[AUDIO FROM MY LIVE DISCUSSION: SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN CHALLENGING TIMES, WITH COVID-19]

The COVID-19 Pandemic is first and foremost a health issue, posing a risk to those with pre-existing health conditions and the elderly. While the vast majority of us aren’t at risk from a health perspective, many are rightly concerned about the business implications caused by COVID-19.

Recently, I spoke with The Entourage's Members, and followed up with our wider Community, to address the challenges we're currently being faced with. This is the audio from that very conversation, that my team and I also wanted to share with you on my podcast.

The main takeaway was this: SMEs and high-growth businesses will always face challenges. Working through them is part of the game. But how we choose to respond to challenge is completely up to us.

Now more than ever, the world needs leadership. The world needs people who can stay grounded, lead from the front, and make intelligent decisions. But with all the media attention and mass hysteria surrounding COVID-19, it can be difficult to see through all of that, and to look at what’s really going on and how it’s going to affect us.

This conversation is purposefully quite comprehensive, as I’ve wanted to take the time to share some lessons I’ve personally learnt in navigating extreme challenges in my life and business, and to draw on some of the research around COVID-19 to help paint a clear path forward for you all. You'll hear that I'll address each of the main considerations as I see them: health, business, personal and societal.

If you're a business owner, or working in a business that has been affected by COVID-19, this is the message you need to hear right now.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at this moment, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Business is challenging enough when it’s “business as usual.” Do not try to battle through this alone. We are all going through this together. Trust that there is light at the end of this tunnel.