Yes, we are experiencing a pandemic. For most of us it is the first of it sorts, and hopefully also the last. We know it is affecting each of us, as individuals, as families, groups, businesses. Worldwide, everyone is caught in the same situation and I believe the people who drive the economy will implement strategies to assist in keeping our heads above water until this crisis, that is touching all of our lives, is under control.
The scale of the upcoming change is currently too uncertain to even consider.
What is certain, is that this will change how we look at our lives, our priorities, our personal finances, and it will definitely change how business owners, CEO’s and investors look at their operations. It is in at a time like this where we have to take stock of what we have, what we need and what is wasteful.
STOP:
Panicking. It won’t change the outcome. Stay focused. Follow the rules. Stay at home. With depressions and recessions comes great opportunity. Think outside your box not to miss the next opportunity. This too shall pass.
Wasting. Rather reuse and recycle. I am not saying wash your bin liner out and use it again, but at least separate your glass, plastic and paper from the food scraps. (Wednesday 22 April is Global Earth day – keep an eye out for our post on Sustainable Ideas at home!)
My granddad use to make, what he called a “Stappie”. Whatever leftover meat there was from the previous day, he would mix in with scrambled egg! (At least he didn’t drink the raw egg, and follow that with a shot of brandy…)
CONTINUE:
In a state of panic, people would want to cut as many expenses as possible. Think about where you cut. Cancelling your business insurance can put your family and/or partners in an even bigger crisis, should anything happen to you. If you stopped payment on your bond, vehicle, credit cards, you will be leaving them with even bigger debt, and the chances of them losing everything, their house, education opportunities, food on the table – it all becomes a real threat.
Short Term Insurance – this includes both life, vehicle, house and home content insurance. If something happens to you during this time, your family will not be taken care of, regardless of the fact that you paid your premiums for how many years. Burglaries and theft is still a reality.
START:
Donate. You have all the time in the world at the moment, get ready for your winter wardrobe, give your clutter to those that has never had the opportunity to gather clutter.
Incorporate technology in your business and day to day life. If you don’t know how, learn! Use everything that is available in our modern technological world. Have you heard of Zoom?
Google Meet?
Microsoft Teams?
Get creative.
Revise old business strategies. Review how you run and preserve your business. You might just find ways to improve on systems and processes, things that you’ve never previously had time to do.
Marketing. If you are not advertising, start! Make sure that you are not forgotten when everyone return to the world outside of their homes. Business will most likely be slower than what you were used to. Be sure to get what there is to take.
Here are some great tips on how to advertise on Facebook:
Look at this time as a “pause” as far as your other financial obligations are concerned. Not a stop. Most financial institutions, like Momentum, offer Premium Holidays which will enable some temporary relief in your day to day living. Please contact your financial adviser, if you have not yet done, so to assist you. If you don’t have an assigned financial adviser, feel free to get in touch with us and we will do whatever we can to support you.
It is our responsibility as individuals to do our part. It is crucial that we, as a nation, comply with the strict regulations that were implemented and plan all new business developments around this.
Nobody can say exactly what direction this ship will be steered. What we do know now is that if we don’t utilize and change with the current we will crash on the rocks. Together we will get through this storm, and see each other on the other side.
Wherever and whatever that might be.
Please stay safe.
Written by Henco van Loggerenberg. Henco joined Momentum Irene in 2019.