This year we’ve been faced with extraordinary challenges. The pandemic alone, and all the havoc it’s wreaked, has certainly been enough to derail our businesses — and lives. Yet despite the abundance of sour lemons, I’ve noticed an amazing amount of resilience among women entrepreneurs. I’ve seen you turn these bitter circumstances into sweet lemonade.

Those glasses of lemonade each resulted from unique, individual approaches to creating possibility beyond despair. We’ve achieved things we didn’t think we could, that we didn’t even know were possible.

Resourceful businesswomen are making lots of lemonade

At first, many of us sank into bitterness, feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, and out of control. But soon I saw many women proactively taking their fate into their own hands. They wanted something different. They decided to take the opportunity to make changes.

Two of my clients, one a branding and design company and the other in professional services, have given up their brick and mortar offices and converted their respective teams to successfully working from home. Productivity has increased and everyone is happier with the new setup. Neither company intends to go back to an office when COVID is over.

Another client who was in the process of getting a health coaching business off the ground recognized the opportunity COVID offered her. She wanted to be of help to others and respond to the challenge. She shifted gears, tapped into her corporate marketing background, and launched herself to support entrepreneurs and small businesses with their email marketing campaigns, webinars, and other forms of online and electronic marketing.

This bounty of lemons has opened doors and brought light onto new perspectives. Many of my clients have taken this time to organize and understand their financial information, plan for retirement, and get their financial house in order.

Whatever way we pivoted, we flexed, we stretched, we made choices, and we created movement. What I notice is how much of this movement has led to positive and fulfilling experiences. For me, this is showing up in a multitude of ways.

I overcame resistance and allowed myself to make changes

Initially, when lockdown began I was taken down into the rabbit hole of negativity. I was at a loss as to how the heck this possibly could have an upside. But, not wanting to idle unhappy, I took action. The first thing I did was tweak the structure of my classes and business groups and transferred everything to the Zoom platform.

Of course, this decision wasn’t brain science, but for me, it was a big shift. Over the years I had consciously chosen not have an online business because I like the high-touch, in-person experience. Much to my surprise, I learned that a lot of what I do is actually better suited to the online format, and my clients are getting more benefit from our work together.

Apparently, I am a lot more flexible than I ever imagined! I say this with a chuckle because I’m proud of myself for allowing these significant changes to take root. I am remembering that good things happen when I get out of my own way. The times when I stay attached to what I believe to be true, it doesn’t occur to me that I am blocking myself from opportunity.

Can you relate to what I am talking about?

I’m grateful to be part of this community of women in business. I’m inspired by the resilience and ingenuity around me as I watch us step into action, take the reins, and manifest something positive from this very challenging time.

In closing, I invite you to consider what possibilities exist and open your door to the opportunities that are vying for your attention. Enjoy your holiday!

2020 Has Delivered a Bumper Crop of Lemons!