The JP Revolution

The newness of the COVID-19 situation has now passed. The business owners that are planning to be around when this is over are =really starting to think about what the future looks like for them. In every crisis in world history, market shares are redistributed in nearly every industry. You can either find yourself higher up the food chain, lower, or not part of that food chain at all. The decisions you make right now will shape your business post-COVID19. Here are some things you can be doing from your home that will insure you are ready to rock and roll when the country restarts itself.

One of the hardest things business owners have to do is keep their emotions out of their decision making process. Very seldom are emotional decisions in the best interest of your business. We all get worked up from time to time when something happens we don't like or when someone says something we don't agree with.... especially during the middle of a pandemic, race-related protests, and a nasty election. When that happens, the easiest thing to do is to pop on social media and tell the world how we feel. Unfortunately, social media has created an atmosphere where we can (and do) says things that we would never say to a potential customer. News flash!!! Not only do potential customers sometimes read those, they will often make emotional decisions of their own not to use your business as a result. In this edition of Small Business in Small Minds, we explore the simple logic behind the many of us were taught when we were kids: simply avoid talking about religion and politics whenever possible.

Great leaders can't lead unless there is an opportunity to lead. During crisis such as that surrounding the coronavirus, anxiety is high and panic often lies just below the surface in the minds of many people. Such situations give business owners the chance to really separate themselves from others. Calm is contagious. If you remain calm and kind with your venders, your customers, and your employees, they'll remember that. When the smoke clears and normalcy returns, your business will benefit.

With all the uncertainty surrounding our their surrounding COVID-19, a lot of business owners are wondering what's going to happen next. Many are questioning if this is going to kick-start a recession. Fear abounds! When people are afraid they often make decisions that will have lasting unintended consequences. One common reaction is to cut back on marketing. Dozens of studies over the last hundred years have indicated that this could be the worst thing you can do and can easily lead to much worse cuts down the road. In this episode, we explore the reasons why marketing yourself properly during rough times can help guarantee your survival and significantly increase your market share when the economy comes back (and it always does).

There are many ways to get a customer to choose your business, but perhaps the simplest is to just have your message in front of them at the exact moment they are thinking about your industry and their needs. In this edition of Small Business in Small Minds, I take a look at how important it is that you consider where your ad is being seen and what the likelihood is that your potential is customer is thinking about your business when they see your ad.