We’d love to hear which of our Promote Her Business (PHB) community’s “Must-Knows” you LOVE the most!!

1) Stay Socially CONNECTED: Just because we are being told to “socially distance” ourselves (which is not a term I’m a fan of), doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stay Socially Connected. In fact, the more we feel like we’re in isolation, the more we need social connection. Instead of thinking of it as “social distancing”, think of it as “physical distancing” while intentionally keeping in contact with others ONLINE. 

• Social connectedness is critically important to your overall well-being, getting through this scare without feeling so alone, while overcoming this “everyone’s on their own”, fear-based mentality that doesn’t lead anywhere good. I’m so glad our Promote Her Business community is here for each other, during this time of doing business as (un)usual.

2) Pay attention to the words we’re using, because words directly affect our thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you call something a “practice”, people will act differently than if you call it a “championship game,” right? Are your words helping us solve the problem – and contribute to being our Highest energized self each day– or are you adding to the fear? 3) Look for the Opportunity in the Threat: The good news is now that you’re spending more time at home – and more people are focused on themselves – it could be a great time to do things you’ve been procrastinating on. Clean your home office, get your financial systems in order, UPlevel your business/marketing/sales plan, and let your creativity go wild.  4) Think of it as Rescheduling NOT Canceling: Many Women Entrepreneurs have come to me this week with tears in their eyes. They have dedicated months and even an entire year creating in-person events, and are now sending out emails that everything is “canceled”. Will all their hard work go out the window? Now is the time to reframe your thinking. Instead of thinking of it — and messaging it — as “canceling” to your ideal audience, think of it as rescheduling instead.   

• Have faith that when you do reschedule it… it will be greater than ever. Now you have some more time to think through things so that you can have your best event yet. Also, challenge yourself to adapt to the situation and see what you can do in the meantime online to keep supporting your community even though it’s not in-person. The show must go on… just in a new way. Get creative. Maybe you can’t facilitate the entire conference but you can still have a mini-workshop through video conference or FB LIVE etc.

5) Stay Positive: When I say positive, I mean positive. It means NOT saying you’re “just being realistic” – when what your saying has negative undertones and is far from neutral. I mean be Positive. Why? Because we are in a global scare, and when people are scared, they are emotional – they react, they don’t think – and this causes huge short-term problems and long term issues, we will need to clean up for generations to come. Right now we are at a tipping point for what people are going to do in face of being scared on a global scale, and being “realistic” (especially when it has the connotation of feeling like we’re alone and fending for ourselves), could push people into a panic. 

• So, stay positive… meaning be hopeful, do everything to be you’re your Best, Highest Self every day … and even more so when you’re cooped up in the house and/or with people who are driving you crazy (grin).  Being positive does NOT mean being unrealistic; it does not mean pretending like it’s ok to spread the virus and not be responsible for your role in containment. What positive does mean is looking at what good things can come out of this situation, celebrating every time we get closer to a solution, staying socially connected (and supporting others well-being), practicing self-care so you can stay positive, being patient with others, and noticing how your reactions are either helping or hurting others from being positive too.  

6) Think for yourself: You are the CEO of your life, so trust your feelings and innate wisdom too. Although it’s important to keep informed about COVID-19 and listen to experts, ultimately no one is more of an expert on your life and what to do with your time, your family, and your business than you. Also, someone has to say it: We all bring our own biases and social, political, and commercial motives into recommendations (whether knowingly or not) – and people may try to take advantage of your fear and verge of panic — so it’s good to never just blindly follow anything. Think for yourself. 7) Take Ownership for being a Role Model: People often don’t do what you say, they do what you… do. You are a role model and people have been watching what you’re doing and copying your behavior (whether they tell you or not). As a thought leader in your business industry and a leader to your family/friends, what message are you currently sending your community through your actions?

• What message do you want to be Intentionally Sending? Your community is looking for your guidance. What are you doing during the Scare – are you in “fight or flight” mentality… OR are you critically thinking through everything and making the best out of each day?

8) Stop the “Fend for Yourself” Thinking: I’m going to say something that might be stunning: Think bigger than yourself and your family. I understand family comes first, and at the same time, acting as if the only priority is to protect yourself does not help us relate to each other, collaborate, and be there for each other on a local or global scale. It divides us, it doesn’t unite us in coming to solutions as quickly as possible and spreading solutions. Let’s be there for each other, even if they’re not family… and even if they’re strangers. For example, if you have hoarded toilet paper (wink) and a neighbor runs out, give them some. If other people don’t know where to go to get tested, proactively share with the community where you went… let’s help each other out and be evolved in coming together as a global community and learning from each other about best practices during these uncertain times. 

• To me, your true sign of character and caring comes out… not when things are going well… but when you are being challenged and it’s all too tempting to be in our own world at the expense of others.  

9) Never Underestimate Your Contribution/Expertise to the Solution: You might not be a medical expert and you might not be working on the cure to COVID-19, but so what? That doesn’t mean you aren’t an expert in something related to COVID-19. What you have to say matters, and never let someone else play down the credibility of what you say (including YOU)!!

• What’s going on globally today has much bigger implications than just physically the virus itself. It has social, political, economic, emotional, financial, family and spiritual implications that are important too – and no one is an expert in all those areas; each of us plays a part. We need to do what we can in our sphere of influence to be a contribution to the solution, as well as getting through each day and avoiding fear-based, knee-jerk reactions, which lead to panic.
• Just this week, a guy said to me that my concern about the term “social distancing” was “nit-picky” and distracted us from focusing on America’s “true problem”… containment. He totally invalidated my expertise as a Strategic Messaging Coach/ Women Entrepreneurship Expert and the implications of words unintentionally contributing to fear, big hits in business, and panic. Instead of arguing, I listened to his viewpoint, and then, thought for myself and made “Stay Socially Connected” point #1, since that’s how important I still think it is:)

10) Be a Healthy-Her & practice self-care: The world has changed and we are either evolving with it or suffering from it. What can you do to heal any pain, suffering, upsets you have going on in your life right now… in addition to all the frustrations, challenges and worry generated by this Scare? To be your Best Self and a Role Model during these uncertain times, you need to take care of yourself and make sure your body, mind, and spirit are being fueled and nourished.  

• Are you getting 6-8 hours of sleep? Are you putting foods in your body that nurture you, as opposed to drain you? As the 2020 headline of TIME Magazine proclaimed: “Alternative med is the new mainstream” – are you leveraging alternative med? Are you getting exercise… or are you using being “cooped up” as an excuse to sabotage yourself?   

11) Pay attention to who you are surrounding yourself with: Their energy affects your energy, as well your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. If you are feeling stuck in a household with some Negative Nellies… it’s even more important that you intentionally find an ONLINE outlet and community to uplift you while helping more people be uplifted too.  

• Even if people in your household are positive, it’s still important to talk to people outside your household to gain new perspectives on the situation, have vulnerable conversations about what’s going on for you and your business right now, brainstorm creative ways to do business as (un)usual, and cheer each other on! No one can be everything to everyone; give your family a break; talk to other people too

12) Keep supporting local business and Women Entrepreneurs: Although people are buying up all the basic “staples” and hoarding toilet paper, a lot of businesses (especially small and woman-owned) are taking a major hit right now. People don’t know what to do, and while they’re reflecting, they’re not buying products or participating in important services which can help more successfully navigate through this scare. Let’s keep contributing to the economy by being role models of using our dollars as our vote for what’s important and should stay in business.  

• Are you continuing to spend what you regularly spend? What’s important is not just toilet paper and the basics; it’s also continuing to buy business, health, relationship products/services – and participating in online events — that will help us transition from “wait and see” to “let’s have a great life in the meantime” mode:)  

13) Appreciate each other: It’s important to realize that many businesses are bending backward and creatively evolving to support our needs online … They are tirelessly investing time, money and effort to avoid disrupting services, and they’re moving everything online as seamlessly as possible. Let’s show them we appreciate their efforts (like we’d want our ideal audience to appreciate our efforts) and take them up on what they’re offering.   14) Learn from Entrepreneurs: There are many things that entrepreneurs have learned from corporate; like structures, policy, scaling, mass marketing, and sustainability. And it feels REALLY GOOD to be able to say that the COVID-19 Scare has put us in a situation where people are the world can most benefit by thinking more like Entrepreneurs. Employees are working from home, having to adapt to new situations, be creative, and even use new online technology to stay connected. 

• Entrepreneurs, this is a time to shine and share your expertise. It’s a time to own being visionaries/innovators/thought leaders, and help others adopt more of an entrepreneurial-mindset too… because when things are risky, uncertain, and there are problems to be solved, this is when WE are at our best!

So, what else could you be missing during these unparalleled times?  There’s always something new to stay informed about, right?  That’s why it’s more important than ever to consider joining Promote Her Business’ (PHB) global sisterhood of Women Entrepreneurs, so we can keep learning together & growing our business {together}.  Start PHB Membership for Only $1, and build more inspiring, win-win relationships with other supportive and purpose-driven Women Entrepreneurs this month.  Let’s Network HER Way! Love, Jōs, Founder/CEO, PHB Int’l