Do What You Can Do

All my life, for one reason or another, I’ve never been able to stay in one place for very long. This works to my advantage – I physically move all day long, walking around the plant, seeing what’s happening – and my brain is always moving, trying to figure out changes and how we can innovate and reapply concepts. I’m asking myself, “What’s working? What’s not? How can we change?”

It’s a scary time in the world right now. People in our industries are taking a hit but it doesn’t mean that we can’t do anything about it. Right now is the time to consider how you can reapply your skills and diversify.

Look at your niche

It’s great to have a niche and be known for something – you want to be the person who people know they can rely on for great products (especially in the food industry, you’ll always remember a great meal). 

So, you never want to let go of your niche – but is there a way to apply it to what’s happening now? Over time, no matter what is going on, your niche is going to change. You can’t be afraid of change – use it to your advantage. Take this time to figure out what you do best and apply it where you can. There are always people in need, no matter what, so you have to do what you can do.

Look for opportunities

We can’t go out and network like we used to but there are opportunities available. Now is the perfect time to brush up on your virtual networking skills. Use tools like LinkedIn to connect virtually. Sending a message, even just to check in, can mean the world to some people. They’ll remember that. 

Look for eligibility. For small businesses, inquire about loans and grants that may help. There may be resources available to you during this time that you weren’t aware of until now. 

Now is the time for collaboration

No, you’re not going to change people’s natures overnight. If people weren’t willing to collaborate with you before, they may not now. But the people who wanted to work with you before this – they likely will still want to. All you have to do is ask. 

The saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” but it applies to adversity as well. If you’re facing adversity, as businesspeople, we need to be willing to look for change, look for opportunities. When your revenue is diminished, you need to look for other streams. 

Reach out to sources you already know. Figure out what you have, what you can bring to the table, and always ask how you can help. You may create something together you wouldn’t have even thought of before separately.

What can you do?

Now is the time to take stock, figure out what you have, and look for the ways you can innovate and reapply your skills. Look for collaboration opportunities and figure out how you can use what you already have to help and create something new. 

Now is the time to work harder and smarter – we’ve been through ups and downs in business before and we will make it through this, too. Don’t be afraid to do what you can do and add value – it’s what we need right now.