Small Business in Corona Times
By Rania Batrice
I saw this meme recently…
You are doing just fine.
We are going through a collective traumatic experience. Not everyone has the privilege of turning a pandemic into something fun or productive. Stay healthy. We are in unprecedented times, and I find myself saying things like “we’re building the plane as we fly it... we’re all in this together... we’re not social distancing but physically distancing…” a hundred times a day. All of these things are true. All of them are obvious. And all of them are worth repeating...over and over. Despite the rational part of our brain grasping that this is in fact a global pandemic, the emotional side of our brain, understandably, might be having a harder time remembering that there isn’t a road map for this. Both personally and professionally, we are having to grapple with situations most have never even considered.
So how do we balance these two sides of our brain? How do we keep our own wellness in mind while also considering our business, employees who count on us, and more? How do we fight the urge to crawl under the covers and refuse to come out until the worst is over? I won’t pretend like I have all of the answers, but I will share some of the tools we’re using to cope and manage the best way we can.
Stop and Breathe.
Over the years I have tried to prioritize meditating, but it just never really happened. Given the myriad of emotions that circulate on a daily basis, I decided to give it another go. There are a number of apps out there that provide guided meditations, breathing exercises and the like. I’ve tried several, but what I’ve found works best for me is tuning in with the amazing Valarie Kaur. She provides an incredible 30-minute session every weekday at 1pm PST/4pm EST on Instagram TV. Her understanding demeanor and calming presence has kept me coming back and scheduling around the practice. Her handle on Instagram is @ValarieKaur, and all are welcome.
Get Creative.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just play one on TV, getting your creative juices flowing is known to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Whether it’s free writing, taking paint to canvas, or finding a DIY project, finding a creative outlet can help, even if just for a moment, relax our nervous systems and feelings of stress and anxiety. Let me be clear here, I’m not saying you need to become an expert, take classes, and create something that hangs on your walls forever--I’m saying, if you can, try to find something that allows you to get whatever creative juices you have flowing. Pinterest is full of ideas for all ages and skill levels. And here comes a shameless plug that actually comes with some altruistic benefits--Love And Freedom is an organization we co-founded last year to work with women coming out of domestic violence, sex trafficking and resettled refugees. DIY scarf kits can be shipped right to your doorstep, and Dallas designer and Love and Freedom co-founders, Abi Ferrin and Elle Lewis, will host a fun and safe virtual tutorial on how to assemble your scarf. All proceeds go to support the women in our program.
Stay Connected.
Maybe more than any other time in our lives, we are facing a global crisis that doesn’t discriminate. Of course there are differences in access, and that is something we are working on daily. But the reality is, this virus doesn’t care about demographics. But the phrase ‘social distancing,’ is all wrong. Yes, we need to adhere to CDC guidelines and protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. But not by “socially” distancing, but instead by physically distancing. Now is the time to stay connected, utilize the technology we have at our fingertips and remind your family, friends, loved ones and colleagues that we are in this together.
For the first time since FaceTime was a thing, my entire family has joined together for virtual weekend gatherings. My birthday was in March, and several friends put together a virtual birthday party on Zoom. Another friend organized a movie watching party for all of us--apparently Netflix has a way to do this, but we couldn’t figure it out. So we created a Signal group, hit play at the exact same time, and then commented to each other using our Signal thread for the entire movie--it was glorious. I feel like every day I am hearing of more ways for us to stay connected and find each other across the miles and from the safety of our homes.
Do Something For Someone Else (Safely of course).
After an incredibly stressful night followed by an emotional and trying morning, my husband brought me coffee in a Christmas mug. Christmas is my happy place and always has been. So this little thoughtful act from my partner was everything I needed at that moment. I’ve had some friends in New York who were quarantined and suspected they had the virus. I had groceries delivered to them so they could take just one thing off their plate. I’ve had other friends who have mowed the lawns of their elderly neighbors. Donate to a charity you believe in and likely desperately needs your help right now. Even ordering takeout or delivery from your local, community establishment is an act of consideration and kindness these days (just remember to wipe down packaging, wash your hands, etc...and please tip well!)
There are a lot of great resources out there. One of my favorites is the weekly addition by my friends at the Soze Agency. This clear and quick read provides updated information on what’s happening across the country, stories of inspiration, and ways you can help. It takes no time at all to register, and it’s free...click here to sign up.
On the business side…
These are trying times for so many of us, and as we try to navigate the federal stimulus package and stay afloat, I’m of the belief that sharing information and ideas, what worked, what didn’t, is one of the best ways we can show up for each other right now. I will be the first to admit that I absolutely do not have all of the answers, but I do want to share some of what we’ve been doing at Batrice & Associates with and for our clients.
Organizing Is Not Over.
It turns out that Zoom interfaces with Facebook and YouTube, so you can have a Zoom Conference and then livestream it using one of those platforms. This provides people across multiple industries and areas of expertise to come together and share information with a wider audience. Platforms like Zoom have also allowed us to continue communicating with volunteers and interns for training, check ins, and more. The bottom line is, while we cannot safely connect in ways we have grown accustomed to, we can get creative and find ways to keep organizing.
Honesty And Transparency Are Key.
As I mentioned above, there is no roadmap, and we are building the plane as we’re flying it. We are having to make decisions on a daily basis that haven’t been made in our lifetime. Rather than trying to pretend like we have all of the answers, now more than ever, it’s a good idea to be honest. Tell your clients, constituents, employees, colleagues, etc. what’s really going on. Express how you’re feeling as you navigate these times. Share how hard it is to fundraise in this moment when you know everyone is struggling. Show your human side--pretending to have it all together right now helps no one, yourself included. That being said, if you have found a good approach, a calming or stress-reducing tactic, good way to communicate, then by all means, do share with the class! People across the United States and around the world are experiencing suffering and hardships in different ways and at different levels. As Lady Gaga so eloquently reminded us, understanding the differences is vital to how we do (or don’t) show up. And while I agree with her sentiment, I do believe we have to show up together and for each other--even if that simply means staying home to keep yourself, your family, and others safe.
Take Advantage of The Federal Stimulus Package.
On March 27th the United States Congress passed a stimulus package that’s meant to help families and businesses who are struggling and expecting to experience significant losses because of the global pandemic. As you likely already know, that funding ran dry within days. Yesterday evening, the House passed H.R. 266 which provides an additional $484 billion of Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act funding. Let’s be honest, the legislation is far from perfect--none of it has been. But 310 billion of those dollars are meant to go to SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. It’s not easy to navigate hundreds of pages of legislation, but there are resources out there to help work through the jargon and get you the details you need. Here, here, and here are some decent resources to read up on, but please make sure to do your own research and talk to your accountant and banker if you have those resources available to you. And if you don’t have an accountant or your banker is unhelpful, your local United Way does have some resources that could be helpful.
If you have questions, thoughts or ideas you would like to share with us, please email info@batrice.associates.