At times, like many of us, I have lost my temper never with a good result. King David taught “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath do not fret—it leads only to evil”. (Psalm 37:8 NIV)

Often, the results of our expressed anger are not immediate, other times with  immediate serious consequences. Novak Djokovic was favored to win the U.S. Open this weekend. But became angry after losing a game. In an act frustration he smacked the ball very strongly backwards, without looking, striking a referee in the throat.

The Center for Disease Control has issued a moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent through December 31, 2020. This order covers all tenants who expect to earn less than $99,000 this year and joint filers expecting to earn less than $198,000. While renters can still be evicted for reasons other than not paying rent, failure to make rent payments alone is no longer grounds for immediate eviction through 2020. 

With the COVID-19 virus devastating our nation, many businesses are forced to close. Businesses scramble to sell off assets for the best possible price. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make much on a quick sale. However, the business probably has a customer list that may be of value to others. 

Recently, I talked to a couple of business owners who needed to close their businesses.  The first was a landscaping business in a state that required businesses to close for several months. The owner did not have enough cash reserves to continue operations. The business had grossed approximately $200,000 in 2019. I helped them present the value of the mailing list, and he was able to sell the list for $12,000. While it was less than what the business made in 2019, it was better than nothing. The business that bought the mailing list also purchased some of the equipment.  In addition, the same business offered the owner a position as a crew supervisor which provided an opportunity for his employment. 

A crisis like COVID-19 creates devastating pain across the nation while at the same time opens opportunities. We see dramatic change in life patterns and are experiencing business changes occurring at a rapid pace. One critical skill for any businessperson is to recognize the changes that are already occurring and adjust to them.

One devastating statistic is that 25% of small businesses have closed this year and bankruptcies have increased 26%. This reality demonstrates how existing business models no longer work for many. In some situations, the change has affected entire industries, like the airline and the restaurant business. At the same time, the US Census Bureau reports new business applications have increased 5% between the first and second quarter. This represents 40,000 new business startups.

Goodyear Tire Company created a bit of a stir when establishing a policy regarding what type of messages employees may wear into company facilities.  The controversy arose because the company established specific acceptable and unacceptable criteria. Some examples:

 Acceptable                                                                 Unacceptable

Black lives matter (BLM)                                         Blue lives matter

Lesbian, gay, bisexual                                               All lives matter

Transgender pride (LGBT)                                      MEGA attire

                                                                                       Political affiliated slogans