The world has changed in 2020 when the deadly Corona Virus – aka COVID 19 – wreaked havoc across the planet. Practically no continent was spared as businesses and jobs were lost. Anywhere within the world, the pandemic has stretched the health systems, economies, and even the patience of political and business leaders. It’s as long as a negative process is predicted globally.
Hopefully, for you, things will change for the higher.
I had a chance to interview the Philippines’ digital transformation expert, Homer Nievera, who shared his so-called slingshot strategies to catapult one’s business (and life) out of any crisis, especially this one we are all facing.
Nievera’s country, the Philippines was the first nation in ASEAN to implement a lockdown – called an Enhanced Community Quarantine – which was put the whole island of Luzon in lockdown. This meant crippling the foremost business districts and restricting movement of 53 million Filipinos.
Seeing how economies are starting to crawl back to their usual cycle after 6 months into the pandemic, Nievera has noticed the reluctance of the numerous people to undertake to the same, given their fear and confusion on what to undertake to next.
We then asked him on what tips he can share to help people recover. Nievera shared six steps on what he calls Slingshot Strategies to be able to go ahead of the pack within the midst of a worldwide crisis. Read on.
1. Plan your life today
Have you used or a minimum of have seen a slingshot? It’s that piece of wood within the type of a forked stick, with an elastic strap (or a pair of elastic bands connected by a slight sling) that’s fastened to the two prongs. It’s typically used for shooting small stones quite catapult. this is often where business goes to plan the pandemic crisis – at the farthest end of that slingshot – stretched to its limit at the negative point.
With that picture in mind, you recognize that there’s a very big chance of either being at the receiving end of that stone shot for that catapult, or you’d be that stone hurtling into success.
Nievera shares, “Start now by mapping out your life from where you’re at immediately. the absolute best in mind is to realize your action plans which can get you to where the others won’t be simply because you acted quickly amidst the chaos.”
Find a quick place and begin your next moves. No deadline here, ok? You’re probably on quarantine anyway. Start mapping out your action plans by revisiting your supposed plans for 2020. That’s down the drain, right? Just consider where you’re at immediately and where you’d wish to be when the starting gun fires.
2. There’ll be an enormous paradigm shift
The world as we all know will change dramatically.
“We will see the entry of the so-called new normal, whatever which can be,” said Nievera.
The term ‘social distancing’ will probably be used more often and other colloquial meanings may arise, too. But what’s more important to think about is to plot out your moves on how you’ll endways the right side of things.
Nievera acknowledged, “Whoever is ready to shift one’s paradigm given this instance will begin the winner.”
What he meant was there’s an urgent need to challenge all of your pre-set goals and experiences as there has nothing been slightly a bit like the corona pandemic since the 1920s. The Spanish flu was followed by a worldwide economic meltdown that saw markets crashing and thus the so-called Great Depression followed.
What’s sure to happen is that the slowing of worldwide economic progress by the absolute best of 2020 wherein many economies will dive to the negative levels.
3. Solve problems now
In every single major cataclysm that happens within the planet and affects the world, there 100 people and corporations who make it big. Why? Because those people are able to identify arising problems and offer solutions.
Think about it. many of us are on quarantine or lockdown. Most are taking their sweet time and taking that “needed” break caused by things. Some depend on the dole-outs and have a come-what-may attitude. Yet only a few are up and about, trying hard to hunt out ways to unravel emerging problems.
As a digital transformation expert based within the Philippines, Nievera has been able to put in some investments in technology and digital media companies. He said that his couple of years of selling and tech experience have allowed him to spot winners – and losers. During this coronavirus pandemic, he has been busy spotting emerging businesses, while doing CSR or volunteer work.
Nievera intimates, “Recently, we were approached by some entities including the government to form solutions in stemming the further spread of the virus. We came out with two solutions – the Ruwah, which a first-responder breathing apparatus (i.e. semi-automatic ventilator) and a design for specimen collection booths (SCBs) to be utilized in mass testing. we’ve already started distributing the SCB booths to public hospitals while we’ve finished the first prototype for the Ruwah.” And both were exhausted record-time during the first 3 weeks of a lockdown.
These are glaring and real samples of what you’ll neutralize conjunction with a short time while on quarantine. Who would have known that these devices or products are getting to be needed? the problems presented themselves, therefore the solutions were the results of brainstorming sessions online. mention time not going to waste!
Anticipate problems today – not tomorrow – and find solutions for them pronto! you’d possibly be into something big that no-one has considered yet because time is changing.
4. Use all that “stored power” towards something big
Going back to the catapult or slingshot design, you’ll notice that in theory, when something gets pulled back to its limit, there’s many stored power there when that thing gets released. are you ready to just imagine that?
Nievera reminds people to wish a slightly step back.
“Think of the shift in mindset and thus the way things are unfolding today. People have lost their jobs. People have gotten sick and are on their road to recovery. Sadly, some have passed on while many loved ones were left behind. There’s panic, sadness, distress, and even an air of hopelessness. These may all be some quite negativity as you’ll surmise. But actually, these are the makings of latest opportunities,” Nievera reveals.
Indeed, how are you ready to help people find jobs? How are you ready to help people recover? How are you ready to bring back hope altogether that’s good in humanity and thus the world in general?
There are now many opportunities within the health sector that comes with mental state. Human resources are getting to be a busy sector also as people need to be placed somewhere also as helping people retool themselves. Because more and more people will like better to figure from home (or maybe they have no choice), there are opportunities in those areas also.
How are you ready to tap those stored power that’s a neighborhood of pulling back the economy? How will you ride the varied opportunities that accompany the sling-back action that comes with the discharge of the catapult?
Knowledge is power, my friend. Be at the receiving end of this great stored power and ride the upcoming trends.
5. Anticipate the switches
About paradigm shifts that are currently happening thanks to the pandemic, now’s the time to think fast and anticipate the switches.
“Switches are getting to be happening anywhere from brand-switching to technology-switching and even utility-switching of sorts. These will all be happening as major movements in consumer buying patterns caused by changes in spending power happen,” Nievera says.
Once nicknamed “The Disruptor,” Nievera tells entrepreneurs to urge on the planning out for even minor movements in customer needs and wishes like needing someone to buy for you that attend the grocery yourself for fear of getting infected with the virus. Ridiculous? Not in these times.
How about helping people find ways to implement proper social distancing in confined spaces and living quarters? That’s an enormous shift in behavior caused by the need to physically distance oneself out of state compliance or set protocols. Another goes to be the want for easier masks without sacrificing quality. Get the drift? Tiny shifts are happening which can soon ripple into bigger opportunities. The key’s in catching these shifts when their still tiny such you’d be the first to form the solution.
6. Open as many opportunities as you can
Nievera shares a story of his conversation with one of his clients. it had been during the primary 2000s and thus the dotcom boom just went bust. it had been also about 3 years from 9/11 and thus the new normal (post-terror) of doing things – of heightened security – was being implemented globally. Reeling from the crisis, Nievera’s client told him that what their company has been doing was getting hold of every opportunity that came their way and knocked on as many doors as possible to be able to sell.
Practical? Maybe. But it reminds us to remain our hopes up with eyes wide open for opportunities. Once the opportunities happen, keep it up the momentum of lectures as many potential customers as possible. This increases the probabilities of catapulting yourself way off everybody else in whatever field you’re in.
That’s exactly what happened to Nievera’s client. They came to be the foremost important manpower services within the Philippines, besides hitting it big in various industrial projects which they started during the crisis within the primary years after 9/11.
7. Decide to transform today
As the digital transformation expert within the Philippines, Homer Nievera has been practically been the so-called voice calling-in-the desert when digital media was in its infancy within the first 2000s. His saw it all. He helped transform ClickTheCity.com in 2001 from a directory to a life-style utility. His helped educate the advertising industry on advergaming (with MSN) and programmatic advertising (with Admax Network) in mid-2008 and helped level-up social media in conjunction together with his add both Friendster and Multiply.
In other words, Nievera was there when it all happened – when digital was transforming the Philippine landscape. Today, he’s still helping companies in their full embrace of the digital economy.
“The pandemic is simply a catalyst for everyone to completely embrace what’s to return within the way we do things. People can’t live without their data or wi-fi plans during the lockdown. It’s a replacement way of life. It’s the new normal,” Nievera declares.
Indeed, businesses need to transform digitally now and thus the choice possesses to be made now and not within the near future as things are currently happening. the planet – or nature – has dictated the pace as of today.
If you delay your decision in fully embracing digital transformation, then you’ll probably miss the train. this is often the time once you’ll ride the wave and reach a triumphant destination.
Rocket your way to the top today.