NEWS - YOUNG CHAMBER
Getting things done... The global Coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous impact on our day-to-day lives, significantly increasing the time spent in our own homes. This shift in working environment brings with it a host of challenges, impacting our ability to “get things done”. For many, myself included, working from home will be a set-up requiring some adjustment. However, this change in routine provides a great opportunity to be productive, make connections and take action. As a student in Year 12, my schoolwork comes first. I schedule my day around staying on top of classwork, revising key concepts and making time to practise for my SATs with the hope of applying to US colleges. Similarly, most of us have a primary objective – be it our job, business or studies – that will occupy the majority of our working hours. However, it is crucially important to find the time for personal development in both a professional and non-professional sense.
The importance of scheduling Without a rigid structure to our day – as offered by school, university or work – it becomes easy to fall into a cycle of inaction. At the beginning of lockdown, I struggled with completing simple tasks, feeling overwhelmed by the empty day that lay ahead. However, detailed scheduling in the form of a chronological to-do list has helped alleviate much of this stress. Putting tasks directly into writing immediately dissipates any of the anxiety associated with remembering to do them - as a result, significantly increasing the likelihood that you’ll get them done. As endorsed by the late Mark McCormack, founder of the IMG group, I suggest that you put any commitments into writing straight away, freeing your mind for other things.
“I write down everything I intend to do and once I have written it down I forget about it” Mark McCormack
Staying connected Social distancing makes it incredibly easy to feel both claustrophobic and isolated at the same time. We’re advised to keep in close contact with our friends and family to avoid this feeling of detachment. We can take this one step further, not only by maintaining our existing relationships but scheduling in time to reach out and make new connections. Victor Sosanya has successfully facilitated this, organising 7am “Vision Calls” to keep young people motivated and on track. Including, in my to-do list, reminders to make catch-up phone calls with friends and contacts has helped me keep connected despite staying at home.
Is it time to pivot your business?
However, according to Enterprise Nation 83% of businesses are still working on a covid-19 support financial package. Therefore, what can businesses do in the meantime to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and bring money in fast? As necessity is the mother of invention businesses may have to pivot if and where possible. A ‘pivot’ involves a business changing its product, service and/ or business model from its current offering. We are already seeing businesses who supply food to the restaurant industry sell directly to the public; tuition services moving their services online; and in person coaches take to zoom or skype to deliver their sessions. If you are a small business that has been affected by the social distancing ‘order’ what 5 things could you do right now to pivot your business?
12 | Business Connexions
Many find it difficult to create an adequate working environment from home, with less personal space and more distractions to contend with. My one piece of advice is to embrace continuity where possible - everybody’s homes differ but the best thing we can all do is to adopt a working routine as constant as possible. Finally, a key feature of an effective working environment is the ability to “check out” and leave work behind. When working from home, it becomes difficult to call it a day. Each evening, I take a minute to put into writing my goals for tomorrow. This gives a sense of finality to the day, allowing me to then focus on relaxing, talking with friends and spending time with family. Jesse Boulting 2020
Providing State of the Art Software to help your true DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
By Linda Appiah-Spick, Founder and Creative Director of 3Cs Digital With non-essential businesses being ordered to close to observe social distancing, many are seeking government funding to stay afloat.
Creating a working environment
1. Is there a product or service that you could offer online? 2. Could you anticipate what people may need and add new products and services to your portfolio? 3. Can you widen your customer base so that people you normally do not sell to benefit from your offering? 4. Could you partner with another business and form a strategic alliance to optimise your resources and customer base? 5. Could your business implement an outreach programme in line with government guidance to support the local community? A good place to start a pivot is to go back to the drawing board and complete Osterwalder’s ‘Business Model Canvas’. With tough financial times ahead, small business owners that can hold their nerve, accept the ‘new normal’; embrace a new business identity; and be willing to innovate will be in a better place to weather the storm and steady the ship during these unprecedented times.
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