This quarantine and lockdown period is a tough time for most of us. But it is a time of innovation and growth for businesses that have taken initiatives to adapt.
It is true that this period can be painful for some people. But pain leads to the bounty. There is a rainbow always after the rain. The important thing is to stay strong during this crisis.
Take this global crisis as a challenge and opportunity to innovate in your business so you may grow out of this global pandemic stronger and already ahead at the next level.
Overview & Episode Content
- The Quarantine Period is a Beautiful Thing for Business
- Innovations in the Restaurant Industry During COVID-19 Quarantine
- Massive Crisis is an Opportunity for Transformation, Innovation, and Growth
- Reconnecting with FAmily During Quarantine
The Quarantine Period is a Beautiful Thing for Business
By the time that this podcast gets published, things relating to the coronavirus must have calmed down. But, as of recording, things are going crazy! I cannot believe all the stuff going on with the coronavirus.
Right now, I am with Luna. Although we are in a sheltered place on twenty acres of land in the middle of the hills, we can not easily get non-essential stuff that we want. So, we do not totally feel the global crisis until we have to go to any type of store.
It is interesting and quite surprising when this all started happening and how we have escalated to this level of lockdown and quarantine so quickly. I am a conspiracy theorist by nature and I think that there is a lot more going on behind this —which I will talk a lot more about at a later time.
The interesting thing is that we have a small number of actual fatalities from COVID-19 yet everything is getting locked down all over the world.
My first thought was, “Man, I would hate to be in a position where I would have a physical office.”
If you are listening to this, do not take offense because this is actually a beautiful thing for your business. You will have the opportunity — or for sure, you already have the opportunity — to make some pretty amazing changes in your business that are going to make it last long-term.
Innovations in the Restaurant Industry During COVID-19 Quarantine
One of my favorite books ever is “ReWork” by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried. They have another book called “Remote”. And I am sharing this because I am a big believer in remote work whenever possible.
Obviously, you are not going to be able to do total remote work when you have a brick and mortar shop. However, the more that you can get into this remote work mode, the more that you are going to see how it provides flexibility and continuity in business. It provides more productivity and it can be extremely efficient if you do it the right way.
In fact, a lot of my clients right now are in the restaurant business. Yes, they are in a pretty bad spot during this lockdown and quarantine period. But there are a lot of opportunities that will come from this.
One of the things that have been great in the restaurant business right now is the ghost kitchens. It is a new phenomenon that is happening right now.
Now, what happens in these ghost kitchens is that everything is branded under your name but everything is either through catering or take-out. For example, you can order McDonald’s or whatever and they will bring it to you via Uber Eats or Postmates. It is all branded but the food is prepared in a shared kitchen and you do not have a high-fixed cost anymore which is huge.
Massive Crisis is an Opportunity for Transformation, Innovation, and Growth
This particular industry is novel and innovative! I think that this should have happened a long time ago. But not everyone was embracing it in the past.
Well, guess what now? Everyone is asking how to get into this ghost kitchen thing!
Now they are literally saying, “Oh, crap! I actually need to come in the 20th century.” Take note, not the 21st. The 20th to level up their old and archaic business.
This is the moment when this constraint is going to be a huge benefit — this constraint of quarantine — of not being able to do business as usual. It is where you will see that this is going to provide so many opportunities to innovate, grow, and to move your business in ways that you never thought could happen before.
You might say that this is horrendous. But in reality, it is going to transform the landscape so much. Just like the market crashes in the past. Things like these are going to transform the landscape of business.
Now is the time to be adaptable. The more that you are able to be flexible during this time, the better chances you have of growing your business despite the global crisis.
Reconnecting with Family During Quarantine
The other thing I have noticed — even with me — is the time we spend with family more. I am spending more time with the people I love.
All over the country, there is a new little spirit where the family is first. I see it on Facebook. Friends and family who send off their kids to school and spend most of their time at work and spend the entire day separated — except for Saturday and Sunday. They barely get to know their family, their kids. Myself included.
I was not spending a ton of time with the people I love. I see on Facebook now, families are actually being together and doing projects together. Families are trying to enjoy the quarantine and rebuilding their relationships in cases where it’s already kind of destroyed. And it is such a beautiful thing. It is absolutely wonderful.
Why is this important? It is important because these are times for change and flexibility. Seeing the real true constraints that you have with business and family. The faster that you are able to adapt, the more that you will see that this is a huge blessing during this tough time being quarantined. Enjoy it. Utilize it.
Conclusion
Yes, the lockdown and quarantine period can be painful. But pain can sometimes lead to the bounty. There is always a clear sky after the storm.
Stay strong during this crisis. Take this opportunity to innovate in your business so you may grow out of this global pandemic stronger and already at the next level.
Resources and Links
This is Dean Soto, founder of FreedomInFiveMinutes.com. I will continue my walk with Luna and I will catch you in the next Freedom in Five Minutes Podcast episode.