
Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.
One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its reward to the man who loves his work. But... I continue to find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.
When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.
Stay strong!