An example of a good mentor is Richard Graeter, the CEO of Graeter’s Ice Cream, a 150-year-old family business that survived the Great Recession, the Great Depression, and the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. As CEO, he prepared the business for “dark days ahead” by investing in e-commerce technology such as back-end integration with the POS and payment systems as well as an online ordering system.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the business did not shut down because it had the capability to offer delivery or curbside pick-up. He made sure that their factory and retail stores are pandemic proof and ready to operate under the new regulatory guidelines and restrictions.
Be fearless
If you start a business, then you’re already brave. Around 20% of new businesses fail in their first year anyway. So if you’re going to start a business, commit to making it work even when times are tough. Bet on yourself. be confident that you have what it takes to overcome any hurdle in your path. But don’t be naïve. Be confident and be smart about the risks. If the rewards outweigh the risks, then go for it.
