The world is upside down. Cities and countries are on lock down across the world, a big chunk of the world economy shutdown for an undetermined amount of time, markets are dropping along with investment portfolios, and fear is rising. While there are many unknowns, here’s what I do know.
EveryMSP will be impacted by COVID-19 in some way or another. Now is the time to be a leader in your company and in your community. It’s time to be clear on your priorities, family, team, company, customers and community. It’s not a time to get paralyzed. You need to be making decisions.
But it’s also not a time for panic.
You need to make well-thought-out decisions. Don’t forget the following: There will be another side to this. Life will go on for all of us who are fortunate enough not to be part of the mortality rate. There will be winners and losers in our industry.
With all that being true, what should you do?
There are two ways to approach the COVID-19 outbreak: offensively and defensively.
First, the former.
If your revenues fall, how are you going to cut the fat without tearing muscle? The answer is simple. Find ways to be creative.
For example, a business in my town, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, is benefiting from afour–day work week. Reducing costs,the business can keep paying its workers.
Don’t cut tools and processes, especially those that add value to your customers.Call your vendors and have frank conversations with them.
Treat vendors in a way you want your customers to treat you. We are all in this together.
Offensively, take a look at your sales and marketing messaging.
You have tremendous value to offer SMBs at this time, so help them. The seed you plant today will grow later this year — I can promise you that.
Most of all, stay positive. When you feel overwhelmed or overworked, think of the people who have no work. Be a leader each day by showing the people around you hope and positivity.
I have a self-instruction card that I’ve kept in my deck for more than 30 years, but today, I feel like it has more meaning than ever before.
Here’s what it says: “I’m a beacon of light. I instill confidence and passion in every customer, every prospect, every employee, every day.
If you follow the right playbook during these uncertain times, you will emerge as a better leader than you were before.
