So, how are you coping now that we are eight months into a pandemic? Depending on where you live, you are either dealing with different guidelines laid out by your local government health department or ignoring them. We live in British Columbia. In March 2020 we experienced a shutdown that forced us to close one of our businesses. It remained closed for 14+ weeks. We were not sure if we would be able to reopen or not for the longest time. There was a great deal of uncertainty and once we could reopen, there were several new guidelines we had to follow. They were not that difficult to adapt to and our business has been open ever since.
But What If There Is Another Shutdown? That is a real question facing us these days as the British Columbia provincial health department has changed things again. It seems the guidelines are constantly evolving so far in late November 2020. Face masks were made mandatory in all public settings with an emphasis on indoor locations. Then face shields were considered not good enough, only certain masks. We have cloth masks (not considered effective) as well as 4-ply paper masks (the preferred choice). We have been wearing masks when shopping or at any other public venue since March, so this part is easy for us. It allows us to keep our business functioning while staying safe. However, a two-week period meant to break the cycle of COVID-19 cases being confirmed in the province is the new plan. Whether you agree with mask-wearing or not or consider the virus a "plandemic" or not is not where I am going here. I'm more interested in discussing what it has been like living in a state of emergency for as long as we have. We've seen small businesses close down for good because of the restrictions. It has been both difficult and incredible for entrepreneurs at this point. Some have lost far too much to recover and others have found innovation to keep enough cash-flow to pay their most important bills. But another shutdown would be devastating for those of us who have managed to stay on top of things so far. Then there are the mental health issues that come into play. I think that is why I see some people ignoring arrows on grocery store floors and not keeping their distance. Everyone is on edge, cranky, and had it to here with rules that seem to keep changing and no real solid proof that any of it is actually working. That doesn't mean we will quit wearing our masks as a protest. It just means that going into Winter with issues is just going to get compounded with the shorter days and colder weather. It's not going to be pretty. What Has This Got To Do With A Midlife Career Change? Well, COVID-19 could be the catalyst for change in your life. If you are a business owner, you've seen the decrease in revenue and have probably had to lay off some staff in order to stay somewhat fluid. Or maybe your job disappeared as a result of the pandemic or your position is one that can't be converted into a work-from-home model. These changes have impacted employed Canadians across the country and in all age demographics. For those of us in the 35+ year bracket, it will have somewhat of a greater impact. However, I can tell you that if that is your scenario, you are at the perfect age to start over, doing something else, even if you don't think you can. COVID-19 is opening many doors for entrepreneurs to use technology in ways it has never been used before. Teleconferencing, telemedicine, remote working, and similar processes are creating many opportunities for those who are seeking means to stay employed. It also means that online freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are starting to draw more interest from people who are now working from home. It is how I built my home-based business and although my job numbers have gone down slightly from what I suspect is related to the pandemic, I still get plenty of work monthly from around the world. But how do you do it? Here's How Need tips on how to reinvent yourself in the COVID world? I can help you survive a midlife career change in your life. All you have to do is order a copy of my eBook: "Surviving Midlife Career Changes?" It is available at Amazon by clicking HERE.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMy name is George Elliott. I have been in the Media Industry since 1978. I spent 23 years in Broadcasting and worked in a total of six different radio stations located in southern British Columbia Canada during my career. In 2000 I switched gears and moved into the Print Media Industry at a small town, local weekly newspaper. In 2004 I bought the paper and operated it with my wife, Brenda until July 2016 when we closed it. I launched a freelance web content and article writing business from my home in January 2014. Archives
April 2021
|