I’ve read or rather seen so many articles and postings about what company X is doing in this pandemic to keep me safe that I delete them now.
I suspect you are doing the same.
What I am interested in is what you are doing to stay safe and sane. I’m interested in what you are doing to keep your business going, keep as many employees as possible, and be safe and sane during this challenging time. Many of you, with a company, have navigated the CARES ACT alphabet of PPP and EIDL to keep your business(es) open. Or you have worked from home, probably more hours than usual, to do your job and stay productive. Remembering the challenging times I have faced financially, and otherwise, in my life, I put the Covid-19 crisis near the top because there are so many unknowns. Many of us struggled financially during college or when we got our first job, ate macaroni and cheese from a box, or ramen noodles from a package, but that was different.
We had few responsibilities and obligations, and we were starting on a bold new adventure. Many of us have far more responsibilities, financially and otherwise, and planning our futures in uncertainty may seem our biggest challenge yet. Not to mention that our sanity is being tested as we isolate and deny ourselves contact with those we care about most or even to go to a restaurant or walk around a mall with people we don’t.
I am inspired when I talk to you. Many are fighting to keep businesses open and healthy or provide essential services like medical care and perform the functions that keep our society operating behind the scenes. Some in finance are helping clients navigate the banking system, as mentioned above. I know many of you are contributing in countless ways to keep things going with small donations to charities, shopping local, using food delivery services, and volunteering your time.
I am going to keep this short this month, and I want to make this one request.
Please respond to this email and set up a 30-minute Zoom call. I’d like to hear how things are going and if I can help — my promise to you – I will listen twice as much as I speak. That’s right. That’s my promise. My role, or how I have seen my role, is to have answers to your questions.
But now, more importantly, I feel my role is to listen. Set up a time to talk by emailing me here. Again, my promise is to listen more than I talk, and I won’t try to solve your problems. I’ll just listen. Thank you.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of your life.
Here are a few resources for the month, things I have enjoyed, and hope you will too.
I came across David Hieatt a while ago when I stumbled upon a post where he talked about not needing a million Instagram or Twitter followers to grow your company. He suggested if you had just 1000 people who read your newsletter every month you could build a brand and a business. There is so much more to David and his company, I hope you will check it out. Here is a short YouTube video with David’s story and how his company got the attention of Meghan Markel. I never get tired of watching it.
Here is another inspiring California couple’s company that is making a difference. Here is the trailer for their documentary, The Biggest Little Farm. Enjoy!
We are here for you. I have extended my hours and willing to schedule a phone call, Zoom, Skye, or Google Hangouts. Please don’t hesitate to call me if I can help. My cell phone is 949-439-9075, and my hours of availability are 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday.
Here are some of the books and resources we have recommended recently. If you have a resource you want to share, please let us know.
We’ll get it out there in the next issue.
Tapping into Wealth, Margaret Lynch
Discover Your Purpose, Rhys Thomas
Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman
You are a Badass at Making Money, Jen Sincero
I Will Teach You to be Rich, Ramit Sethi
The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles
Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin
The links provided are for educational purposes only. The links do not represent an endorsement by either Hicok Financial Solutions or ProCore Advisors, LLC.