As if entrepreneurs did not have enough challenges to carry out our business projects, the pandemic has brought new scenarios that force us to see, understand and face entrepreneurship in ways never before imagined.
Today, many of us work from home, we meet via Zoom, we serve clients by video, we suddenly turn to an improvised electronic commerce through social networks and in some cases we have had to desperately search for new business niches.
Thousands of jobs were cut. People behave in different ways, markets have accommodated, demand for certain products has decreased, and for some others it has increased.
Apparently the old oriental thought of “crisis represents opportunity“comes alive again to remind us that changes always come and move the chair sometimes very hard, announcing that opportunity knocks at the door only for those who have their eyes wide open.
For some people who never thought of setting up something on their own, entrepreneurship has been their only salvation.
But you have to accept that nobody was prepared for this. Or at least not to adapt as quickly as required and especially having so many factors against such as confinement, preventive measures, the recession of the economy and the uncertainty in the face of the epidemic.
The digital transformation that we predicted so much came globally without warning and gave no truces to any. Companies, people and organizations of all kinds and at all levels had to learn at the speed of light and adapt their production, communication and problem solving mechanisms by integrating technology into their processes.
But how do you start in the new normal?
The entrepreneur from 2020 onwards will have to be very skilled to integrate into this new economy.
Although it is true that new niches have emerged that represent enormous opportunities such as health, education and digital transformation issues, it is necessary to move quickly and develop new products and services that must be efficiently promoted within the framework of prevention measures to attend to an increasingly demanding market.
Possibly one of the main lessons that every entrepreneur should learn is to communicate better digitally. Developing mechanisms for delivering products, handling claims and guarantees quickly and safely will be essential to protect the brand.
Understanding that customers behave in a cautious manner and that we must integrate prevention mechanisms into all our daily processes will be inevitable. Understanding that social distancing is here to stay and that every day we will see less of our client’s face is part of this new reality.
Today, we are suddenly turned to an improvised e-commerce by social networks.
Creating or optimizing our online stores will no longer be optional and improving your digital marketing techniques to actively compete on social media will also be demanding.
If before you were satisfied with putting some ads on Facebook, today you will have to have a digital marketing specialist on your team and integrate other solutions that you did not consider before. Innovation and creativity are no longer optional. (Have they ever been?)
Relying on governments is crazy and although they must provide the support and conditions for companies to be able to oxygenate themselves and survive, an entrepreneur cannot sit idly by waiting for answers.
Doing business the traditional way without delivering value will be the perfect formula for failure.
A new economy was born and the only viable alternative is to adapt with intelligence and determination.
