Being Resilient

By - Sandi Webster

During the COVID-19 pandemic, words that described the state of businesses and entrepreneurs included pivot, out-of-business, challenging, unprecedented, and my favorite, resilient. What does it mean to be resilient or to have resiliency?

The dictionary definitions of resilient are:

1. (of a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
  “babies are generally far more resilient than new parents realize”

Similar:
strong, tough, hardy, quick to recover, quick to bounce back
Buoyant, irrepressible, adaptable, flexible, difficult to keep down

Opposite: vulnerable, sensitive

1. (of a substance or object) being able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.
  “a shoe with resilient cushioning”

The second definition sums up what I had to do for my business and help other business owners become: resilient! There is a psychological component to being resilient. The entrepreneur must have the ability to cope mentally or emotionally with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. I cannot be resilient for someone else; it must come from inside. The business owner must act. They cannot stand around and wait for something to happen to their business – they must make it happen!

I demonstrated resiliency in my business by pivoting (the other overused word.) Before the pandemic, I focused on delivering in-person courses and workshops. I quickly used the same material and created pre-recorded courses that my clients could access online. With slight adjustments, I also delivered workshops using Zoom. Not only did this create a new business model for me by being resilient, but it also allowed me to continue doing business in a different environment that allowed me to stay in business. It was a bonus benefit to me and my clients since neither of us had to travel.

Other business owners created masks or hand sanitizers as their regular inventory was scarce or became non-essential. If they were resilient, they were among the first movers to make the switch and either stayed in business or made the most money that they’ve ever made in their regular business. Slow movers were left with unwanted inventory that they had to donate because everyone already had masks. Many slow movers went out of business even after applying for grants or government funding to shore up their businesses.

For helping businesses in 2021, WBEC Metro NY, an organization that provides Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) with tools, resources, information, and connections, honored me with their 2022 Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate Award. WBEs to whom I provided guidance or presentations in the WBEC program stayed afloat or prospered during 2021. I am thankful.

Now, do you understand how important it is to be resilient?

You can do some pre-thinking to develop your resiliency muscle.

1. Ask yourself and your team, if you had to sell another product or service now to keep you afloat, what would it be?
2. Start exploring that product. You don’t have to jump into creating the product/service, but thinking it through allows you to pivot when needed. It’s something to keep in your back pocket!
3. Develop a model for that product/service so you can execute on a dime!

I am building this habit into my current business. Don’t wait for another pandemic to make this happen. You have to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready!!