Quarantinspiration – 4 Surprising Perks This Quarantine Has Given Business Owners
Star Castle Studio provides artful entrepreneurs and makers with tips and custom-created visuals needed to beautifully run a professionally branded business and make an unforgettable impression online.
We are in a time of forced slowness and pandemic pandemonium. This may feel like a total wedge in your productivity – but what if I told you, it’s exactly what your business needs?! In this post, I share 4 surprising perks this quarantine has given business owners, along with how to make sure you’re taking advantage of them.
1. Bonus Time
How many times have you thought to yourself, ‘I just don’t have the time for that’? If you’re like me, it’s probably a lot. + We’ve all heard the caveat, ‘if you actually want something, you’ll make the time’… well in this rare instance: you’ve been given the time – so make sure you’re using it to your advantage.
…for personal growth:
Slow down
While it is vital to stay in the game right now, the first thing you have to do before rolling up your sleeves and getting into the work, is to take a step back. Everyone is on edge right now, and as a creator that relies on their craft, you even more so. The key to all this heavy lifting? Breathe. You got this. Going at break neck speed in full panic mode will start more fires than put them out.
Refocus / shift your perspective
You may be held up in your productivity due to not seeing a way through this current situation. While your. business may be currently dealing with a lot of limitations and roadblocks, remember: as an entrepreneur, you make the magic from scratch. You’re an innovator.
Use this pause to your advantage, by approaching things from a different angle. Get some fresh eyes on your work from someone you’re holed up with at your home base. Maybe try standing on your head while looking at the screen! (Don’t actually do that, you could fall.) But seriously, get creative! It’s all about perspective!
Learn a new skill
Going stir crazy yet? Need a break from the screen? I bet money there’s something you’ve been putting off due to not having the time. Now that you do, if you’re getting frustrated or just feel like its time to grow and challenge yourself, theres a ton of things you could teach yourself that could greatly benefit your business! (Or just give you a moment’s respite from that problem we mentioned earlier. No judgement.) Just don’t use this as an excuse to avoid the work!
Practice Self-care
You have to keep your physical and mental facilities functioning. During this time, find ways to maybe clear out some stuff in your workspace or off of your desktop to make your space feel more organized. Get some good rest in, watch that show you’ve been meaning to, take a tub and read, go for a nice long walk, order pizza! Think of things that make you light up & feel more like you in order to recharge your soul a little. Taking this time to put your head in the right space will keep your creative magic charged and ready to use!
…for business:
Check in with your team members and take inventory
With the current situation, we’re all being forced to find new ways of getting things done, in a just as – if not more – efficient way. For business owners, this pause in everyday routines offers an otherwise impossible chance to see things objectively. Take advantage of this unique opportunity by auditing existing systems and processes behind the scenes of your business. What is essential and what things could potentially be taken off your team’s plate once things go back to normal?
Catch-up on things
Been struggling to stay ahead of your client work? Falling behind on a few too many projects? If you’re able to shift into ‘work mode’ use this opportunity to finally catch up on the things that keep getting pushed down your to-do list. If one of those things is branding, be sure to checkout my accelerated Bite-Sized Branding service, where you’ll get a totally custom brand made for you in less than a week!
2. A Chance to Reevaluate
Many people are finding it hard to get into ‘work mode’ and tackle client work, but that doesn’t mean this time is a waste. If you can’t work IN your business, work ON your business. If you’ve been struggling to focus on customer-facing projects, redirect your energy by turning inwards to produce and magnify your productivity now & in the future (when this all hopefully blows over).
Right now we’ve pretty much been put in the corner on time out, we all have the unique opportunity to sit and think about what we’ve done… what we’ve really been working toward, and where we’ve ended up in business & in life.
Maybe you’ve been rushing home from your 9-5 every night, frustrated that you can’t seem to find time to play with your little ones, but now that you actually have the opportunity – you’re finding you miss the office. Maybe it’s the opposite: you’re realizing you’ve been wasting your days behind the computer and have a lottttt to catch up with around the house and with your family.
No matter what your situation, this forced slowness should encourage you to get introspective.
Ask yourself the big question:
what is actually important to you in life?
What does success actually look like in your dreamiest fantasy? If you had the opportunity to be at home with your family all day every day, would it be a dream or total chaos?
Before this all happened, were your routines actually set with intention or were they simply squeezed around stuff you thought you ‘should’ be doing? If you wish for something, but don’t actually work towards it, it will forever remain a dream. Go back to your BIG goals (for your business, family, household, self, etc.) and get creative on how you can break them down into daily activities that will actually lead in that direction.
If you’ve always wanted to start an online business – now is the perfect time.
Don’t let this time go to waste! Focus on finally getting your big dream into gear, so that you’re able to confidently bring in money doing what you love as soon as possible.
3. Forcing You to Realize the Possibilities
Technology’s been moving at an incredible rate and many businesses have fallen a bit behind the times, simply because they’ve been busy running day-to-day activities. That ‘truck along’ mentality is great for staying afloat, but by not taking time to realize these crucial changes to the world of business, you may be missing out on opportunities to really leap ahead.
This ‘shutdown’ is forcing people to realize that in-person just isn’t necessary nowadays. Meetings can be virtual, connections can be made across the globe, and talent can be found anywhere. Technology has made your zip code pretty superfluous, so there’s NO reason to settle for mediocre or just the nearby, easy options. The world is literally a click away, so you should acquire the best people for your team — regardless of where they happen to live.
Feeling frustrated by your place of work (shop, gym, etc.) shutting down? Why limit yourself to just local customers? Whatever you sell, teach or share, could be enjoyed by millions!
If you’ve been solely focused on in-person business, you’ve literally been swimming in a kiddie pool, floating in the middle of the ocean… you’re frustrated that they’ve suddenly closed the pool and you can’t swim. Widen your perspective and realize what’s available to you. It’s time to step up and utilize the tools at your fingertips to share the wealth & knowledge online!
You are NOT limited to a facility or location.
If you have something to teach, there are inevitably people out there ready to learn, and your way of teaching may be just the thing they need.
4. Reminding You of Your Purpose
If you’re an online business owner, this pandemic has probably made you realize how freaking lucky you are to have a way of making money that doesn’t involve you going into the office. It’s truly a gift to be able to work from wherever. Practice gratitude for that and give back to your people by continuing to show up and offer the amazing thing you do. While it’s important to continue running your business and making $, it’s also key to reframe your way of presenting things and remain sensitive to the world’s current situation.
Now, more than ever, it’s key to realize and talk about how you help other people. Shift your focus from ‘what do I offer/sell’ to ‘what do people get from working with me?’ (service based industry) or ‘what is the effect my product has on customers’? For example, a copywriter doesn’t simply fill in the blanks on website copy… a copywriter finds a way to pull in the target audience with proper SEO and researches the material to communicate a true level of understanding of the community and product, all the while keeping grammar on point. Quality copy has the power to literally make a business $$$ by speaking directly to the right people in the right way.
Focus on the true benefits of the product/service you provide, rather than the black and white ‘deliverables’. Not only will this help you feel better about selling during this crazy time, it will also provide a much-needed feeling of being heard for your clients/customers.
You CAN use this time to move your life and business forward.
Let’s get you back into making your creative way of life how you dream it will be! I hope these simple steps help you kick things into gear and take advantage of this unplanned universal pause.
If you want a custom brand as beautiful as that amazing passion of yours that you finally have time to remember, but are unsure where to start, feel free to message me on Instagram or get in touch!
Together, we can get you up & running ASAP!
