To say that the COVID-19 outbreak is causing disruption is a huge understatement. If you are a small business owner and/or operate a small industry event like I do, then multiply the disruption by a gazillion. These are clearly uncertain times and while I know it is always best to approach uncharted territory with calmness, as the owner of a small business and the organizer of a small industry event, my initial reaction was FEAR…
Fear that the spread of the disease would get worse before it gets better.
Fear that someone in my circle of family and friends would be infected.
Fear that our communities and schools would have a long road ahead to get back to “normal”
And, yes, fear that my small business and the event industry would be changed for the foreseeable future.
Credit Image: Jarvis Consultants, LLC - local grocery store - No Toliet Paper!
Credit Image: Jarvis Consultants, LLC - local grocery store - No White Vinegar!
Credit Image: Jarvis Consultants, LLC - local grocery store - No Bread!
Every grocery store trip reminds me that I am not the only one afraid as the shelves of toilet paper, bread, dairy products and frozen foods are empty. This fear has gripped each and every individual and has changed how we live our daily lives.
Thankfully, I have overcome my fear. The following bible scripture popped into my head and was comforting:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
It reminded me that after 9/11 shattered our lives and the event world, we were resilient because we were attacked and we fought back and we showed our resolve. Americans knew the best way to heal was to honor those that lost their lives, we pledged never to forget them and to continue to lead the world in all aspects including the economy.
The biggest tactic to fight the spreading of COVID-19 in our communities is to limit gatherings and to distance ourselves from others. The disease cannot travel far. What does that mean and how does that impact our everyday lives?
It means our kids cannot go to school. Citizens cannot shop, go to the movies, go out to eat, go to parks, and more. Many of us are quarantined. Hunkering down in one’s home and isolating one’s family is hard because we are a social country. We like to go out and about, and be around in our communities. We support local establishments whether they are restaurants, shops or local hardware stores. Along with restaurants, retail stores, hotels and airlines, the event industry too, has been hit hard. There are many in the event management world who are wide-eyed and working ferociously to try to manage their events.
Events that are current on the calendar have all been cancelled or postponed and many companies are trying to reschedule for the venue’s open dates for later in the year. Other events have altogether cancelled their 2020 events or postponed to 2021. What about the events scheduled for Q4? What does the COVID-19 disruption look like then? Who knows? Many are giving their best guess and projections based on previous models of other countries who faced COVID-19 prior to us. Atlantic had a recent article “How the Pandemic Will End” that touches on what to expect in the coming months.
Event Force recently wrote a blog on 3/11/20 entitled What Event Planners Need to Know About Coronavirus and suggested 9 Recommendations for Managing Coronavirus Impact on your Event, that is definitely worth the read. It provides some concrete thought provoking suggestions and questions to consider for ways to succeed in this everchanging environment.
If you read my blogs or articles, you may recall that I have written about FEAR in the past. And, while my initial reaction of the COVID-19 disruption was FEAR. I know that FEAR stands for a FALSE, EVALUATION and ASSESSMENT of REALITY. We need to face our fears, show our resolve and together we will get through this COVID-19 disruption and emerge even better!
Please practice social distancing, stay safe and healthy.
Sonya Ruff Jarvis, is the Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants and the Founder of the eRetailer Summit and JC Event Group. An expert in her field, Sonya has been published in numerous retail industry b-to-b publications. Sonya shares her experiences in her book series Mindful Minutes: A Marketer’s Journey Through Business. In addition, Sonya collaborated in publishing an anthology, Mentoring Moments: 14 Remarkable Women Share Their Breakthroughs to Success. To purchase Sonya’s books go to AMAZON.
Sonya has a M.B.A. in Marketing. She is married and has a daughter and they live in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Follow Sonya on twitter at @jarvisconsult or @eretailersummit.