Musings on business in a crisis

March 24, 2020

Business in dark times, change in a crisis and why we should help each other

In the immortal words of the late, great Terry Pratchett - these are 'Interesting Times'. His understated description of catastrophic events pops into my head daily at the moment. But what are we to do?

We are tempted to hurl ourselves into frantic activity, make sure we aren't the ones left behind. But here's the thing - we don't know what we are leaving behind.

Some fellow business owners are in despair, some are, frankly, excited by the whole thing. Most are plowing along and keeping as busy as they can whilst worrying about the future. I have a couple of suggestions which have helped me:

Speak to people who help. You will know them. The ones who aren't mood hoovers, the ones who don't get a kick out of the drama. Find someone who understands what you are going through and talk to them. Ask questions about their situation, listen to the answers. Speak to someone like this every day.

Look for specific information. Not the news feeds, the doom and gloom, the sensationalising stories. Find feeds which focus on business, and practical steps they can take. Look for the support mechanisms the government is putting in - they don't want the economy tanking, it might not be a bed of roses but they want you to still have a business in six months.

Recognise change happens. When we were walking the dog the other day, our lock-down approved daily exercise, we briefly discussed what we thought would change as a result of the pandemic. I've mulled it over, and it's difficult to tell. I think we will be a kinder, more considerate society, but what that looks like at the moment iss anyone's guess. In my lifetime I think the major events I remember causing seismic shifts are the end of the Cold War, 9/11, and the 2008 crash. These must be fairly universal in their impact. And those few areas of the world not effected by them, will be by this one! Change may be painful, it may not be welcome, but it always happens.

Find inspiration. This is as individual as a fingerprint, but do what works for you. Look for someone you admire and follow their example. Personally I like understated and pragmatic, but if extrovert and vocal is your thing - go for it.

Look to the future. This is going to end. But here's the kicker - it might happen again. How are we going to contribute? A lot of the businesses I come into contact with do great things, they help people daily and this will not change. When the restrictions are lifted we will need all those services again, people will come out the other end desperate for normality. You need to still be there to help them achieve that.

Please keep going. If you need to make changes, so be it. Use this time to work out what you want that to look like. Help others where you can but be safe. And if you need to talk, call.

We got this.

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What is International Day of Education? On the 24th of January we are celebrating International Day of Education, we recognising the education sector from a broader perspective. You may think, why is this something that needs recognizing? Well let us tell you. In 2018 the United Nations General Assembly granted the 24th of January as The International Day of Education. This day in particular focuses on educational development and reflecting on what we take for granted for accessing education and resources. Why Is This Important? Last year alone, the UK had at least 10.7 million children attending schools across the country whilst in other underdeveloped countries such as Sudan, Mali and others have a staggering rate of 258 million pupils who do not have access to any form of education. It is especially hard for those living in regions of higher inequality, education is not deemed as necessary and is often dismissed. Often governments also lack the sufficient funding for educational resources, meaning there is not enough funding for basic necessities such as bathrooms, teachers and supplies of uniform. International Day Of Education calls for change; the aim is to bring civil societies and individuals to take solid steps to ensure that children get to have a primary and secondary education in underdeveloped countries. Who Have We Worked With? We Are Doodlebug are proud to have worked with two amazing UK based Educational Trusts. As a company we believe in growth, the education sector is proven to provide that for individuals especially those in less fortunate circumstances. As Malala Yousafzai said “One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world”. The Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust, and Campfire Education Trust have been pivotal in providing Primary school education to thousands of children. Both Trust’s provide and establish a dynamic professional learning community, allowing children to grow an enthusiasm for learning and create curiosity about the world whilst still providing a caring attitude towards it. Seeing a child flourish in education is not just rewarding, it also gives them a chance in life and sets them up for success. How We Are Doodlebug Support Educational Trusts/Schools? 1.We can provide a consistent brand across schools whilst maintaining individual personality. 2.Ability to easily find policies in one place on the main MAT website which school sites link to so that they are always kept up to date and remain compliant. 3.We provide support via phone or email as well as training staff to make their own edits.a different source.