2020 will be remembered as a pivotal year in world history.\u00a0 The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused a tsunami of business closures, bankruptcies, and lifestyle changes. Mandatory lockdowns and safety precautions kept many hard-working wage-earners away from their professions.<\/p>\n
While many businesses closed, some entrepreneurs have been able to develop and grow amid it all.<\/p>\n
Entrepreneurs such as Greg Kihlstrom of CareerGig describes his approach to business in 2020 far more aggressively than many others. He highlights the opportunity and all the many ways he can capitalize on these massive cultural shifts that are taking place.<\/p>\n
Rather than hunker down and wait for the storm to pass, shrewd entrepreneurs are pivoting and positioning their enterprises to benefit as these wider societal, economic, and cultural shifts begin to take root and become permanent societal evolutions.<\/p>\n
Sites like CareerGig and other gig-based work opportunities such as Uber<\/a>, Postmates <\/a>and TaskRabbit<\/a>are all poised to benefit from a world that’s evolving.<\/p>\n As we all adopt a work-from-home, remote, or flexible gig-based work model, the infrastructure for those seeking work and those seeking workers will also change.<\/p>\n Entrepreneurs like Greg see the wave coming and are actively paddling their way out in front of it.<\/p>\n For many of us who have been working on a particular entrepreneurial path over the past many years or decades, this may be the ideal time for reflection.<\/p>\n It may even be time for a pivot.<\/p>\n Are you still providing the same value proposition that you were prior to the pandemic? Is the market more or less poised to leverage your product or service in the post-COVID world?<\/p>\n We are not simply contending that your business will, with proper insight and preparation, make it through the pandemic.<\/p>\n We are saying you can actually thrive <\/i>in your niche during these times.<\/p>\n The easiest method of validation for this belief is that it has happened consistently in the past. Every economic downturn is inevitably followed by a recovery, and most times, a new all-time-high.<\/p>\n Remote work is a big one, of course, but that is not due solely to the Corona Virus.\u00a0 The general costs of commuting and inefficiencies of in-person work, paired with technological advances have also been driving the remote trend.<\/p>\n Freelance or gig work also is another market change that business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees alike should keep in mind. The freelance economy is projected to encompass over 50% of the entire economy by 2027<\/a>.<\/p>\n As time progresses and these shifts continue to gather momentum, those who refuse change will end up behind.<\/p>\n While the market is looking for new variations of services and products, standard principles and good business practices that have not changed.<\/p>\n For one, continue to be mindful and focused on your UVP (Unique Value Proposition). Meaning, providing something that nobody else is able to, or operating in a way that nobody else in the market can.<\/p>\n Your UVP is what will garner a loyal following of regular customers who become brand advocates.\u00a0 Your UVP will enable customers to identify personally with the specific qualities that make your brand different from the rest.<\/p>\nWhat can I do?<\/span><\/h2>\n
But is the time really ripe?<\/span><\/h2>\n
What are the new market demands?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Tried and true principles<\/span><\/h2>\n
Hone your operations<\/span><\/h2>\n