Why now, more than ever, resilience and creativity are traits we must embody

Chris & I jetting off somewhere, during earlier, coronavirus-free times.

I hosted a surprise birthday party for my husband last night.

A virtual happy hour, to be precise. 

I wanted to do something special to celebrate Chris, despite the somber air surrounding coronavirus, so I sent a spur of the moment message to a number of friends, with the invitation to join us on Zoom at 8 pm, for a toast to the birthday boy.

Throughout the course of the evening we had more than a dozen friends from both Germany and Canada virtually “drop in” for a visit. Chris was pretty tickled with his novel birthday party, and everyone seemed relieved to enjoy some laughs, conversation and connection.

In a matter of days we’ve seen the world as we know it turned on its head, and admittedly, the situation looks like it will become more dire, before it improves.

While it can be tempting to throw up our hands and exclaim, “We’re all gonna [go broke...get coronavirus...be stuck indoors forever...]!!” my belief is that now, more than ever, we as business owners need to practice an attitude of resilience and creativity - and that those who do will not only fare better during these times of uncertainty, but will more positively impact their families, communities and the world at large.

+++

What does it mean to be resilient in the face of adversity and uncertainty? 

It means refusing to allow worst-case thinking to determine our actions, and deciding - yes, it’s a decision - to remain in motion, despite forces that seemingly run contrary to that decision.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you take actions that fly in the face of medical and scientific recommendations (you still need to stay the fuck home, y’all). But I do beg you to consider: what does being pulled into negativity and inaction actually accomplish? 

If you’ve decided now isn’t the time to be marketing yourself, because no one’s going to buy anything anyways… It won’t take much time to prove that theory correct. 

Spending countless hours mourning the loss of your spring-break vacation isn’t going to get your butt to the beach, just like lamenting the closure of your favourite gym won’t help to keep you in shape.

Likewise, worrying that you’ll lose all your clients, isn’t doing anything to keep them.

I get it. This situation is spectacularly un-awesome. And I fully believe that we need to acknowledge and in healthy ways, deal with our fears, disappointments and anxieties.

But the fact of these coronavirus times is also undeniable, and at a certain point we need to decide how to move forward and live and operate our businesses, alongside this new norm. 

+++

Let me guess: a reality that involves social distancing, and quarantine periods, and restricted travel isn’t one you’re too enthusiastic to embrace.

Me neither.

However, I want you to imagine for a moment, that life as you’re experiencing it today IS the new reality (and spoiler: it is, because it’s happening NOW).

—> How might this knowing shape your actions?

We can put the brakes on our businesses (provided the circumstances haven’t already done so). We can hole ourselves up and live under the covers, endlessly binging on Netflix. 

Or, we can choose to press onwards and adjust course because life demands it. 

Are you going to allow yourself to sink? Or swim with the current?

What’s creativity got to do with the changes that we’re experiencing?

Restrictions, and limitations, and challenges are virtually ALWAYS the breeding grounds for new ideas and innovations. Us humans are pretty lazy. If we’re giving a wide open canvas and an unlimited time in which to paint, few of us will ever create anything. 

But with a limitation of time, tools at our disposal, and circumstances in which to innovate, we are ironically, often at our creative best. Our brains like to chew on problems; I certainly have evidence of this in my own business and life.

I remember when I started designing jewellery; my skills were rudimentary and I didn't have the help of skilled experts to support me in my designs, so my brain would have to work extra hard to create unique pieces with only two or three basic techniques. 

If your company’s way of doing business is being impeded by coronavirus, how can you use creativity to step up and support your audience, brainstorm new offerings, and to develop contingency plans should things become more dire?

+++

The way I see it is like this:

Coronavirus meets its end, and life quickly returns to normal. Will your community be there to support your business, just like you’ve been there for them?

OR: The new normal is something resembling this socially isolated present. So whatcha going to do about it?

I know this isn’t easy. That businesses have ceased to exist over night, due to a situation that feels inconceivable. My words aren’t intended to diminish your fears, because I feel them too. I do. 

But my entrepreneurial community, I urge you: Remain resilient. Be creative. These times demand it.