Mastering the Art of the Pivot

Nearly ten months after the initial lockdowns and quarantines of COVID-19, the only thing we’re more tired of than our new normal is the endless discussion about that new normal.
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Exasperated as we are, though, we still have to deal with it. This is especially true for business owners, freelancers, artists, and creativepreneurs. 

While a large portion of the population has adjusted to working from home, we’ve had our entire business model upended. We don’t have the luxury of working through Zoom or Slack and still collecting a check. 

Even now that the vaccine is beginning to roll out, the new structures we’ve adopted are going to shift again. As excited as we may be to return to normal, “normal” may not be a walk in the park either.

The fact of the matter is that change is hard—regardless of what we’re changing to. Flexibility has always been important, but that’s true now more than ever. 

As we look forward to the upcoming shift, here are a few tips to remember.

Only Do What Only You Can Do 
When you work for yourself, you’re used to doing everything on your own. Since opening MAKE, we’ve acted as social media managers, maintenance team, and even tax accountants. 

But there’s a problem there: the more time we spend we spend on menial tasks, the less time we have to do the creative things we started the shop to do.

Sometimes, outsourcing these tasks winds up being cheaper than doing it ourselves by allowing us to use that time more productively.

Whether that means hiring someone through a company like the Ativus Group or finding someone on Fiverr, do what you can to free up your time for more productive tasks.

Trim Down Your Budget
Over the last several months, we’ve learned that our income streams are subject to large fluctuations. 

Unfortunately, our bills are not. 

Whether or not we have a good month or a bad month, our rent and phone bills and utilities are still due in the same amounts. 

While many of these bills might be nonnegotiable, there are a number of expenses that you may be able to trim down. Look for cheaper alternatives for services like your phone or internet. Consider downgrading or canceling subscription services. Revisit how you allocate your extra money between spending and saving. 

And if you need some extra guidance there, don’t forget that our Freedom First financial minicourse is still Pay What You Want.

Find Your Niche
The internet has made one thing clear: there’s a market for anything. 

There are communities online for just about every hobby, no matter how obscure (i.e., Minidiscs are back). 

Whatever you make, there’s a good chance that someone wants to buy it. You just need to find them. Search for communities on Reddit. Find groups on Facebook. Take advantage of hashtags on Instagram and Twitter. Make sure you don’t ignore sites like DeviantArt, which are huge hubs for obscure niches. Just take a deep breath before you log on—trust me. 

Flexibility is Key
Surviving change is always difficult—especially in a global pandemic. But there’s hope.

By implementing these habits, you can stay flexible enough to survive whatever comes your way.