Back to work – after Coronavirus
I stand by my last post 2 weeks ago about maintaining communication with customers and clients, being flexible with your terms and conditions, avoiding ‘get-rich-quick’ ideas, being knowledgable about the effect of Coronavirus and finally writing down the steps you’ve been taking so you can learn from the entire experience.
We a few bits and pieces of this so-called advice have been collectively taken up. We experienced our own share of cancellations, worries and client’s concerns, and our business will take the punch just as every other business will.
But I am also surprised: many clients have said nothing at all to their clients about Coronavirus, they might have shared a few person views, to a few, but inaction seems overall to be the prevailing wind and that has really surprised me, but there are two major reasons I can see for it.
Firstly, shock, the stunning news that around the 12th March the entire business world was coming to a virtual halt was a bit like all the seven wonders of the world being blown up by terrorists at the same time. Just not something that is going to happen, ever.
Secondly, last week (starting 23rd March) was rather unique, there was definitely feeling of the country getting back to work and listening slightly less to the news. Shock and Reaction… all this talk about Government Bailouts, really… our business won’t be bailed out, led to the realisation we have no choice. We either furlough ourselves get 80% of our wages from the government in the short term and then what.
Much better to fight this one out… keep the staff working from home, bugger the useless government, if there is light at the end of the tunnel then we need to hear towards it and fight on. And this I think will be the Small Business reaction to Coronavirus.
There’s nothing rosie about this picture if the hairdresser packs up shop, then they won’t need a website and that’ll kill my business… same for everyone else, if the Tea Rooms close down, then less reason for the Post Office to stay open, which makes running an eCommerce company less able to deliver, etc etc etc.
The rolling effect of an economy supported by the state is a disaster waiting to happen, talk about Orwellian.
Now we wait, we’re into the third week of Coronavirus, the next reaction to the reaction is due, what will it be, Big Business is gearing for a fight to get Bailouts, Small Business is in a flight to stay alive at all. I am afraid relying on Government support is a false reality, the truth is as ever adoption is required. We’re just going to have to feel the way through all of this and be ready to change. In the meantime, it is back to work.