According to Wikipedia: The proverb “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”, first recorded in 1886,[2] and the shorter, trochaic version “April showers bring May flowers” (originally “Sweet April showers/Do spring May flowers”, part of a poem recorded in 1610[3]) are common expressions in English speaking countries.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_shower
With our literary lesson out of the way, we can focus on the April showers of COVID-19 and what May flowers it will produce for our industry and the country.
Quite frankly, the winds of March and the showers of April were tremendously stormy. It brought with it sickness, death, fear an uncertainty. Many businesses shut down completely, while others have transitioned employees to work from home. The beauty industry suffered a total shut down, and with it a loss of income and self-sufficiency. Financial responsibilities went on for most, while the precious few were relieved from monthly obligations and still others were able to reduce the burden altogether, with the support of government programs, corporate grace and extended loan payments without interest. As many have said before me, it is not anyone’s fault. It is not your fault. However, we bear the brunt of the fallout. How do we cope? What kind of flowers will we nurture for a brilliant June sunshine?
Acknowledgement
Before I go further into this blog post, I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank our first responders, nurses, doctors, other hospital/medical personnel, US Postal Service, courier services, restaurant food delivery service, social workers, educators teaching online, government officials for keeping the rest of us in motion, informed, fed and otherwise taken care of. I offer blessings for those who have lost loved ones to the virus or other illness since January 1, 2020. I say this not just for the United States of America, but for all countries around the world who have suffered under the pandemic of the novel coronavirus. I hope a vaccine is developed soon and testing becomes more available.
With no choice of the seeds to plant, we do have the choice in how we nurture and feed the fields of our lives. We can cultivate seeds of bitterness, resentment, blame, self-pity and hopelessness or, we can cultivate fields of beautiful wild-flower dreams, perseverance, courage, prosperity and resilience. Add some love and grace for one another and we have a recipe for a harvest of hope and blessings and warm, overflowing sunshine in June and the months ahead. This will not be easy. It will be challenging. I believe in you and you can do it. Have faith, pray ask God for help. I encourage each and every one of you reading this blog post to get a couple partners to keep everyone accountable and encouraged. Two of my nieces and I started this over Christmas break by creating a goals list. We sat at the dining room table and answered some questions from a template (see below), by writing them down. We shared a few as we went along. Then came the test. We read them out loud to each other. A few other family members were in ear-shot. Wow, that had me sweating and my heart began to beat harder. I believe it was writing them down, sharing with others and more importantly, stating them aloud, that made them stick. It has had a tremendous impact on my life. I was ready when the storms hit. And now that they are here, I am able to weather the horrible winds of change and cultivate those ugly seeds into fields of opportunity for myself and those around me.
A Short Personal Story
Creating, or should I say completing, the BeautyCE Institute was one of the goals on my list. I immediately got to work and went through the process of getting the course approved for CE credit the state board, February 3, 2020. That approval came in the early weeks of COVID-19, February 3 to be exact. I had a few professionals register. Then the shutdown came mid-March. If it had not been for the strength in my family goal setting team, I would have been derailed…woe is me, etc. etc. I would have sat on it for another renewal period. But, because of my determination, inspiration from the exercise, I pushed on. I sent the email campaign, kept the facebook page current, created offers and forged forward. This does not mean I had all positive thoughts. It does mean that when the negative self-talk came, I acknowledged it and threw it away. I was also able to take the lemons of this time and create lemonade with other opportunities.
For you this may be one or more profitable sidelines complimentary to your Cosmetology practice. Salons and Barber Shops will open in the coming weeks. You have to be ready. Prep time is now. Do what you need to do to be successful post-COVID-19. Read, learn, go to virtual conferences, watch how-to videos. You might even take this time to spruce up your shop or work station. Just know that post-COVID-19 is coming and it will be different. What will you do to meet that challenge head on?
Goals Template
The following list constitutes five areas of focus or GOALS. Answer the questions with three to five bullet points which will be the OBJECTIVES you will need to complete to meet the goal above it. You may have sub-objectives to complete in order to accomplish each item. This is the exercise my nieces and I went trough. I have shared it in groups and with other individuals. I now share it with you in the hope of inspiring you to reach your full potential one day at a time.
- This year I will accomplish the following for myself, my health, and my dreams.
- This year I will improve in the following areas.
- This year I will commit to doing the following for my family and friends.
- What do you plan to leave in 2019? (You might alter this to say “post-COVID-19” instead of 2019)
- I will accomplish all of the above with God, hard work, and faith.
Your Field of Wild-Flower Dreams
What are you doing now, or have done, to cultivate a field of dreams and opportunity that will produce a harvest of blessings in your life, your business, and perhaps those in your circle of influence? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you and God bless each and every one of you, your families, and your business.
Thank you and God Bless all of you…🙏🙏