When the lockdowns were announced in mid-March, I got fired up. In multiple meetings I proclaimed, “F this virus! This will be our best year ever!” (And it will.)
Sure, I was saying that with some bravado. And if I’m humble and transparent, I was afraid. But the sentiment was real: we were going to move fast; work harder than we ever had before; innovate and rise up; and be the partner our clients needed right now.
The same is true of each of the leadership teams that are thriving during this crisis.
A Warrior Mindset may be the biggest factor in determining who is thriving versus surviving during the pandemic.
Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, I have been working closely with business owners in Crisis Marketing. Currently, the objective is to replace revenue taken by Covid-19, but we’re quickly pivoting to develop strategies to slingshot out of the crisis.
It’s incredibly important and rewarding work, especially when you see the carnage the lockdowns have created:
- One of our clients is down 50% in sales. They are projecting a drop in revenue of $12 million in this calendar year. This is due to the collapse of the oil market.
- Another client lost $9 million in revenue with the decline of the restaurant industry.
- The most dramatic example is a client down 97% due to the collapse of the travel and event industry.
With all that’s happening, you’d think these companies would be in a state of panic. But they’re not. They are thriving!
It’s counterintuitive, but they have a “Warrior Mindset.”
These owners aren’t lying down. They’re punching back. They’re fighting. They’re innovating. They’re conquering obstacles, and finding a path forward. And at the end of this crisis, their businesses will be stronger than ever.
You have the same opportunity too!
Companies are not being impacted equally by the lockdowns. Some are leading while others are bleeding.
If a company manufacturers hand sanitizer or personal protective equipment, they hit the jackpot. They’re obviously leading. Whereas companies in the restaurant, hospitality and travel sectors are bleeding.
The majority of companies are somewhere in the middle: from stable to slipping. It may not be a great year, but they’ll make it.
Regardless of where your company sits in the spectrum, how you climb the ladder is dependent on mindset.
Leaders with a Warrior’s Mindset will thrive. Even if their company is bleeding, they will climb out of the crisis.
The leaders who are waiting, being overly cautious, or hoping things will go back to normal are at a disadvantage. The world isn’t going back to the pre-coronavirus way. We are charting a new path forward, and we’ve gotta fight for it.
The leaders who act first and adapt fastest have the advantage.
Across the board, the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating change, and this moment may be the greatest entrepreneurial gift of our lifetime. You have absolute authority and ability to innovate and push forward your ideas:
- Your customers want you to succeed.
- People are open minded and receptive to change — from customers to suppliers to employees.
- There’s a collective desire to fight and survive.
- There are lots of available funding programs.
Most importantly, this is a shared experience and the playing field has been leveled. Every person and every company from around the world is going through the exact same thing at the exact same time. You don’t need to explain why your company is changing or trying new things. You can reference covid and everyone gets it.
Today is the moment. Even if it’s scary, embrace your Warrior’s Mindset. Do whatever you have to: watch the movie 300; go for a run; fire yourself up; or simply declare that this virus cannot hold you down.
Rise up. Overcome the obstacles. Conquer the situation. Come out of this crisis stronger than ever!
What’s your mindset?
In a Crisis, Strategy Is Everything
As the economy reopens, the opportunities for “Green Shoots” and growth are immense. Learn how to create a “Slingshot Strategy” to come out of the crisis stronger than ever. If you’re interested, call me (Jeremy Miller) directly at 416.479.4403, or check out our Crisis Marketing services.
Jeremy Miller is the founder of Sticky Branding and bestselling author of Sticky Branding and Brand New Name. After the coronavirus, Jeremy and the Sticky Branding team have focused all their attention to work with companies to overcome the pandemic and slingshot out of the crisis.
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