COVID-19 EFFECTS TO THE ECONOMY!

Some extent of the economic activity has come back. Though through the new normal and still a work in progress. Better late than never kinda feeling. Trust me. Right and centered emotions. Possibly felt by most.

What kind of questions is Covid-19 effects raising for our economies?

So now another set of questions are coming. Some in random and others in specific discussions among people whether employed, self-employed or any kind. These discussions are on matters that are more pristine and equally ingrained in the public discourse.

-          How is your business cycle affected?

-          Is your business if you are an owner, able to cope with the new requirements?

-          Is your business if you are a full-time resource with them, able to take care of your and your co-workers' needs as normal?

-          If no, do you see the issue is similar for your industry at large?

-          Another no, do you see this as specific to your business revenue and its working perspective?

-          One more no, do you see this as opportunistic behavior at your business entity or see it as the need of the times?

-          Is your business affected (positively or negatively) due to Covid-19 effects?

-          How soon can you see normalcy of every nature coming back to you and your business?

What are the possible answers to these questions?

Businesses, lives, supply chains, revenue cycles, spend cycles – you name it and you will see everything is affected. However, there are differences very clearly evident in how certain entities have built themselves stronger to cope with the happenings. And then there are some which are somehow holding onto the skin of their teeth to survive the onslaught. The rest however are those what are succumbing to the virus or are in the process of joining this lot.

How are Covid-19 effects affecting the business?

The story on this is as complex and incomplete as it can be. It is rather a story that changes every passing moment. Lesser opportunities for some and higher for others. The fear factor is affecting business-drivers to spend less or cautiously on one side and on the other the fear-factor among their clients and consumers is inspiring some to plan for the worst.

The worst however doesn’t mean by any nature that they are reducing their spending. Rather the spends are getting redirected. The spend from one basket is reducing and that spend is being done on another basket. This is where the marketing communication is playing the key role. People have their innate qualities passed on by generations of evolution with them. This history and learning of our lives are deeply rooted in our DNA and in our subconscious.

What it means is that we are hoarders by default. We as a species survived millennia because somewhere down the path of evolving, we learnt how to hoard and conserve what was good for us and made sure we would survive. That same teachings hold true today and will hold true tomorrow. What matters though is what we think is worth “hoarding”. Or rather what we are made believed to accept as the right form of 'hoarding'.

How are Covid-19 effects affecting the individual?

Individuals at each level tend to be an entity for someone else. The big fish, small fish, smaller fish logic stays the same. Let’s look at the big fish as the business entity. The small fish then is the individual who is dependent on them. And the smaller fish are those who depend on this individual.

Each one is a consumer and supplier in its own right in this chain of events. The spending capacity of the companies are getting affected as the smaller fish are not eating enough or are postponing their appetite for a later date. By eating, I infer all those economic activities that you expect someone to do. Be it on food, be it on entertainment, be it on travel, be it on leisure, everything with a capital E, that is there on their Expense sheet.

How are Covid-19 effects affecting the set of individuals?

Coming to the fish - they are not eating as much and are following a reduced consumption rule. Does it mean the fish are planning to die a famished death. Far from it. Biology proves innumerable times that in times of such decadence the creatures evolve. They change their way of functioning and they acclimatize themselves with the new demands that mother nature puts forth them. That is how the human brain evolved due to abundant fat available to our ancestors in their time which their ancestors didn't have. After all the human brain is the most fat hungry organ we have. Fat is goooooood.

That is exactly what we see happening now. The choice in the consumption variable has changed. Instead of having more fatty acids and carbohydrates maybe now the choice is for proteins or vitamins, so to speak, to increase the immunity levels. L.O.L. You possibly catch the drift here.

Having said that, in no manner will all fish survive or evolve during this change process that is being forced upon them. Alas yes, that is the rule of the thumb when it comes to life. It supports those who do something to support themselves. Enough of philosophical musings, you might suggest. But yes, be it philosophy or be it hard fact – we see that happening all around. all you need is to slow down yourself to notice the surroundings and the changes happening to it.

How are Covid-19 effects affecting you and are you actually affected?

The underlying fact here remains – yes, all are affected. Some see opportunities in it. Others see a failed path. Some see a new phase emerging while there are some who want to capitalize from this chanced change coming around. There are news and stories of goodness and then there are stories of totalitarianism rising. Fact or fiction, it matters which side you are stationed. The grass being greener on the other side, kinda feeling, I suppose.

Capitalism is resurfacing, people say. Some fish are being given pink slips; the others are forced to be howling hawkers. By howling hawkers I mean to signify the fact that for their wears to be sold they need to be strong enough to be heard. By no means does it signify success but at least they are trying. Got to give points for that.

The smaller fish are being paid less, far lesser than their dues. Well that’s a story-line of the 70's and 80's Bollywood – the lalchhi lala, the soodkhor baniya – as one might have known this set of fish to be referred as. Well if you are an Indian and anyone nearest to one, you would understand this so very well.

Are your evolving thru?

But today's life is not what happened in the yesteryear's. Today’s life is about much simpler questions and much simpler answers, though far difficult to connect them, I do agree, my musing. But far better equipped to connect them.

Think of the questions and answers for yourself and see where you stand now and ponder where you would stand tomorrow.

• When was the last time you understood what made you tick?
• When was it you saw the real face of the big, the smaller and the smaller fish?
• What was the last instance you answered tougher questions that you asked yourself?
• When was it you pulled out a small chunk of your bite and shared it with the smaller fish?
• When was the last time you realized what you do is earning to live or living to earn?
• What you think you like doing, are not one and the same OR probably are?
• When was the last time you glanced upon the far end of the never-ending sky and its colorful hues?
• How far back in time did you noticed that the pain is very much equal no matter who you are?
• When was the last time you decided that you could help someone relieve their pain?
• When was the last time you found yourself a new life to create, support or live?

Too much sugar-coating? Well it’s a matter of perspective so to speak. If you have lost all, you think differently, you have gained some, you will definitely think differently.

Final giveaway or takeaway - as you like it!

My loss is not everyone’s loss, but my gain can be everyone’s gain! These are my words. Quote-Unquote, that i will live by.

How about we forget what the big fish are taking from the fish and what the fish are taking from the smaller fish? How about we remind ourselves what we are gaining or giving each-other?

If all were to be on the right, the tilt is not far behind. Quote-Unquote. If there was no ill-doing, the right would need not fight. And finally life is where the fight is. Quote-Unquote. Boy am I on a role.

Well better than being the roll! Until next time then, my musing.