How To Thrive Online in An Uncertain Climate

Written by Sue Prentice

In a time of chaos and extreme adversity, I could not think of a better way to contribute to Mumpreneur than to focusing on how to THRIVE. If you’re anything like me, when I think of thriving, I feel an energy that makes me want to get off my chair. Thoughts and visuals come to life in my mind of success, booming, delight, wealth, prosperity, health and growth. All this seems contrary to what the world has been experiencing during this intense and long period during the current pandemic, COVID-19 and practicing self-distancing.

Governments around the globe are marking the pandemic with the biggest relief packages in history; airlines are grounded and there is not much positive news when you turn on mainstream media. Unemployment predictions are warning us that levels could surpass the very distant Great Depression and so the bad news keep rolling in. Not to mention the toxic blend of truth and lies across social media and the devastation of lives lost and families impacted forever.

So how can we begin to thrive?

It has everything to do with our mindset and focus. Without any notice, people’s lives have changed. A pandemic arrived and businesses around the world, of every shape nature and description, have had to reimagine and reinvent their purpose and their offering.

What differentiates those who are thriving?

It’s not about the product or the service; it’s everything about the state of mind and attitude, the ability to get up and dust down and find that inner energy deep down inside you that enables you to take action and see possibilities. For many, it’s harder than it seems.

One of the earliest psychologists to focus attention on happy individuals and their psychological trajectory was Abraham Maslow, who is most well-known for his ‘hierarchy of needs’. In his quest to understand human motivation and the pursuit of happiness, he formulated a list of basic human needs that had to be fulfilled for maximum psychological health. With a life dedicated to human potential and through many varying studies, Maslow concluded that until people’s basic physiological needs are met, they cannot focus anything else. A simple explanation would be how a person in a war zone is oblivious to danger in pursuit of food to eat. It is important to consider where others are at right now with this in mind and the degree we’re impacted differently.

Psychology Today describes what life has been like for us for the most part until recently, “In terms of Maslow’s hierarchy, most normal adults can be thought of as working, generally, on the upper parts of the pyramid. Trying to figure out love needs (such as trying to re-ignite a longterm romantic relationship), taking steps to advance your esteem needs (by, perhaps, applying for leadership positions within your organization), and/or trying to achieve that elusive state of self-actualization (perhaps by meditating, doing yoga, or going on retreats in the mountains, for instance).”

The pandemic has impacted every one of us in some way and every country in the world, effectively knocking many of us down to the bottom of the pyramid. This is important for businesses as they approach and navigate a way forward.

As a digital marketer helping brands get online, it’s been clear that there are two ways in which people approach the unfortunate status quo:

Those who see problems and meet roadblocks around every turn, feeling only someone else can help them.

Those who find solutions and get creative, taking on a ‘can-do’ attitude with the aim to survive and then set goals with a belief they are going to thrive.

For many people, things start to fall into place with encouragement and making a conscious decision to thrive every day. Opportunities do exist all around us all. There are great stories I have heard and experienced where people are adjusting. Like one of our clients whose 100 seat restaurants shut down overnight and, in a few days, he was back online, offering his niche sourced grocery line, made up of his locally sourced organic ingredients, offering takeaway and reaching his customers on social media.

Plus, the story of the ‘lolly lady’, a confectionary business that decided pivot delivering platters for high tea in her local city and who is busier than ever, a simple idea that came to life because of a need to adjust her offering. There are more!

As business owners, and mumpreneurs, we need allow creativity to open up new opportunities followed by immediate action to make them come to life. If you’re a business owner then leading your own clients in this way so they too realise a way to think differently and adjust and still have a profitable and successful business.Perhaps as a business owner the biggest expense one can incur is the money one could have made today but didn’t.

I am seeing incredible invention, innovation and creativity. As a mum, partner, business partner and entrepreneur, I see the world changing in front of my eyes and there are masses of positive outcomes all around us. People are being kinder, more collaborative, more respectful, innovative and importantly, more thoughtful about others who are less fortunate, more community oriented and knowledge sharing is happening like it never has before.

Our business of helping offline businesses get online, and within days realizing a revenue stream is in itself thriving. It displays hope and the evidence that it IS possible to pivot; and adapt. There are services needed now that we didn’t have a requirement for. This is the time to be creative.

"Remember, you can reach the top of the pyramid again when you allow yourself to thrive."

If you want to learn something or find your purpose, this is the time! Equally, if you have something to offer, this is the time! The top tier of Maslow’s pyramid is selfactualisation. According to Maslow, self-actualising people perceive reality accurately; after all, it is hard not to do this right now. We have all been grounded by what is happening all around us. These people have a sense of awe, wonder and gratitude about life. Gratitude is important. They are not self-centred but rather problem-centred and focus on how to improve.

Here are my top five tips to help get your purpose-driven business seen in the flurry of a world moving online:

1. Reinvent with a creative marketer to check your idea.

2. Go live on Your Facebook page and build a relationship with your niche.

3. Grow and nurture your own list.

4. Invest in paid advertising even if it’s a tiny budget because you’ll rise ahead of the majority.

5. Automate.

Plus 1 more tip … If you can’t afford it, apply to Facebook which is offering $100M in ad spend to small businesses. Here’s where to apply: https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants

Who is Sue Prentice?

Sue has over 30 years of experience in product and service-related businesses is a founder of two start-up companies and has carefully managed millions of marketing budget dollars for globally recognised brands. Sue’s passion for knowledge from an early age living in Africa remains fully charged and she’s happiest when she’s passing on her energy to encourage like-minded entrepreneurs, swapping experiences, and sharing creative success solutions. She bubbles with excitement about the future of technology and has a deep-seated desire to reach teenagers and stand up for wildlife. Her makeup is rich, intertwined with first-world city life of Sydney, and growing up in a third world country. Since leaving Africa, her happy place is by the at the beach, and this would need to be included in her conservation dream to give back. Sue lives in Sydney with her husband, two daughters, and a couple of pets, the main motivation behind her endless energy. She now works with founders and co-founders, helping them get clear on their goals and achieving an online digital strategy with results top of mind.

If you’d like to chat about how we can get creative with your business, feel free to book in a session here: http://bit.ly/connectme247