OTE 023: Why Starting The Owning The Edge Brand In 2020 Was Actually A HUGE Opportunity (Even WITH Covid)

2020 threw a lot of entrepreneurs off their game, but when we really look at it, this year was an incredible opportunity for GROWTH. In this episode of the Owning The Edge podcast, I look at what happened for us and our brand in 2020, and how situations like this provide us a huge chance to grow and adapt in ways we don’t normally see. 

How 2020 Was Actually Good For Entrepreneurs

I know what you’re thinking: how the HECK has 2020 been good for ANYONE, let alone entrepreneurs? The news is full of stories about small businesses being forced to close their doors. How on earth was this GOOD for us? 

The thing is, entrepreneurs don’t decide to be entrepreneurs because they’re looking for a cushy easy life. We want to grow, and thrive, and create change, and what better way to do that than in the face of a pandemic?

A lot of us struggled this year, and my business is included in that. We had big ambitions of doing live events, huge retreats, and so many other things that got taken TOTALLY off the table because of the pandemic. 

But what it DID do, was force us to think DIFFERENTLY about our business, and how to keep growing, DESPITE it…

Get Back To The Basics

One of the first things you need to do is remember WHY you’re doing this, and who you’re doing it for. When it comes down to creating that SHIFT you need to survive in a crisis like the whole of 2020, start at the beginning: 

Remind yourself WHO you love to serve, and see what they need NOW.

You’re not the only person who’s been impacted by the pandemic. Your customers have, too. How can you adapt to help THEM through this, in a way that allows you to continue to grow and maintain your business? 

Let me give you an example:

Let’s say you run a business where you help people learn how to do wedding photography – how to take great photos, book gigs, and all that other stuff. Well, now weddings aren’t really happening, and your audience is STRUGGLING. 

But there are OTHER skills you have in the photography space that you may not even realize you aren’t using. What else can you teach your audience about how to use their craft during an unprecedented situation like this? What virtual tools do you have that they could benefit from?

Don’t get focused on the product you can’t sell anymore – focus on the PEOPLE you’re serving, and find what they need NOW that the world has changed. 

Stop Worrying About What You Lost

People are so concerned about the things they’ve LOST in 2020, that they’re not stopping to think of all the things that they’ve gained.

Here’s the thing: we got hit with a lot of crap in 2020, but for many of you, this isn’t the FIRST crisis you’ve had to work through, and for pretty much all of us, it won’t be the last. 

It’s easy to overlook all of the other huge changes we’ve had to face in our businesses, because they weren’t as OBVIOUS as this one. COVID kind of forced us to see the changes real time, and adapt to them quickly. 

As entrepreneurs, we do this ALL THE TIME, but most of the time, we don’t realize it. It’s like it happens by accident. But it doesn’t – this growth, these shifts in business, almost always happen because something BIG changed and we had to find a new way to thrive in the world. 

So I challenge you, to look at 2020 as a year of WAKE-UP CALLS, and make 2021 your best year ever. 

Thanks For Listening! 

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Today’s TOP Take-Aways:

• »How 2020 Was Actually Good For Entrepreneurs [01:51]
• »Get Back To The Basics [06:00]
• »Stop Worrying About What You Lost [08:40]

Quote:

• »Get back to the basics. Find someone you love to serve, find the audience you’re passionate about helping, and see what they truly need.