This is a tragic time in world history. There are many conspiracy theories going around, but no one seems to really be able to find the truth.
To start, I would like to sincerely thank all of the emergency responders, essential personnel, truck drivers, farmers, scientists and all of our military (and anyone I might have missed) while they keep doing their jobs through all of this.
I have worked hard all my life, and even harder as a contractor for over 10 years now. I know a lot of you have done the same for even longer. This shutdown of businesses will be catastrophic to many, but there are ways we can all help each other and ourselves.
Think of Creative Ways
For example:
If doctors aren’t already doing so, they can start with telemedical technology and hold many of their appointments over the internet. Let your patients know you are doing this through your website, emails, and online.
If you are a restaurant that will still be having take out and delivery, use your social media, email, newsletters, and ads to get that word out there. Let them know you will send someone out to your patron’s car to deliver the order directly to them if you can do so, or that they can use GrubHub, DoorDash or one of the food delivery sources that you work with.
Auto repair and car washes need to let people know if they are still open. We know that all essential personnel are still working and need their cars running to get to and from. They also need to be able to see out of their cars during this time of year with the pollen flying around. You need to let everyone know you have a “sanitized” or an outdoor space to wait in for their service.
Many of the theaters are having their plays online with Zoom. One such improv event even drew more ticket sales than when they were open due to the seating capacity of the theater no longer being an issue.
Corporations have been handling meetings online for years due to their clients being all over the world. Many of us can also do that with our clients using Zoom, Google, Skype or our phone apps.
If you have and are continuing to accept customers, no matter what business you are in, let them know how you are going about that and if needed, how you have sanitized the area(s) they made need to be in. Let them know you are monitoring your employees’ health. Let them know you have gift certificates available and how to get them. Let them know if you are using a new source of being contacted. Just let everyone know!
Keep in contact with older relatives and friends through phone calls and video chats. Many are feeling alone, scared and confused about everything that is going on.
Now is the time to get more creative using the technology at our fingertips, if you aren’t already. This tragedy may change how we do business in the future permanently for some of us. Time will tell. But don’t sit still and wait. Get a jump on that and get creative.
