TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURS
Denise Leslie
Founder & CEO, Medical & Sports Massage
T
his year has brought significant changes to the world. A once-in-a-century global pandemic caused by a novel strain of coronavirus will do that. The year has brought uncertainty that no one has had to face before. So, how do we as business owners cope with these drastic changes? What can we expect in the future to find success? By sharing my experiences, I hope to guide fellow entrepreneurs to a sense of normalcy and provide comfort. For me, the pandemic has brought on many emotions. As a business owner, I like being in control of my work. COVID-19 has introduced new policies that I no longer have input in. Due to these policies, I have had to find other ways to be productive with my time to avoid negative moods.
Denise Leslie
deliver for my employees, whom I admire deeply. This was the most challenging part for me and it took an emotional toll. I qualified for loans produced from the Small Business Association (SBA) such as the Payment Protection Program (PPP), SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and other grants for pandemic relief. But as I submitted application after application to ensure my employees could provide for themselves without work, I realized the new order of business impacted banks and federal agencies, thus decreasing the efficiency of processing paperwork and, ultimately turning down small businesses like myself for relief funds. I own Medical & Sports Massage Inc. in Sandy Springs, Georgia. By the time March came, I had to close my business down under orders by the governor. For the safety of those in my community, I gladly closed my doors and would stay closed for as long as needed to ensure the health of my employees, clients and their network of people. But I had a huge burden of being responsible for my health and wellbeing and my employees’ lifestyles. For seven years I have been able to provide financially for myself and my employees. I am proud to say I never missed a payroll and was often able to give bonuses as a reward for finishing consecutive years strongly. The pandemic was the first time I could not
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SUMMER 2020 | ENBIZ MAGAZINE
I was crushed with these decisions, feeling as though my small business was not good enough to compete with large corporations that received millions in SBA loans. I felt like the hard work I put in over the past decade to build my business would soon be meaningless. But I never gave up. I looked at unemployment options through the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), but experienced the same delays and, ultimately denial at the end of the process. I had no other option but to begin networking and putting my story out, hoping that eventually someone would realize how much my business means to me and how it impacts my community. I emailed everyone I could find on a government or SBA website. I sat in on Zoom conferences with local community leaders and business owners. I learned as much as I could about the process and formed a strong support system through my communication outreach. Due to these efforts, I had a positive outcome the second time I applied for disaster relief. Today, there is still much uncertainty, as the pandemic is expected to stay through the flu season. This will most likely bring new ways of conducting business moving into this decade. At this point, the best thing business owners can do is rely on each other, support the community and form strong networks through online communication. Stay informed on new financial relief processes and ask important questions to your local bankers, government officials and other businesses. Finally, and most important, protect yourself and the community around you from the spread of COVID by implementing The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) safety measures and getting tested early.
Denise Leslie/EDGE ALUM 2014 Business Plan Training Consultation
Connect with Medical & Sports Massage www.livelifepainfree.com
