Hey guys. Its been a minute. A mighty long minute. 2015 was a very long time ago. I never thought I'd come back to writing but tough times have brought me back. Lets see if I can keep at it this time around.
Strength, Courage and Wisdom. That's what I need right now. The funny thing is my dad actually warned me about this a while back and the control freak in me together with the perfectionist, refused to do anything about about it. Dad said I need to grow the business so it's more self sustaining, employ more people (other than yours truly) and that way the business can do more = more money. "Look at other ways of earning an income", he added. He made an example of me getting sick and no work happening because I can not exactly make dresses in hospital or in bed.
Just to be clear, I did try to get an assistant. It took him twice the time it takes me to make stuff happen. Frustrating much! Of course the poor guy didn't have the experience I had considering not everyone started making clothes in high school. But what broke the camel's back was him cutting a garment on the overlocker (which can happen even with the most experienced of designers, seamstresses and machinists) and did not tell me. He folded the dress, packed his bag and left = trust issues. Then I got someone else to assist and a client called me to tell me "I know you didn't make my dress". Quality of work was not the same. So I needed to get someone in, train them, teach them what I do and get them acquainted with BSC quality. Ain't nobody's got time for that! And who has time to think of another income stream when they are continuously snowed under?
⇶ 2020. COVID-19
1.Shuts down schools, subsequently postponing/cancelling matric dances and graduations.
2. No gathering of 100 peeps or more. Festivals are cancelled. Weddings are put on hold/cancelled.
3. Shut down for 21 days. Even the garments you have in stores can't sell because wow, kutricky.
Government says "SMME ASSISTANCE" and you look at the form and in the 1st section you must fill in, they require documents you never even thought you needed being such a small company = immediate disqualification. Banks say "CASH FLOW RELIEF". You just need to prove certain things. Document 1, 2 and 3 you have never had. And how do you prove things that never happened?
I know I'm not the only one feeling the pinch. There are other SMMEs, musicians, event planners, freelancers, and many other professions in the same soup I'm trying to navigate in. Question is: How are you guys dealing? How are you making it work? Who knows when we will go back to normal? One thing I'll say though. This was a rude awakening.
(I'm grown now. Can't be signing off with XOXO.)
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