We are humbled by this experience, as surely many of us are. We are reminded of what is most important in our lives. It’s inspiring to see how many people are choosing to lend a hand. We are honored to be part of this community and we know that together we can get through it!
Giving to Get Through
It’s no secret that the world is in a state of crisis. With businesses on pause and everyone standing by at home, we’re left to wonder what it is we could possibly do to help. While we may not have the skills to cure this virus or single handedly save our economy, we can still do something. We’re here to propose an idea; bear with us.
The Spirit of Giving
It is easy to feel attached to money when everything in our society revolves around it. But this situation gives us an opportunity to think about the bigger picture. Cash doesn’t create innovative technology or provide services, we do. And our talents haven’t disappeared. This is a time when instead of being opportunistic, we have an opportunity to give. We can still offer our skills and services to others at no cost but our time. As a small business ourselves, we want to remember how important local business is and help each other stay afloat.
Of course there are physical limitations to this while we are sheltered in place, but for those of us who have the ability to provide our skills and services from home, I urge you to consider giving your time to your community. Communities function because of our interconnectedness and interdependence. The more people offer their services, the more we will all benefit. A rising tide carries all boats.
Let’s say you’re a business consultant. You might stream a free workshop online or work with a few new clients for free since you have the extra time. You gave away $500 worth of your time and expertise. Now maybe your friend shares that they are giving away website editing and you haven’t updated your site in years. Even though you didn’t receive cash for the workshop, the benefits of this behavior can be ongoing and abundant if everyone contributes what they can.
The Virtual Realm
One silver lining that can be gleaned from this is how well equipped we are to stay connected in a time of physical isolation. Everyone in the world is leaning on video and social media to stay connected more than ever, which gives us a unique opportunity to collaborate from the safety of our homes. This is our chance to be the change we wish to see in the world, to encourage each other.
From interacting with other people to flexing your creative and critical thinking muscles, there are a lot of benefits to offering your services. Not to mention the meaningful connections you’d make with fellow small business owners.
How to Help
Here are some practical ways to give back and support local businesses:
If you’re still financially stable, consider buying gift cards from your favorite local businesses or asking if there’s another way to support from a distance. As a business owner, think of ways you might be able to support our essential employees. Many companies like the Four Seasons and Hertz are also offering free services for healthcare staff. Let’s say you’re a business consultant. You might stream a free workshop online or work with a few new clients for free since you have the extra time. You gave away $500 worth of your time and expertise. Now maybe your friend shares that they are giving away website editing and you haven’t updated your site in years. Even though you didn’t receive cash for the workshop, the benefits of this behavior can be ongoing and abundant if everyone contributes what they can.
The Virtual Realm
One silver lining that can be gleaned from this is how well equipped we are to stay connected in a time of physical isolation. Everyone in the world is leaning on video and social media to stay connected more than ever, which gives us a unique opportunity to collaborate from the safety of our homes. This is our chance to be the change we wish to see in the world, to encourage each other.
From interacting with other people to flexing your creative and critical thinking muscles, there are a lot of benefits to offering your services. Not to mention the meaningful connections you’d make with fellow small business owners.
How to Help
Here are some practical ways to give back and support local businesses:
If you’re still financially stable, consider buying gift cards from your favorite local businesses or asking if there’s another way to support from a distance. As a business owner, think of ways you might be able to support our essential employees. Many companies like the Four Seasons and Hertz are also offering free services for healthcare staff. One free option is to use your voice on social media to share posts and articles from your favorite businesses. And if you’d like to give back and provide your time, it helps to be specific about what you’re offering. We’ve seen a lot of posts from people who want to help, but if the service isn’t clear, people are less likely to reach out.
Four Winds Creative is leaning in to this approach by offering what remote services we can to whomever we are able. From video editing to live streaming advice, we’re here to help. There are many ways to utilize technology and video especially during this time, and luckily that’s our specialty! So don’t hesitate to reach out to us here if you have any questions.