Small business owners are facing many challenges and unknowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most of us have never dealt with this level of uncertainty, and we’re asking ourselves big questions like...does anyone care about my business anymore? Are my services still relevant? Can people afford to work with me?
Even small business owners who do feel relatively secure in their business model don’t know what action to take right now. They’re asking, can I do business development? Is now the time to launch something new? With everyone releasing content on the topic of the pandemic, do I need to prioritize doing the same?
These are some of the questions I hear on a daily basis right now from my coaching clients. As a business coach for the last 5.5 years, I work with individuals who have service-based businesses. Some businesses have been able to transition entirely online (or they were that way to begin with) and things are remaining semi-regular, while others are getting creative and figuring out ways to pivot in this new world. Nobody really knows what to do so, I am helping them navigate the different ways their business can stay afloat and even thrive during this time.
Many of my past and current clients have created amazing programs, webinars, offerings and services due to this pandemic. I encourage you to explore what they are offering, and to support small business owners as much as you can.
These are ten of my past and current clients and what they’re currently working on.
1. Ashley Feinstein Gerstley of The Fiscal Femme
I founded The Fiscal Femme, which is a feminist money platform that provides womxn with the education, resources and community they need to thrive financially. (P.S. Career Contessa and Ashley have also partnered on this resource in the past!)
We had plans to launch a private Slack community but ended moving launch up a few weeks in order to provide womxn a space to come together and support each other during this financially stressful and uncertain time. I'm so glad we did because it's surpassed my original vision and expectations. Not only have members been able to get support and ask questions, but it's been incredible to see them sharing various COVID-19 related updates with each other. Everything from which car insurance companies are offering discounts to how calls with specific credit card companies are going. This shared wisdom has provided to be invaluable for members.
The Pivot: The Fiscal Femme Slack Community.
2. Joanna Lovering of Copper+Rise
As a style coach at Copper + Rise, I help my clients get "unstuck" from their style ruts and move forward with their life goals, just by changing what they wear.
During this time of COVID-19, I believe that I must serve my community, not sell. For that reason, I've conducted 8 (and counting) free webinars on a very relevant topic to this time in our lives: presenting yourself authentically and professionally on video calls.
In addition, any clients I had already booked before the pandemic were easily moved over to digital-only; fortunately I've been working with clients all over the world for a while now, so I already had the infrastructure and processes in place to have a successful virtual business. If anyone is interested in grounding themselves in organization, I have a free 5-Day Closet Cleanout Challenge available to anyone who needs it.
The pivot: Free webinars on presenting yourself online.
3. Yoko Kawashima, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach
I'm here to empower you to take back your health by helping you establish positive lifestyle changes. Using holistic self-care strategies, we'll address your diet, exercise, and sleep habits as well as your stress levels and mindset.
My plan this month was to bring in new business by partnering with health practitioners and begin charging for my coaching sessions. In the wake of this pandemic, I've decided instead to give back to the community—especially to those with underlying conditions (diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, obesity or compromised immune systems) who are more susceptible to COVID-19.
I am now offering a package of four free health coaching sessions to anyone interested in improving their wellbeing and longevity! I'll guide you every step of the way to develop healthy lifestyle habits.
The Pivot: Four free digital health coaching sessions.
4. Elissa Weinzimmer of Voice Body Connection
I teach professional voice users (speakers and performers) how to have a healthy, strong, powerful voice so they can express themselves with confidence.
Since COVID-19 hit, I've added more voice & movement warm-up sessions to my schedule and opened them up so that people can try them for free. I think now it's more important than ever to stay connected to our bodies and our voices so we can stay in alignment.
I had planned to run another small group mastermind program during this time, but I moved that session to the back burner and moved the membership community offerings up to the forefront so I can support more people. It's been really rewarding to be of service and see so many people coming together to move and make sound.
The Pivot: Membership community offerings.
5. Stacy Schwartz of Ketanga Fitness Retreats
Ketanga Fitness Retreats organizes small-group getaways around the world that combine fitness, adventure, and relaxation. In the past 5.5 years, we've hosted 85+ trips in a variety of themes—like Boxing & the Beach, Yoga & Adventure and Fitness, Food & Fun—so we have something for everyone!
Since the travel industry took a big hit, we have had to cancel the majority of our trips for the year, incur many expenses due to those cancelations, and there's no current end in sight. We have made some quick adjustments in order to stay relevant and supportive to our community as booking travel is the last thing on their minds.
We are hosting virtual events that combine fitness and socializing (such as our HIIT & Happy Hour Zoom Class) to create a sense of community and inspire people to come together. We've also focused on creating light and relevant content that infuses our specialties of fitness and travel into something tangible for right now, like a list of the best travel movies for wanderlust sufferers. And finally, we have posted multiple videos of at-home workouts led by our amazing coaches to help motivate people while they can't get to the gym.
The Pivot: Virtual fitness classes.
6. Kat Short of Tell Your Damn Story
For the last three years, I've been running a predominantly in-person storytelling consulting and speaking organization. In February, I got an intuitive nudge to offer something specifically around cultivating a writing practice. It was something I'd been hearing over and over again from my clients: I wish I made time to write. It was a developing theme in my work and I made the decision to create an entirely online program.
That's how the 45-Day Writing Residency was born. The inaugural class is 24 writers and I'm feeling grateful that I listened to myself and created an online experience in time for this global pandemic. We need to share our stories now more than ever and I'm in awe of the writing coming from the group thus far. I'm currently designing new offerings to help people uncover their voice and cultivate a consistent writing practice. I am nearly finished with the design for a course specifically for writers who wish to turn their words into a blog!
The Pivot: Launching an online writing residency
7. Heidi Landis, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
I had to completely shift to online practice quickly learning how to make embodied practices work in an online format. Clients and colleagues alike are proving that creativity can still be found in this time as we navigate connections and creativity in the virtual space. I am able to see clients online and will be providing two online creative arts therapy groups for adults and children in May.
This 4-week online psychotherapy group for adults will use creative arts therapy interventions to find ways to explore, express and move through the anxiety that so many people are feeling during this time. Using the tools of theater, music, art, and poetry, group members will have the opportunity to connect, create, and begin to find new ways of dealing with anxiety at this time.
The Pivot: A 4-week online psychotherapy group for adults. Sign up here
8. Elizabeth Entin of WTF Just Happened?!
After the devastating loss of my father, I, a sciencey-skeptic, decided to investigate if there was any evidence of an afterlife. I was shocked by what I discovered and wrote a book to share my experiences.
Since COVID-19, I decided to launch a podcast to supplement the book. In the podcast, I interview the people I met along the way who were instrumental in changing my viewpoint, as well as other people who have had inexplicable experiences. In such scary and uncertain times, I hope it is helpful, that someone like me—the last person in the world who would have considered anything afterlifey or paranormal to be anything other than nonsense—changed her mind.
The Pivot: Launch a podcast.
9. Michelle Blue of The Journey with Blue
The Journey with Blue is a talk show and community sharing the transparent stories of the lessons, sacrifices, failures, and joys along the 'Journey' of creating the life and business you dream of. Through coaching, organizational workshops, and speaking engagements I support people in stepping into their full potential.
As a small business owner that relied heavily on in-person speaking engagements and workshops, I have had to find new opportunities and rethink possibilities at this time. My main objective during this time is to serve, add value, and be a sense of peace along this 'Journey'. I have started a 'Power & Possibilities' conversation series on Instagram Live providing resources and support to my audience. I, fortunately, have been able to do webinars for different organizations on 'The Power of YOU: How to Tap Into & Ignite Your Power', in addition to offering coaching and an online course to support entrepreneurs in this area.
The Pivot: An Instagram Live conversation series and online webinars.
10. Ali Krupnik of MyWellCo
I’m the founder and CEO of MyWellCo, a Wellness Concierge. We are wellness travel experts that partner with luxury hotels, airlines, and like-minded brands to provide unique and curated wellness experiences. Our mission is to avoid that “I need a vacation after a vacation,” feeling.
Prior to the pandemic, I had just pivoted to MyWellCo from my previous brand, Alicado Toast. After launching MyWellCo, I was faced with the need to temporarily shift the business’s focus, because the hotel industry has been greatly impacted by COVID-19.
At this time, MyWellCo is partnering with women-led wellness businesses to create the MyWellCo Immunity Kit. You will be supporting them, while they support you during this time. We’ve partnered with brands that have power products that will aid you in creating or maintaining a sound mind, body, and soul during this pandemic.
The Pivot: Partnering with businesses to create immunity kits.
Bonus: Career Contessa!
Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without including Career Contessa to the list! In case you're not already familiar, Career Contessa has made the entire webinar library FREE, increased the number of weekly webinars and podcast episodes to cover timely topics, and created a slew of articles and videos to address specific Coronvirus topics. Additionally, Career Contessa's Instagram has been full of helpful resources like this and this on the daily.
