AB Facey wrote in the Australian literary classic, that his was indeed a fortunate life. Strength through adversity was the message, although I don’t know if we can compare our current struggles with those that faced the farm worker and courageous Gallipoli soldier. Still, these are very challenging times, seeing modern Australia irrevocably changed by the invisible Covid-19 assassin.
Coming on the back of bushfires and floods, the pandemic is impacting us all in unprecedented ways. Apart from the physical requirements of social distancing and mask wearing, I’ve found myself suffering varying amounts of Covid-Anxiety. When will my daughter be able to go back to school? Will my business survive? What is happening with the economy? Is my income secure?
I decided to stop tuning into the news, realising the exasperated updates on Corona cases were overwhelming and bleak, and replaced the aural fear-mongering with a rediscovery of my epic 90’s playlist. It’s safe to say, listening to Black Box (Everybody, Ow!), Tori Amos (Cornflake Girl), Technotronic (Pump up the Jam, R-E-WAAAH, the Place to Stay) on the way to work put me in a frame of mind that can best be described as FRESH, but there’s no amount of timeless toe-tappers that allow any of us to escape the simple truth, Covid-19 is forcing us all to amend our daily lives.
In some cases, those changes represent mere inconveniences, in others they’re life-shattering. We’ve lost some great businesses where I live, watering holes and restaurants that were my absolute favourite haunts to enjoy with friends and family, their doors shut to keep Covid-19 at bay. Safety first, of course, but this is devastating to the owners who’ve poured their heart, soul, talent and capital into once-brilliant local businesses.
In my business, we employ 65 people. The monthly wages bill is over $400,000. Thankfully we’ve remained busy. Everybody still wants their vitamin products for immunity and general health. Fingers, toes and eyeballs crossed that continues. But paying wages, overheads and every conceivable cost at the coal face of running any business requires sales and income. There’s no magic money pot businesses can access when times get tough. Sales drive this juggernaut.
There are two obvious questions then; how do you generate sales amidst rapidly changing business conditions? And how do you keep a positive state of mind so you can approach each day with some semblance of a spring in your stride, the most crucial factor of all for achieving productive outcomes.
The most important element is an ability to adapt. One of my clients, whose biggest market is gyms, has been forced to find ways to survive while gyms are closed. They’ve transitioned to a more online sales focus, finding customers in broader markets beyond their traditional gym client base. In my business, we’ve changed shifting arrangements and split break times to fully adhere to social distancing requirements and have moved all client meetings online. It’s not as fun, but it’s effective, safe and gets the job done.
Now, retaining a spring in your stride, this is every bit as important as finding new ways to generate sales. My great passion in life, apart from my family, is photography. But with the lockdown in place, leaving the house is reserved for essential purposes only. What to do? Well, seeing as we’re still allowed to swim in the ocean, I found a watertight solution – an underwater case for my camera. Forget dry land, I’m an aquatic mammal nowadays, finding my new love, taking photos of the waves from inside these curling cylinders.
Covid-19’s brought upheaval that we couldn’t have imagined in March 2020, but this remains indeed a fortunate life. Adapt where you can, listen to tunes that enrich your 90’s soul, and sift out the precious nuggets anywhere you can, there’ll be gold in your pan I’m sure.
2 Comments
A lovely article Craig. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings here
Craig’s pandemic wisdom about the Tawny Frogmouth is a poignant reminder of the importance of resilience and adaptability during difficult times. The Tawny Frogmouth’s ability to camouflage itself and remain still in the face of danger speaks to the power of patience and perseverance. In these trying times, we can all learn from the Tawny Frogmouth and remember to stay strong, stay calm, and trust in our ability to weather the storm. Craig’s insights are truly inspiring and offer hope and wisdom for all of us.