Hey Guys, can we be real here for a moment? This is TOUGH. This is uncharted territory for all of us and if you are anything like me, there are a lot of emotions to work through. I already published a post on how to stay productive and focus on your business during this time but I feel like we all need more opportunities to connect right now and I wanted to share a bit more on the subject as we move through this together.

My question for you right now is – Do you have a plan? Have you thought about creating a plan and a vision for how to approach this uncharted territory as a small business owner? Do you have a plan for communication with clients & followers? Whether it be via social media, email updates or other outreach, we are creatives at heart and we do what we do because it brings us (and others) joy and we should continue to share this joy. We may not get the chance to interact with others as much in person right now but we can still strive to bring ourselves and others positivity & inspiration.

As I see it, there are two possible extremes to this spectrum- you can pretend like nothing is happening and approach this like business as usual (not recommended, but I have definitely seen people taking this approach) OR you can use this as a time to vent all of your frustrations with this virus, the world around you, the lack of business, the worry and the fear (also not the approach I would be taking at the moment). I think the best thing any of us can do is to find YOUR place on this spectrum and try to exude the kind of energy YOU want to be receiving from others during this time.

How can YOU be a positive light in your clients, customers and followers lives? How can you step up and be a leader in the creative industry in a way that will help others, bring them hope and joy and calm their fears rather than add to them? How can you get creative and “breathe life” into others and make their lives better during this difficult time? Even if you have not already devised a plan on how to do this, I am sure that you have thought about it. We are all looking for hope right now and despite the negative posts out there on social media, there are plenty of messages FULL of positive energy, love, hope and joy.

I encourage you to take some of this time to sit down with a pen and paper (or your computer) and brainstorm some ideas for how you can be a positive light in the lives of your clients and followers during this time of uncertainty. Think of ways you can engage with them and take their minds off of things that might be causing them worry. Show empathy and ask how you can help. This is not a time to go silent, if anything it is a time to be more active in connecting with, supporting and focusing on people in your communities – be that the greater creative community, your local community or your online community of followers and supporters. We may be practicing social distancing but that doesn’t mean you have to distance yourself digitally.

I do want to mention that this is probably NOT the time to be a salesman- you don’t want to put a bad taste in the mouths of your current customers, followers or potential clients and supporters. Many of us are worried about getting through this time financially but it’s important to find balance and get creative but remember to remain cognizant of what others are going through during this time as well. 🧡

In closing I want to ask, how can I help YOU? Is there anything I can do for you right now? Is there anything you would like me to expound on here on my blog that could help you during this time? If so, please do not hesitate to leave me a message in the comments or connect with me on social media on Instagram or Facebook!