COVID-19 - Lock down

**Dave A** · 23-Mar-20, 08:30 PM

So South Africa has a 21 day lock down commencing midnight Thursday 26th March 2020 and ending midnight Thursday 16th April.

Things just got real.

**Dave A** · 23-Mar-20, 08:36 PM

Please post links in this thread to information to the financial support programs being put in place.

e.g. Apparently there is going to be support via the UIF program.
There will be relief in PAYE payments.
Emergency personnel and various categories of business activities will be designated as "essential" and will keep operating.

It sounds like specifics will be coming out "shortly".

**EAB** · 26-Mar-20, 06:12 PM

They are looking at temporary relief from SDL and UIF.

The relief on PAYE is that you can short pay with up to 20% of your PAYE for the next 4 months. Nowhere does it state that you get a discount of the 20% PAYE. Thus you will have to pay the 20% x 4 months after the 4 month period is done. So you will then almost pay double PAYE in one month after everything is back to "normal".

If your cashflow can handle it, I'd rather pay the full PAYE than extending it and then sitting with a big amount 4 months down the line

**Blurock** · 31-Mar-20, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by EAB

They are looking at temporary relief from SDL and UIF.

The relief on PAYE is that you can short pay with up to 20% of your PAYE for the next 4 months. Nowhere does it state that you get a discount of the 20% PAYE. Thus you will have to pay the 20% x 4 months after the 4 month period is done. So you will then almost pay double PAYE in one month after everything is back to "normal".

If your cashflow can handle it, I'd rather pay the full PAYE than extending it and then sitting with a big amount 4 months down the line

This is a way to assist with cash flow, which is the second most important thing in a business, after customers. Cash flow may assist you in buying product/materials to supply your customers.I anticipate some shortages due to factories being closed and imports being restricted. You can only make the sale if you can deliver the goods.

**Theodore** · 27-Mar-20, 05:49 PM

Indeed. But physical lockdown does not, and should not, mean mental lockdown. Here are 3 tips for business owners to stay mentally strong under the circumstances:

1. Daily meditation
2. Practise gratitude
3. Visualise your goals

Now is the time to slow down, take a step back and reflect, re-prioritise and re-strategise. In short, start planning for when things return to some semblance of normality, at least in a business sense. This will help you to either maintain or build momentum during this time and hit the ground running when you can get back to business.

**Theodore** · 28-Mar-20, 12:42 PM

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE SALES DURING AND POST-COVID 19?

Right now businesses are struggling. Sales have either dropped or are dropping. Various companies/employers have had to make tough decisions about laying off employees. It is a tough time for everyone concerned.

However, from a strategic perspective, now is the best time to reflect on and re-strategise your sales process. This is a useful plan for two reasons:

1) It will enable you to adapt to the current circumstances
2) It will help you to build momentum and be ready once the worst of the pandemic is over.

With this in mind, here are some steps that you can use to improve your sales both now and after the crisis:

1. Identify where you need sales to improve. Is it only one product or service, or all of them?

2. Re-assess your target market. Are you marketing your service/product to the right market? Do some Target Market Research.

3. Assess your customer service and sales processes. Identify any issues that may need to be rectified.

4. Consider hiring a sales/business coach.

5. Determine if you have any sales weaknesses and learn how to fix them.

If you need help with any of these strategies, please feel free to reply to this post. I'm offering a FREE coaching/strategy call for business owners, managers and entrepreneurs to provide coaching support.

**Blurock** · 03-Apr-20, 08:38 AM

Adrian has summed it up very well. Most small entrepreneurs are extremely good at what they do, but lack the necessary admin and management skills. They see an opportunity and they have the balls to go for it. Unfortunately, business, like farming, is much more complicated and that is where the value of a good mentor, business coach or accountant that has the ability to see the bigger picture, comes in.
The biggest problem of self employed people is that they often get so busy chasing after business, that they isolate themselves. They miss out on important new developments or legislation and even opportunities. I have found value in joining our Chamber of Commerce and also a small group (forum) of entrepreneurs and business people from diverse backgrounds to discuss and share issues. That has also taught me the value of networking. Funny that people who are always saying how busy they are, are the one's who get the least work done?

**ians** · 03-Apr-20, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Blurock

Funny that people who are always saying how busy they are, are the one's who get the least work done?

I dont agree with you ...i was busy from the 6 December - 30 Jan this year ... I relocated half a factory and made sure it was ready to run when everyone arrived back at work... its a pity we didnt plan it for March ... I could have spent the 21 days in lockdown in the factory.

I have also found that if i am not busy i tend to "play" rather than focus on what is going to happen tomorrow.

People who know me ...know not to ask me if i am busy ... i am always busy ...busy working ...busy fishing... busy riding my bicycle ...busy typing crap on forums (my way to release from the pressure of work and other stuff).

As i have mentioned ... the problem is the system being taught ...if it was so great ... 98 % of businesses would succeed.

We all know what we do wrong... the stuff Adrian listed is pretty accurate for most of us small business.

i am seriously considering getting a PA ... rather than employing more staff.

**Blurock** · 03-Apr-20, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by ians

I dont agree with you ...i was busy from the 6 December - 30 Jan this year ... I relocated half a factory and made sure it was ready to run when everyone arrived back at work... its a pity we didnt plan it for March ... I could have spent the 21 days in lockdown in the factory.

I have also found that if i am not busy i tend to "play" rather than focus on what is going to happen tomorrow.

People who know me ...know not to ask me if i am busy ... i am always busy ...busy working ...busy fishing... busy riding my bicycle ...busy typing crap on forums (my way to release from the pressure of work and other stuff).

As i have mentioned ... the problem is the system being taught ...if it was so great ... 98 % of businesses would succeed.

We all know what we do wrong... the stuff Adrian listed is pretty accurate for most of us small business.

i am seriously considering getting a PA ... rather than employing more staff.

There, you have said it. You are always busy, so you don't have the time to attend networking meetings or to subscribe to business courses to further your education. The answer lies in effective time management. Try to work out a schedule for work and play and do not get distracted while you are working. There will be times when schedules overlap or there may be an emergency to attend to, but try to prioritize and attend to the important things first.

Many of us are good at what we do, but what we have learnt 20, 30 or 40 years ago no longer applies. We now have cell phones, 3D printers, laptops and other technologies that did not even exist when we qualified for what ever we are doing now. What about new materials, chemicals and compounds?

Even food have changed. We now eat stuff that we we never knew existed when we grew up. My mother never knew about microwave, convention stoves or even blenders.

We sometimes have to take a break and sharpen the saw so that we can cut more trees.

**Theodore** · 04-Apr-20, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Blurock

Adrian has summed it up very well. Most small entrepreneurs are extremely good at what they do, but lack the necessary admin and management skills. They see an opportunity and they have the balls to go for it. Unfortunately, business, like farming, is much more complicated and that is where the value of a good mentor, business coach or accountant that has the ability to see the bigger picture, comes in.
The biggest problem of self employed people is that they often get so busy chasing after business, that they isolate themselves. They miss out on important new developments or legislation and even opportunities. I have found value in joining our Chamber of Commerce and also a small group (forum) of entrepreneurs and business people from diverse backgrounds to discuss and share issues. That has also taught me the value of networking. Funny that people who are always saying how busy they are, are the one's who get the least work done?

I agree with both you Blurock and Adrianh. It comes down to 3 keys things:
1. Identifying the right skills
2. Having a viable strategy acquire or develop those skills
3. Implementing/applying them as efficiently and effectively as possible

You've nailed it when you said that many business owners are so occupied with the running of the business, the daily operational and process issues, that they miss out on vital opportunities to develop themselves and, by implication, grow their business. The above 3 key factors are where working with a coach can provide much value. Sometimes it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes it's just about having someone help you to get clarity on where you may need to tweak or add to the skills/expertise you already have, and how to do it as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

And it's an excellent idea to reach out and network with other entrepreneurs and business owners. Besides being a good forum to interact and share frustrations and challenges, networking in this way has two other benefits:
1. You can get access to information that you perhaps otherwise would not have learned about
2. They get to learn about you and your business, and could potentially market your business to their customers/clients

Avoiding the hamster wheel dilemma is key. It's all good and well to be working working working, but, in the end, you may just be spinning your wheels and not going anywhere.