This week and last week, I was forced to hit pause.
The culprit? Pneumonia.
It knocked the wind right out of me, literally and figuratively. I was exhausted, wheezing, hacking, and wondering how something invisible could make it feel like my lungs were full of fluid.
But somewhere between the doctors, antibiotics, breathing treatments, rest (which I’m not very good at), I had a realization: this feels a lot like what businesses are going through during this economic downturn.
You’re moving along, building momentum, then suddenly you’re gasping for air. Sales slow. Costs rise. Your once-efficient machine starts sputtering. And just like pneumonia, it doesn’t hit all at once. It creeps in, and before you know it, you’re in survival mode.
But here’s the thing: we do have the tools to recover.
I’m lucky to have access to great medical care, modern medicine, nebulizers, and a support system that allows me to rest. And businesses have their own version of that: resources, data, technology, partners, processes, and people who care deeply about the mission.
This week reminded me:
- You can’t ignore the symptoms. Whether it’s a persistent cough or persistent customer churn, but address it early.
- You can’t “push through” everything. Hustle culture might say otherwise, but rest and reassessment are where real recovery begins.
- Support matters. The right team, medical or business, makes all the difference. You don’t have to go it alone.
- Tools are there for a reason. From tech stacks and CRMs to cash flow projections and marketing audits, use what’s in your toolbox to get back on track.
- It’s a temporary state. With the right approach, both pneumonia and downturns are survivable, and you often come back stronger.
I’m not 100% yet, but I’m breathing a little easier every day.
If your business is going through its own version of sputtering lungs and hard times, know this: you’ve got options. You’ve got help. And you’re not alone.
Let’s catch our breath and keep healing. We are resilient.