Yes, the Chaos Is Frightening
Our job as entrepreneurs is to stay focused and not let the noise derail us.
By Ami Kassar
We are living through yet another period of significant and rapid change. These changes happening in our country are unsettling, and it’s hard to predict what might happen next.
But let’s look back at the last five years, which all started with the onset of Covid-19. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges for those running businesses. We had no idea what the next day might bring. The dominoes kept falling, and they continue to fall, including social, political, economic, and health changes.
If you think about the last five years, the environment around us has been consistently chaotic. Within this framework, what does it take to be successful? I think the answer is flexibility, focus, and a positive mindset. If all of the change paralyzes you, it’s probably time to try to get a job.
I use a few mental tricks to push through times of chaos. When nervous and uncertain, I often remember the two restaurants that stood next to each other in a strip mall near our house when Covid first hit. One shut its doors. The other quickly pivoted, and within two weeks, customers were lined up around the block for takeout. My goal is for MultiFunding to always be the business that reacts quickly and has customers lining up around the block.
I also think back to a prospective client who canceled a call to talk about obtaining financing a few years ago, the day after Russia invaded Ukraine. He thought World War III was about to break out, and he decided to put off investing in his business. I have no idea what happened to his business, but typically, when you stop investing and growing, you die. We are still here, and many businesses that kept investing have thrived since then.
It’s not easy in this world to keep your head on straight. In our business, for the last few weeks, we have faced the prospect of a prolonged government shutdown, which could have been crippling to the SBA. While we did everything we could to prepare for the possibility, we kept our trains running. The cuts in staff at the SBA and IRS are slowing down some of our work, but we’re adapting and preparing clients for the possibility of delays. Our doors remain open for business.
I am happy to report that despite all of the chaos around us, our current lending pipeline is strong and vibrant. Banks are open, and loans are closing. Our struggles at MultiFunding in the few months leading up to the election have passed. So, at least in our sphere, we are seeing many entrepreneurs push forward. This is the path I recommend. Other challenges will replace today’s challenges in a few years. Our job is to navigate them and keep moving forward.
Ami Kassar is CEO of MultiFunding.
