Maybe 5 years later when we look back at year 2020/21, we'd probably still remember some of the happenings. But 10 years later, or 20 years later, we'd only be able to recall so little about it. That's the whole idea of why I started blogging but I gotta admit that it's difficult to make it consistent.
Well, while the memory of 2020 is still vivid, let me just write it down.
Let's break 2020 into 4 parts.
Part 1 : Jan-mid March
We were on the rise, recording good numbers, and were planning for new outletsssss opening. Things were looking so good we really thought 2020 is the year we fly.
Part 2 : Mid March to Early May
Then we all know, 18th March 2020, the beginning of the darkest period of Malaysians in recent year. And for retail business, it suckssssssss. Can you imagine while you are flying high and fast, out of sudden you got pulled down from the sky ? and your dreams and goals got crushed and put on hold for an unknowingly long period.
Days were dark, and it got darker when it's your first time handling things. Just when you thought things cannot be any worse, communication with team gone haywire just gave you another mega punch.
On one side we made monetary loss, on the other side, talents left, team morale dropped, and I went into darkness.
Part 3 : May to December
MCO was lifted and business rebounded. This was an interesting period. Opportunities just came knocking door, sales were good with minimal manpower. We were covering the business with 60% capacity while trying to create different revenue streams. Suddenly, the sun shine so bright that it made you forget about the past cloudy days.
Part 4 : Stepping into 2021
"Things are now back to normal, the new normal, with less uncertainties," we thought. We pivoted from our original plan and prepared to restart. December number was good and January 2021 is supposed to be on par or probably better considering CNY shopping spree kicks in.
Mana tauuuuuuuuuuu MCO 2.0
Kthxbye, let's go back to part 1 aforementioned.
Just want to share the roller coaster we in the retail business (I believe most of the businesses too) are riding. It's just both mentally and physically tiring. It is difficult to hold everyone together, to show hope when even I could not see, to stay calm, and to decide whether to move on or not.
Sometimes it's because we have been suppressed by lows for too long, a little bit of good things got us over celebrating. Heh. But it is what it is.
Final words : The world outside can be too noisy. All you need to do is answer to nobody but yourself.
