In a recession, play tennis
Whether or not we are in an actual recession, it sure feels like one. My friends with cars are complaining about $100 trips to the gas station and many of us are seeing customers afraid to commit or budgets being slashed and contracts canceled.
When I told Heather, who cuts my hair, that I loved the New York Times bestselling book Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (about her complicated relationship with her South Korean mother), Heather thought it referred to crying when you see the bill at H Mart! She is South Korean, shops at the H Mart Asian food supermarket chain often, and prices have gone up so much that she can only buy half as much as she used to. She told me she recently decided frozen dumplings can be "dinner" for her two girls, 9 and 12. We laughed about her thinking the book was about crying over the bill, but right now I think we are all having "crying in H Mart" moments! I had one yesterday when trying to book a vacation for my family and what would have been a $600 airline ticket was $1,400!
But regardless of the headwind, we may be facing in the economy, we can still thrive in our businesses. If we are willing to try new things.
Many companies will still make big money in a downturn. Some of the most successful companies you know were built in recessions because they seized the opportunity to do things differently, including:
AirBNB
Warby Parker
Netflix
What are you doing to shake up your perspective?
To shake up my own thinking, I decided to take tennis lessons.
I already read business books, attend workshops and learn from my mentors. But tennis is another thing. I was afraid of looking stupid and not being able to hit the ball! The first lesson was this morning. Turns out I remember nothing from when I learned as a kid. It was humbling to be on a handball court at a local playground instead of a real tennis court, and to get into my "beginner's mind" and just be open to learning new things ("beginner's mind" is a Zen Buddhist concept that is critical for anyone going big, as I shared in my book Go Big Now).
The instructor had me practice holding the racquet tilted down and at an angle, not what felt most comfortable. Turns out I was swinging too late. And then too early. But by the end of the lesson, I had the beginnings of a serve and a backhand swing!
What are you doing to get out of your comfortable grip?
Some women in our community recently did just that by attending my online Pricing Workshop, where I shared how you can raise prices (yes, even in a recession!) and make strategic use of guarantees and bonuses.
I hope you are finding your own perspective-shifting hacks! And I hope to graduate to an actual court soon : ).
Stay brave,
Julia
P.S. to attend my next Pricing Workshop, go to millionwomen.com and join our network of women going big.