Well, British Columbia’s state of emergency has been extended for another two weeks. This officially makes it the longest period in the province’s history where emergency orders have been in place.
BC’s state of emergency was first issued on March 18th and has subsequently extended multiply times because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 has claimed Hundreds of Thousands since that time.
COVID-19 is responsible for the loss of Millions of jobs since that time.
And now we’ve been told that COVID-19 will continue to cause fear, panic and destruction for at least another 18 months world-wide.
Families have suffered. The economy has tanked. And now it’s time for a rebuild.
But as a Small Business Owner, I find myself asking the million dollar question – Is It Too Late?
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK
When most businesses were forced to close their doors a few months ago, many of them probably realized that they would never be opening those doors again. Unfortunately many more of them probably thought COVID-19 would only last a couple of weeks and they would be able to weather the storm. However when those weeks turned into months and the bills began to pile up, no deferred rental payments or business relief funds could save their sinking ships. And now many of these business owners have been forced to not just turn their backs on their businesses, but also turn their backs on their dreams.
RESILIENT AS FU#K
Like most small business owners, the fear of losing my business has occurred to me numerous times during COVID-19. And with a potential second wave that could be even deadlier and more costly projected to occur this coming Fall Season, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t still concerned about having to close my own doors for good.
With that said, even though I might be concerned, I refuse to lie down and quit. I refuse to let a virus control my potential to succeed. And I refuse to fail.
Bearing The Responsibility
As we begin to enter the midpoint of Phase 2 here in Vancouver, British Columbia, many businesses have now been given permission to reopen their doors. As someone who owns and operates his own Personal Training Company, my business has also been given permission to resume our business operations. However unfortunately business will have to be anything but usual moving forward – at least for the time being.
Now even though we ourselves are practicing the guidelines and protocols that have been given to us by WorkSafe BC, I have no plans to send out an email or make an online post to let our clients know that they should all return to our gym immediately. I see other Gym Owners online stating that their gyms are “Safe”. I see Trainers making videos on Instagram telling people that “It’s Time To Get Back Into Shape”.
Listen up! NO ONE can guarantee that anywhere is safe right now. And NO ONE should tell people when it’s time to get back into shape. People can come back to the gyms when they themselves feel comfortable to do so. And people should get back into shape, when they are both mentally and physically ready to do so.
What these greedy gym owners and tight-lipped trainers seem to forget, is that many people have much more on their minds right now then just resuming their workouts. Some people have lost loved ones, while others have lost their careers. Trying to tell/sell someone on your services right now is not only unprofessional, it also unethical.
So Now What?
So will our clients come back as we slowly begin to resume a sense of normalcy in our own business again?
Well to be honest, most of them actually never left.
And as for the clients that did step away from the gym and take time off from their training during COVID-19, I guess time will only tell……
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance