We all know that we’re living through a scary, uncertain time right now. It’s made business-making decisions harder than usual (to say the least!), and understandably has a lot of creative women who thought they were ready to become entrepreneurs asking themselves:
“Should I really launch my business – especially now?”
And despite it all, my answer remains: Yes.
I began my business in 2008 as America saw one of the largest recessions in history, and I officially quit my day job two years later to run my business full-time. Here I am 12 years later with a multi six-figure business that gives me freedom over my life, work and time—and June 2020 was my best month in business until I topped it in August (I know! I’m still processing!). I’m now more passionate than ever to coach other creative women to make their CEO dreams—and the freedom, autonomy and grown-up money that comes with it—come true.
What I and other successful creative business launchers want you to know is not only is it OK to go for it, you need to go for it. And, if you won’t take the advice from me, take it from them—my amazing current and former clients who both re-launched their heart-and-soul-work or launched brand new businesses in the middle of a global pandemic.
Before I show off their smarts and advice, I want to highlight some of the results that the women below have already experienced since April:
- Working with 5 clients in her first 8 weeks in business
- Giving her notice and quitting her job
- Re-negotiating a contract around how *she* realized she wanted to work – and getting it approved along with a higher rate
- Making $1000 from an ecourse she created and launched in just a couple of weeks
- Telling her employer she won’t be back after furlough
I mean, right? I know. I’m living for it, too.
Here is some great advice about (re)launching your business during COVID – from women who’ve done it!:
Allie Raynor, Foster Brand Strategy
“When I launched my brand storytelling business in June 2020, I kept hearing from friends and family what a “tough time” it must be to start a business. What I found was the opposite: people were pushed by this difficult time to follow their hearts, change up their patterns, and try something new. My advice? “There’s No Time Like The Present” holds water, even now. You NEVER know how a certain climate will affect your business until you get out there and start doing the work you love!”
Chelsea Bennett, hellowrapper!
“Never give up on your dreams. Hold them close no matter how hard things get. Learn how to pivot and have grace with yourself always.”
Emily Robinson, 4Provision5
“My one piece of advice for launching your business during COVID is to be gentle with yourself and others. With the type, amount, and rate of change COVID brings, there is a corresponding need to be flexible, to adapt quickly, and to course-correct based on the current reality. Too often, correction comes to me with a dose of judgment and negative self-talk. I use mindfulness practice to transform judgment into assessment, then use that information to adjust my approach and my goals. For me, this has meant letting go of the idea of a defined finish line, and instead immersing myself in the process.”
Jennifer McDowell, Common Good Coaching
“COVID clarifies. It shed a light on the needs and wants that have long lived under the surface of so many people’s lives. Launching a business during COVID is a choice to act on what has likely lurked under the surface in your own life and commit to it. That commitment is a choice. Any doubt you have about “whether this is the time or if you should wait until a better time” is highlighting a belief you have about yourself. Get curious.”
Kimberly DiGiovanni, Your Chief Experience Officer
“These are unprecedented times, so dream BIG, think outside of the box and have faith that anything is possible. I see COVID as a golden age of OPPORTUNITY. There will be people who cower and people who rise up and create the next big thing. Why can’t that success story be YOURS?”
Kristen Lopez, Design & Illustration
“Two ideas dominated in sustaining my motivation; respect for my happiness and trusting my resiliency. It was a struggle, but it is important to accept that it’s not selfish to pursue happiness and well worth the risk. Realistically assessing your resiliency is surprising when you give yourself the credit you deserve. It’s scary to pursue anything during such an uncertain time, but recognizing my solid history of overcoming adversity made it easier to accept I could handle it. It doesn’t make it easy, but accepting responsibility for showing up and doing the work requires honoring myself and, with practice, being able to authentically honor and empower others.”
Larissa D’Silva, Three Circles Wellness
“Keep showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. Michelle has helped me see how taking baby steps can actually lead to something tangible. And, even on the days when I show up and feel unmotivated, grumpy, and/or stressed, I STILL walk away from the time I spent on my business with a sense of momentum. It’s definitely not easy during COVID with another layer of stressors. But, the fact that I can launch a business now—when everything feels extra uncertain—means that I’ve got the resilience to go the distance.”
Ligia (Leah) Montani, L’Artista Gigi
“I wanted to start my business for over 3 years, I just couldn’t get myself to do it. I felt lost, overwhelmed, and just alone. The Dream to Done program and coaching has been a game-changer for me helping develop steps, gain confidence, hold myself accountable and come face to face with my own B.S.”
Lisa Battito, Enlightened Path Healing
“The most important thing I’ve learned is to reach out to other people. If you are used to working in an office, building your own business can feel isolating, especially if you’re a sociable person like I am. Join online groups with other entrepreneurs and interact as much as you can. They can help you navigate the parts of the business world that are difficult and you can help others rise, too.“
Meagan Shultz, Meagan Shultz
“Do I have advice for launching during a global pandemic? Heck yeah! Two words: Do it! And maybe two more: why not? I feel like this pandemic heightened that sense of if not now, when? for me. I thought it would be impossible, I thought about giving up several times, but these extraordinary circumstances actually ended up giving me the courage to push forward and make my business a reality. People are looking for good news right now, they’re looking for inspiration, and looking for models of how to be brave in the face of this virus. Why not let YOU and your business launch be that source? I was amazed at how many people came out of the woodwork to wish me well. When I stopped to ask myself: who would want me to fail right now? The answer was obvious: absolutely no one. So really, why not now?“
Sara G. Evans, Sara G. Evans Career Consulting
“My advice: People are deprived of much-needed human connectedness right now. Approach everyone as a potential client and opener of doors. Be clear on what your business brings to the table and tell anyone who will listen. Don’t wait for the “right” place to have this conversation or until you have the “perfect” resumé in hand.”
Sheryl Gervais, Sheryl Gervais
“There is so much noise and chaos all around, from politics, economy, pandemic, world issues, that the best and biggest advice I can give, and that I took, is to turn it all off. I went on Twitter and news black-outs for a few days so I could let the good stuff that I needed to focus on to get my business going. I’m fairly certain I’ll continue practicing regular black-outs to keep my heart and head in the best place as I start out.”
Tanya Davis, Your Simply Essential Life
“Never stop creating, adapting and evolving. The businesses that will shine during this time will be those that listen to what their ideal clients are asking about and searching for and then use that information to find a way to fill those needs. Your only limitations are the ones you falsely set for yourself!”
Vicky Cook, The Intuitive Intropreneur
“Go for it! Right now, people are craving leadership and inspiration. The last few months have essentially been a gigantic pause at the global level, and this has led a lot of people to take stock of their lives, reassess, and seek change. They need your services and expertise now more than ever, so don’t hold back! Put yourself out there confidently, share from your heart, and open your energetic door to attracting in those who need you.”
I don’t want to be so cliché and say “If we can do it, you can do it,” but it’s absolutely a zillion percent true. You absolutely are capable of successfully launching the business of your dreams—especially now —and I can help STAT.
Tomorrow is the last opportunity to sign up for 90 Day Business Launch in 2020. If you join us, you could have your own heart-and-soul-filled business up and running on December 10th. Go ahead and fill out a no-obligation app so you can give yourself something to celebrate when that ball drops on New Year’s Eve. 
The post These Women (Re-)Launched Their Businesses During COVID – Here’s Their Advice appeared first on When I Grow Up - Creative Business Coach.
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