Keeping your business, not just running, but THRIVING during uncertain times
“It just feels wrong selling at a time like this.”
“I feel like I should be offering my services for free.”
“My work just feels so inconsequential with everything else going on.”
“It feels gross to use the virus in my marketing.”
“I don’t even feel like I can focus on work right now.”
“It feels icky to put out content marketing.”
“I feel guilty that my business is running pretty much the same.”
I’ve been having these conversations with my Future You clients again and again, and chances are if these mindset challenges are coming up for them, they’re likely coming up for you too.
I know things feel weird right now.
I’m certainly not trying to ignore the gravity of this pandemic or sugarcoat the uncertainty right now.
And I’m definitely doing my part to #stayhome and wash my hands more than ever.
But as my favorite clothing stores temporarily close their doors, restaurants become take out only, schools shift to at-home learning, and gyms are closed until who knows when…
It begs the question of what role we, as online business owners, play in all of this.
My answer?
It’s time to step the eff up.
While so many are struggling to figure out how Google Hangouts and Zoom work for the first time, you’ve been holding meetings on there for months, if not years.
While the rest of the world struggles to work from home when Netflix feels so tempting, your schedule has time to watch Sex and the City scheduled in during lunch every day.
While so many are “becoming one with their couch” or struggling to get dressed each day, you know that your work uniform is your Lululemon leggings, that cozy sweater, and curled hair (with JUST the right amount of dry shampoo) because that’s what makes you feel like the most confident version of yourself.
My point being, my dear, YOU are built for this. And now is not the time to downplay that.
Your business is built for this model.
Your lifestyle is primed for this moment.
And all that is holding you back from selling and serving to your full potential right now very well may be your mindset.
Now is not the time to sit on your hands and wait ‘til this blows over.
Now is not the time to play small, to dim your light because others are hurting (because who is that really helping, anyway!?).
Now is not the time to spend more time worrying than you are working.
Because the world NEEDS you right now, more than ever. So let’s talk about the mindset you need to keep showing up and selling in a sincere way so you can not just run that business of yours, but actually THRIVE during uncertain times.
The elephant in the room
I probably don’t have to tell you that right now, the elephant in the room is COVID-19.
It’s on everyone’s minds.
It’s what’s keeping many up at night.
It’s why the future feels heavy and uncertain.
So where does that leave you with marketing and selling in your online business?
What do you do when it feels “gross to use the virus in your marketing” but the alternative of continuing as planned feels just as out of place?
I’ve been having this conversation again and again with my Future You coaching clients, and it’s no surprise that this all goes back to mindset.
First, I think we have to acknowledge that there’s no one who is unaffected by this pandemic.
Now let me be clear, you being affected could actually mean a BOOM in your online business (my personal projection) but you’re affected nonetheless.
So NOT talking about it likely feels MORE strange than actually acknowledging it.
There’s a quote I read recently by Mark Manson in my Five-Minute Journal that I think is particularly fitting here. It read, “The desire for a more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive one.”
So if we just ACCEPT that this is the current situation and acknowledge that it’s on everyone’s mind? How does that shift your marketing and sales?
1️⃣ You can approach selling from a place of sincerity and compassion rather than feeling like you need to pretend everything is normal.
2️⃣ You can hone your sales process and become really good at overcoming objections that “no one is buying right now” (which is BS by the way because I’ve been signing clients and my clients have too).
3️⃣ You can DECIDE that while uncertainty is normal right now, it doesn’t have to be normal for YOUR business and take control of the thoughts, feelings, and actions that will actually lead to more results long-term.
By accepting that elephant in the room and normalizing it, you’ll actually be able to move through challenges you’re facing faster and with more ease than trying to pretend they aren’t there.
Focus on feeling good
Your number one job right now is to focus on feeling good. Now more than ever.
That means focusing on the thoughts, feelings, and actions that make YOU feel your best each day.
Yes, even if your partner is working from home. Yes, even if your kid is off from school. Yes, even if you feel like you have less time than ever before.
It’s time to prioritize feeling good because you can not pour from an empty cup.
But I also know that this is uncomfortable for many of you. (Heck, me too! 🙋♀️)
It can even feel “wrong” to feel good that your online business is still running when so many others are struggling around you right now. Cue that feeling of looming guilt.
But ladies, this is something we need to work through. (And yes, I say ladies for a reason!)
As empathetic beings who are sensitive to the emotions of the collective, we can have a tendency to pick up the emotions of others.
But in no other area of our life do we apply that “they’re hurting, so I should hurt too” thinking.
I go hiking from time to time and if someone in the group runs out of drinking water, we don’t pour everyone else’s out too. Of course not, that would be ridiculous. We offer what we have, we search for more water, we keep GOING.
We know we are stronger together and can lift one another up when someone is down.
Meaning, feeling guilty for continuing to run your online business isn’t going to do anyone ANY favors right now.
Here’s how I’m prioritizing feeling good right now so I can continue to sell and serve (feel free to borrow what fits or create your own list):
🧘🏼♀️Morning meditation with Dr. Joe Dispenza’s morning meditation and Gabby Bernstein’s Morning Mantras
✍🏻Keeping my mindset in check with my 5-minute journal each day which includes a list of 3 things I’m grateful for and 3 things that would make today great (you can totally do this without the official journal!)
🏋🏼♀️Home workouts including a Backstreet Boys spin class on my Peloton app and a Tighten and Tone workout with The Balanced Life Pilates
🌲Long walks outside because there’s no way to breathe in the fresh air, look at the snow glistening, and listen to the birds chirp and NOT believe that the Universe acts with intention
🐶Puppy cuddles because now is seriously the best time to have a dog even if he’s wondering why he’s getting all the extra attention!
📚Reading all those books I have laying around the house for “when things slow down” which seems like it might be exactly now
🛁Epsom salt baths to stay calm and grounded when I need to breathe in the lavender and breath out the stress
✨Home cleaning and organizing because it’s impossible not to look at my newly organized pantry and spice rack and feel at ease
👩🏼🍳Cooking new recipes like a lemon cake recipe from a Food Network magazine cover I have my eye on for this coming week
🙋♀️And my absolute FAVORITE of all—getting coaching from an amazing mentor and business coach because I know that the right support continues to make all the difference in my mindset and consequently my results (and it will for you too!)
And remember, continuing to feel good so you can sell, serve, and keep the money FLOWING is only going to help you support your clients, your team, and everyone else you impact along the way!
Serving by way of selling
Like I mentioned, holding yourself back from SELLING in your online business isn’t helping anyone right now.
I mean, I’m not a pandemic expert and chances are, neither are you.
But there are real and actual needs in the online business space that I am absolutely incredible at supporting you in (like shifting your mindset around selling!) and that is what I’m here to do.
In fact, in this time of uncertainty with economic and emotional hardship, the world NEEDS you to sell, now more than ever.
Heck, if there was ever a time to get this online business of yours working that time is now because your back up plan as a barista probably just pulled way back on their staffing.
If online businesses can stay up and running, let alone THRIVE, given the current circumstances then I believe it is our social responsibility to do so.
Yes, I’m taking it THAT seriously.
I loved a newsletter I read from Tara McMullin this week that said, “Similar to how doing our part to flatten the curve helps keep our public health systems stable, by doing what we can to keep our business financially healthy, we’re helping to flatten the ups & downs of the volatile economic situation.”
YOU, my dear, are who we’re counting on to flatten the curve in more ways than one.
Yet another by Paul Jarvis, “And, if huge corporations are the backbone of the global economy, then small businesses... are the heart centre. I can’t imagine a world going forward without that heart centre fully operational.”
YOU, my dear, are the heart and centre.
So not only do I believe that your gifts are the EXACT gifts that need to be shared with the world…
I believe you have a social responsibility to be compensated for them.
That is how we all uplift and inspire during this time. We hone in on the gifts we were given and we use them as a source for good so we can create more GOOD.
And creating more money in your online business is just another way you’re creating more GOOD in the world right now.
The bottom line:
I totally understand the need to feel your feelings and have a human experience around the uncertainty we’re all facing in this pandemic.
But I also believe that you’ll come out on the other side of this thing stronger having gone through it.
That’s why it is your number one job right now to focus on feeling good because you cannot pour from an empty cup.
And I believe that as online business owners, it’s our responsibility to sell and serve on a whole new level because we CAN.
If you’re nodding along to this post only to be left wondering, BUT HOW!? I have got something up my sleeve for you.
Join me for my absolutely free Sincere Sales coaching call where we’ll get specific about how your mindset is holding you back from selling during this uncertain time and what you can do to shift it ASAP to keep that money flowing in your business so you can THRIVE.
Because remember, a rising tide lifts ALL boats!
Tell me in the comments below:
Have you felt “icky” about marketing and sales during this global pandemic and how has that shifted for you after reading this!?
Photography by Jennifer Morgan Photography
