As I am sure everyone knows there is absolute chaos everywhere. We have no choice but to adapt. These are desperate and chaotic times and we need to get through it.

What I have noticed is all the crazies out there, people just taking things to the extreme. You need to learn to deal with them and don’t let them into your dickhead bubble.

• We need to acknowledge that what is going on now is not normal for anyone and everyone is going to respond differently. There is huge uncertainly all over, not just with your business but also with your personal lives, the economy and the world in general. It is testing your resilience and testing your coping mechanisms.   There is a saying that goes ‘ The cream will rise to the top’ if you want to be the cream and rise to the top you need to stay focused on your goal and keep it all together.

 A lot of crazies are saying that you should not be profiting from the pandemic and you should be giving your services away for free. So, you need to be cautious of how you word your pitches and your adverts – be sensitive to the high-stress factors of many people and chose your words carefully so that you do not upset anyone.

• Get your life in order – this is a matter of urgency. Make sure all your finances are in order make sure your appointments are cancelled or moved, make sure your prescriptions are filled – make sure you do as much as you can in advance so that you can flatten the curve and stay home.

With regards to your business, make sure you know the requirements and rules regarding your business and ensure that you are complying.

Update your T&C’s, this is important, and be sure to inform your customers of the update. Many businesses are no longer offering refunds but will issue vouchers instead.

Adapt – this is the key to getting through this chaotic and extraordinary time. If you can try adapting your business to be able to still operate during this time and maintain continuity. My partner has a bicycle shop and we spent the day making changes so that he can offer a drive-through service that complies with requirements.   Brainstorm ways to keep operating, change your desirable offer. You can reassure your clients by giving them a phone call and setting their minds at ease and give them a sense of security.

You need to be proactive, but, don’t rush and don’t react. You have one chance to get this right so double-check everything you do and get it right the first time.

• People are highly sensitive at the moment, re-read things to make sure that you are not being insensitive – you need to remain customer-focused. When you are speaking to someone it is easier to get sincerity or sympathy across. In-text it is a little more difficult, it is super important to re-read your text or better still get someone else to read it. Another perspective is always advisable.

People are still spending money; they are just changing what they are spending it on. You need to identify their pain point during these times and show them how you can help them.

It is also important to have a crisis management plan in place.   You need to know how to deal with a crisis in an instant. And remember, keeping your business running during these difficult times is not profiting from a crisis, you have rents and salaries to pay so don’t feel bad about taking care of the survival of your business.

• When dealing with Crazies – think if it as trying to reason with a toddler having a tantrum – don’t bother.   Some crazies are attacking people for ‘profiting from a crisis’, you need to be aware of this and tread carefully on social media.

Know how to block people on your personal page – click their name, hit the 3 dots and select block. They will then disappear from your page and you will disappear from theirs.

You can also unfollow irritating people. For your own mental health, some people need to be unfollowed. So you don’t have to unfriend them, you simply unfollow them and they will no longer appear on your timeline.

If you want to delete a post you have done, you hit the 3 dots and you can delete the post or hide the comments.

On your business page, you ban them and not block them.

Having a moderator is always a good idea, someone who can check your page for trolls when you are not able to. You can give them full access or limited access. Please make sure that it is someone you trust and they know what they are doing. You do not want your page deleted or messed up by mistake or have your client base compromised.

If you are having a crazy attack you can switch off your review tab for a few days until the crazies subside. When you switch it back on all your old reviews will still be there.

You can also delete individual comments and report people who have overstepped a boundary.