My father and I decided to start a business in 2010, during the Great Recession. I was still in graduate school when I discovered that the economy was still recuperating from the financial crisis, and I had little chance of finding a suitable job. Getting a job as a minority was even more difficult. I analysed the employment market, the economy, and my little experience and concluded that I had little chance of landing a good position.
My father worked for a large linen cleaning service, an industry that was rapidly slashing prices. He had to terminate scores of people as a manager, and my father couldn’t imagine himself working for that company again. As a result, we both felt the need to start a business. We got off to a terrific start since the urgency was high. We worked seven days a week to get the company up and running. We started buying and selling industrial laundry equipment, and we needed a place to store it. My father’s mentor and buddy assisted us in obtaining financing for a large warehouse.
Business was good the first year. We were a newcomer with low administrative expenses and a supply of second-hand equipment, which was in high demand because the laundries we targeted were all looking to save money.
The art of always being present
We saw a downturn about a year and a half into the business. The economy was improving, and our customers’ attention was shifting to other initiatives. There was a four to the six-month period when we had nothing to do. There’s no business. No sales. There have been no consumer inquiries. Nothing. Our location was about a 30-minute drive from my house, and I didn’t see the value in going to work during that time. “There’s nothing going on today,” I reasoned. “Why are you going to the office? “That was a difficult period because a firm relies on sales to function. Without sales, there is no business.
It’s critical to maintain positivity and keep pushing forward when confronted with difficulties. It’s the minute you give in to one unhealthy habit that your collapse begins. I started waking up later in the morning at first. Then, instead of 9 a.m., I’d arrive at the workplace at about 10 a.m. I arrived at 12 p.m. after a while. I wasn’t coming in on some days after two months. My father, on the other hand, was not having it. He went to the office on a daily basis. It was also winter, which made things even more difficult. The warehouse we had was quite large, making heating it difficult (and expensive). Going to work grew increasingly uncomfortable during the winter. My father, on the other hand, simply turned up every day. “Why do you go when we have nothing to do?” I inquired. “Because that’s your thing. “There’s no cause. You simply turn up if you’re a professional. That’s it. He’d simply maintain the place tidy and reorganise the contents.
A few notes on showing up
Here are some of the lessons I gained throughout that time. You come to represent yourself, not others. Sometimes people dress up or get in shape just for the sake of impressing others. What other people think is essential to them. What matters the most is how you see yourself. If you maintain good habits, you will be prepared for any chance that comes your way. You never know when an opportunity will present itself. When opportunity knocks, you must be prepared to answer. You can’t say yes to anything when you’re in bed.
Things normally get better over time. When the economy is struggling, it is typically only a matter of time before things improve. The same is true in reverse. Expect things to not stay the same if things are going extraordinarily well for a while. Simply ensure that YOU are consistent.
Keep yourself occupied. Make something up when you have nothing to do. You feel better when you do useful things.
Maintain vigilance. You don’t have to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result if things don’t work out in your life or profession. You could try something different. You can make changes and attempt new approaches to succeed. Starting a business with my father has taught me a lot. It assisted me in developing solid writing skills that have served me well throughout my career. Since 2015, I’ve begun publishing online and have had a lot of success. There were instances when my articles were featured in numerous magazines. Many of my writings on Medium have been read by hundreds of thousands of people. Only a fraction of that would read them at other times.
Everything happened in a cyclical pattern. Some opportunities appeared and then vanished. Some returned, while others never did. But I’ve maintained doing the same thing the whole time: writing and serving my audience. When certain channels slowed down, I never panicked or became terrified. Overall, everything has gone smoothly. My blog continues to expand. And I’ve signed a deal with Portfolio Penguin for my next book, a fantastic publisher that has dealt with many of the authors I admire. None of this would be possible if you didn’t turn up.
The perfect blend of information and inspiration here. I find myself coming back for more every day.