Three Things a Global Pandemic Has Taught Me About Business (And Life in General)

From the perspective of a 30-year-old

Hi, I’m Kaitlin. If you have worked with Dunlap Marketing in the past, chances are we have met. You can often find me at Dunlap Marketing working on business development, project management, and being a “sponge” (learning as much as I can about our business and how to lead a successful company).

You see, I’m 30-years-old and have a unique gig – for the past six years, I have worked for my dad, Mike Dunlap (you guessed it, as in the Dunlap behind Dunlap Marketing). I feel it would be careless of me to not be as “sponge-y” as possible during this time in my career.

While I was lying in bed last night, I could not stop thinking about how I want to be a “sponge” now more than ever. We each have our own perspective on how COVID-19 has affected our personal jobs, the businesses we work for, and the economy in general. I hope I can learn from what I’ve seen Dunlap Marketing, our customers, our prospects, our country, and our world go through these past few months – and what we will continue going through for the foreseeable future.

At this point, the pandemic has taught me THREE things about business:

  • People are good – For me, it’s easy to get sucked into negative media coverage that portrays people as “not good”. However, I find reassurance when I remember this batch of “not good” people are the minority. The majority of people in our communities are kind, loving, and thoughtful. In business, it is also important to keep in mind the notion that “people are good”. Remember, now more than ever, we all have lives outside of work. If you have a coworker, client, or vendor who is taking out a bad mood on you, try to approach the situation with grace. You do not know what is happening in their personal life. We all handle stress, uncertainty, and personal issues differently. More times than not, people are good – inside and outside the business world.  
  • The importance of a solid foundation – We have all watched companies, big and small, go through layoffs, struggle to keep the lights on, and some even making the tough decision to permanently close their doors. The Coronavirus does not discriminate – all businesses are experiencing impacts from its wrath. One similarity I’ve noticed in businesses who are withstanding the virus is: they have a strong foundation. The foundation I’m referring to are the leaders who have not only structured their organizations in a way that allows them to stay afloat during such miserable economic times, but who are also able to make tough, yet necessary decisions.

“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

  • It is okay to fall back on the basics – The basics are different for each of us. They are what feels comfortable, even during times of discomfort. In my personal life, the basics are: getting a full night’s sleep, prioritizing exercise, and spending time with my family. At work, the basics look a little differently, but provide an equal amount of comfort. Dunlap Marketing’s basics are: keeping our sales funnel full, providing high-quality appointments to our customers, and maintaining a safe, healthy work environment for our employees. These basics, along with a strong foundation, are what have provided Dunlap Marketing the opportunity not only to continue serving our clients, but also to stay in business. What are the basics in your job and at your company?

To close out, I will leave you with an action item. What is something you have learned during the pandemic? Drop your thoughts in the comments – I looking forward to the opportunity to learn from you, as well!