While many individuals may feel stressed about their workload, I specifically experience stress when tasks are paused and left incomplete. I find myself constantly looking ahead, trying to fill the void of waiting. I truly dislike waiting, especially when I know tasks could have been completed within the given timeframe.
As I mentioned in last month's log, waiting is currently my only option. With the food license still in process, I have attempted to shift my focus to the limited tasks I can work on. What is a bubble tea shop supposed to do when unable to serve drinks?
Despite these challenges, I managed to accomplish tasks to keep the shop in people's minds over the past month. To preserve my sanity and achieve work life balance, I have reignited my passion for painting and revisited the ice rink after what feels like an eternity. Engaging in both activities has played a crucial role in liberating my mind from negative thoughts and preventing unnecessary stress over matters beyond my control. While there are more steps I can take to enhance my overall well-being, these pursuits have proven to be remarkably effective at present.
i) Initiating Conversations and Engagement
One notable activity I engaged in last month was collaborating with a local small business that specializes in DIY Korean straps. I made a deliberate effort to shift the focus of our patrons towards our membership cup rather than our beverages, all while operating within the confines of licensing restrictions. This initiative sparked creativity within limitations and turned out to be a rather satisfying experience.
The primary aim wasn't to drive revenue for the entire month or to boost profits; rather, it served as a top-of-the-funnel content strategy to keep our current audience engaged and inform the community that we were still operational. It was particularly heartening to witness our regular customers showing their support by dropping in. We capitalized on this opportunity by generating diverse content, including interviews and post-event videos, to maintain an active presence on our Instagram account despite the temporary closure of the shop.
ii) Sharing Personal and Professional Insights
One of the highlights of the past month was being invited as a guest speaker at The Institution, where I shared insights on crisis management from the perspective of a content marketer. During the session, I dedicated over an hour to elucidate the distinction between the digital realm and social media, presenting various case studies of content that led to crises for brands. I also provided advice to the aspiring PR/marketing professionals on how to proactively prevent crises.
Notably, this was my first experience delivering a lecture entirely in Mandarin. While it was challenging, I was pleased to see many students staying back to ask questions, requesting contact information, and expressing their appreciation for the shared knowledge.
Of course, special thanks to Grace Shao for the invite!
iii) Exercising Leadership with Purpose
Among the myriad tasks that occupied my time last month, alongside tending to clients and advancing in my EMBA program, was the process of hiring. After 1.5 months of active recruitment, I am delighted to announce that we have successfully brought on board a full-time shop manager for the bubble tea shop. This endeavor proved to be both stressful and enlightening for me. I discovered that my proficiency in content marketing extends to crafting compelling job descriptions. Candidates who progressed to the second round of interviews expressed their attraction to how I depicted the role as requiring an individual who is curious and driven by the 'why' — a refreshing departure from the typical F&B job descriptions they encounter.
Moreover, I have recently taken on my first student as a capstone advisor for an educational platform. This experience differs from my usual educational engagements as it is highly structured, providing detailed guidelines on every aspect of the student advisory process, right down to the minute. The goal is to assist students in developing their capstone projects for university applications. Interacting with students abroad has been an intriguing aspect of this role, with my inaugural student currently based in Singapore.
iv) Strategic Investments in My Business To Fuel Growth
Lastly, I have once again managed to surprise myself, even amidst the most financially challenging month for my business, by making a significant investment to foster its growth. While I will disclose details about this special project at a later date, it is earmarked for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, signifying a substantial commitment. Strangely, this decision has infused me with a newfound sense of motivation and vitality, despite the ongoing uncertainties in other areas.
Presently, I have been informed by the agent that the food license for the bubble tea shop is expected to arrive within the next few business days. This development will allow me to resume operations at full throttle, aligning with the annual plan and driving the business forward. Concurrently, I am in the process of expanding JTCM by hiring a new personal assistant (with a promotion for my current PA to a marketing assistant role). With these steps in motion, I am hopeful that October will mark the turning point where everything falls back into place.
Joyce
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