We checked in with Morgan and Ming to hear an update on their road to recovery throughout the pandemic and beyond.
It has been a while since we last heard from Morgan and Ming with an update on their business journeys. It has been an interesting year for everyone, particularly for small business owners. As 2020 comes to a close, we checked in to see how these two Many Rivers supported businesses are adapting to the curveballs they have been thrown this year.
Meet Ming, Illustrator and Writer of Mega-soar-us, Alice Springs NT
One of the setbacks that Ming continues to face due to COVID-19 is the delivery of her printed books. They have been delayed overseas as a result of the pandemic and so Ming cannot sell her product.
Despite not being able to sell the books in time for Christmas, Ming has been working on other ways to promote the book by holding art workshops. She has been feeling less positive about her business recently, but has thanked Tiani, her Many Rivers business coach, for keeping her motivated.
” Tiani has been helping me throughout the whole process. She has been my rock and foundation to carry on with the business.”
Listen to Ming give an update about her road to recovery.
Morgan, Open Hands Creative, Perth WA
Last time we chatted with Morgan she reflected that she needed to work on ways to continue to grow the new online side of Open Hands Creative that she grew during the COVID-19 lock down, in addition to the in-person events of her business. This month, Morgan reflected that her business coach, Colin, was able to help her step back and look at the bigger picture of her business during the pandemic.
“Colin gave me support on creating these online elements of my business. He also helped me by making sure that it is also working for the core of my business. It is really valuable that I can go to him and he will help me step back, re-evaluate and realised things that I have missed. During COVID19 I was speaking with Colin was nearly every week. I was chatting to him over the phone and over email.”
“Colin gave me support on creating these online elements of my business. He also helped me by making sure that it is also working for the core of my business. It is really valuable that I can go to him and he will help me step back, re-evaluate and realised things that I have missed. During COVID19 I was speaking with Colin was nearly every week. I was chatting to him over the phone and over email.”This year, Morgan fast tracked one part of her business plan by about five years in order to stay connected to her community while she was unable to meet with them face-to-face. She developed an online membership option of her business during lockdown. Morgan developed a 30-day art challenge that covered basic skills as well as complex drawing exercises. She offered a “pay what you want” system instead of charging a flat fee for taking part in the challenge. To her surprise, this model enabled Morgan to sustain the income she would have earned by doing in-person workshops.
Morgan was recently featured in a blog by Google.org on ‘Celebrating the women entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific‘. In recognition of Women Entrepreneurship Day, Google.org celebrated the stories of four amazing women entrepreneurs across the Asia-Pacific Region.
Stay updated with Morgan’s business journey by following her on Facebook and Instagram.
Take look at our previous Road To Recovery update:
We love to encourage more people to take the first step towards kick starting their small businesses ideas.
If you have a business idea, please take the Small Business Self Assessment and see if we are right for you.
Many Rivers, YBI and Google.org are committed to providing critical support to under-served small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about Youth Business International’s (YBI) US$5M rapid response and recovery programme here.
