9 Tips to Stay Positive and Save Your Business Through This Pandemic

Oh, my goodness! The realization that this pandemic is still with us and will be for some time to come is “devastating”.

How do I remain positive and help my business stay alive?

I have to say that this is a very difficult topic to write about with business closing every day – especially self-employed small business operations.

How do you stay positive in a constant 24 hour, round the clock, sea of negativity?

You have to understand how to stay positive without seeming like you have no sensitivity or empathy to others who are seeing their life going down the drain.

Flight or Fight?

Yes indeed, the first thing to do is decide whether you are going to “fish or cut bait” as they say.

In this case it is flight or fight. Decide now to close down and cut your losses or choose to fight this Covid monster and make things happen.

As my favourite hockey broadcaster, Bob Cole would say: ”Oh Baby”. In this case it would be referring to the challenges that you face in your fight to stay positive and save your business.

Here are 9 Tips for Staying Positive and Winning the Battle for Your Business

1. Turn Off the NEWS Right Now!

Negativity is everywhere and it is especially prevalent on TV and Social Media. It will catch you and consume you with the constant negative news.

You can become addicted to the statistics game and not realize when you allow negative thinking to take over your life and business.

Make a plan to control your exposure to all of this negativity and stick to it.

2. Search for Positive People.

This is a time to reach out and find like-minded people like yourself. You can search for positivity throughout your support system and make a conscious effort to connect with those who think like you do.

There are online support groups of people searching for the same positive attitudes that you are looking for. Find them and start building a relationship with them.

Oh yes, that means eliminating those negative influences in your circle of influence.

3. Take a Reality Check.

This may sound weird but a way to kick the daylights out of negativity is to do a reality check and acknowledge life as it currently is.

Don’t deny the feelings of anger, and frustration. Don’t blame yourself for this situation as it is what it is. Sure, you will have these feelings so find a listening ear and spend some time venting, as this will release the negative and make room for the incoming positive thoughts.

4. Put Someone Else First.

Now is the time to be grateful for your life and find someone who needs your help. Not only find them but do something to help them.

You have no idea just how much this will help you be positive rather than dwelling on negative realities. This action will release more positive thoughts and actions.

5. Get Your Funny On.

Now is the time to “Get your funny on”. The movie theatre close to you may be closed but Netflix, Prime, Apple TV and other sites offer wonderful funny shows and comedy movies that can help you laugh.

Laughter has been proven to be a great way to reduce stress and negativity. It’s fun so just do it.

6. Action, Action, Action

Contrary to those negative sooth slayers who would have you curl up into a ball and do nothing, now is the time to take action and actually increase your visibility in the marketplace.

Room has opened up in your business space simply because businesses have closed down or are in a snooze mode.

Take advantage of this reality. However, do it in a way that shows empathy for the situations of your customers and prospects, and try to communicate this message portraying a feeling of unity with them.

7. Brainstorming.

Set aside specific time to brainstorm either with yourself alone if that be the case, or with your team, and get creative.

Do not be afraid to discuss or think about taking actions that are outside of the box so to speak.

8. Create positive promotions for your customers/clients.

Don’t hesitate to design fun deals for them. Create quizzes, contests, and gather up those emails and other leads.

Show your target market that you are ready to sacrifice your immediate profits in order to give back to those who are loyal to you. Be A Giver, Not a Taker and you will find that it comes back to you tenfold.

9. Take Care of Yourself.

As a self-employed small business owner, you will find yourself being the single most important cog in the business wheelhouse. However, in most cases you fail in taking care of yourself physically.

If you go down, so will your business. So, get off your butt and start getting healthy.

Go for a short walk in the morning and evening as a beginning. Look online and you can find beginners yoga or exercise programs. If you have bad knees and can’t walk or it’s too cold outside, do chair exercise programs or chair yoga where you sit during the session.

No excuses here. Unlock those endorphins and you will see first-hand just how good and positive it feels to be doing something while others are doing nothing.

Just Do It!