Covid Part 2: Opportunity is everywhere, if you have eyes for it.

Covid Part 2: Opportunity is everywhere, if you have eyes for it.

A local restaurateur that’s a dear friend of ours was forced to shut the doors of his business. He also works with events with his catering business, and all events have been canceled. In a moment, his revenue went to nothing. He was forced to fire several people - faithful, hardworking people - and he didn't want to. He loves his employees. So, he started brainstorming. He found the opportunity in what was originally a tragedy. He asked a few of his employees to begin making a meal pack for $60 available for pickup. And $10 of every order would be donated to making meals for people who didn’t have the means to buy them.

Boom. He’s back in business. 

(Not at the revenue he was, I’m sure, and not with as many employees, but he saw a need and decided to meet it, and he’s providing work for his employees and food for the community. Mad respect for people like him.)

My favorite thing about this horrible thing is that humankind will always find the opportunity. I have been keeping an eye out for businesses and people who have really been hurting, but who have somehow managed to flip the script and make the most of this whole close-your-business-and-distance-yourself thing.

Some examples I’ve seen: a ton of apps and businesses offering free services for work-from-home creatives. The peleton at home fitness app offering a free 90 day trial for their at home works outs (I def signed up for that!), Adobe Creative Cloud extended free trial, Starbucks keeping the world caffeinated by continuing to offer pick up only orders and meeting you at the door, Chipotle offering free home deliveries everywhere, and one restaurant, I kid you not, offering a free roll of toilet paper with every meal ordered! It’s amazing and brilliant to see businesses be so generous and smart, and I love it.

My husband Will works with business owners every day as his job, and he looked at me and said, “Someone somewhere is going to make a ton of money during this.” It’s true. That person is the one looking for the opportunity in it all, because it’s there. We just have to look for it. 

So that’s my encouragement to you today. Look for the opportunity. Sometimes, our darkest moments allow for our brightest ideas. This is the time to try something crazy. To do something new. And if nothing else, keep your eyes opened to those who are finding the opportunities around you. It’ll make you smile big if you have eyes for it. 

PS. If you live near Durham / North Raleigh, you can support Southern Harvest and have a DELICIOUS meal made for you, while also helping a family in need by visiting their website and reserving your meal for the following day.