Category: Covid-19

3 Months In

Last week as the Month of May was ending I was reviewing my goals, successes and even the shortcomings of the month. In all it was a good month.

This morning I realized that I began Eastern Shore Connect three months ago at the end of February. The world was much different. Covid-19 was being talked about, but we were still pretty much going on with our lives as usual.

I was attending live networking events where I announced the creation of Eastern Shore Connect. My goal was to have a place where businesspersons on Maryland’s Eastern Shore could come together to share ideas.

In person Networking events throughout the region was one of those goals. That quickly changed in Mid-March. We were asked to stay at home unless our work outside of the house was essential. In person meetings of just about every type came to a halt.

On the Facebook group shortly after it opened, but before the Stay-in-Place request, I was asked if I would be doing Video Meetings. It really wasn’t in my original plans, but a seed was planted.

All of a sudden that seed began to grow and I began the Weekly Eastern Shore Zoom on Thursday at Noon around the first of April. These have been successful and will continue.

During those first few weeks of Covid-19 Stay-in-Place I passed along business information that I received. I wrote a couple of pieces and posted here. Articles for Networking and Marketing was always in the plan, but it got pushed aside.

Here we are. The first week of June. The associated Facebook group has been doing well. I know that many don’t use facebook, nor social media in general. That’s ok. It was part of the reason I created this site. But after the initial first few week I began to focus more on Facebook and less here. In short I neglected the site.

One of my goals is expand the site. One of those is to post at least one piece of information per week. To make Eastern Shore Connect a site that is a useful place for business on MD Eastern Shore and its surrounds (Delaware, Annapolis etc) to follow.

I am open to ideas, so if you have any please let me know at ESConnect@ShoreToBeFun.com.

Thank You
Steve Atkinson

Maryland Department of Commerce Back to Business Site

The Maryland Department of Commerce is sharing guidance and best practices for Maryland’s companies at: open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness.

Leaders across Maryland’s business community have assisted in developing these best practices to help companies across the state as we enter this new era. The Back to Business page provides general and industry-specific best practices, and a Maryland Strong: Back to Business Pledge that we are encouraging all Maryland business owners to print and display.

An Update on What’s Happening – May 15, 2020

I haven’t been posting much on the Web site, however the Facebook Group has been active.

New members are arriving and participating.

Each Thursday at Noon I am hosting a Virtual Networking Event via Zoom. While the attendance has been on the small size, it’s been steady with attendees coming from various parts of the region. This past Thursday we had business leaders from the Western Shore, Delaware and on the Eastern Shore from Chestertown to Salisbury.

To get a notification of the weekly Networking event and others throughout the region, sign-up on the email list. Presently there is only one email a week, and that’s on Monday Afternoon.

Restrictions are easing. Maryland has announced that Phase 1 of the Recovery Plan goes into effect at 5PM, Friday May 15, 2020. I have not heard of any of the Eastern Shore counties are putting on any restriction to that plan, such as the counties on the 95 Corridor. Although I haven’t seen anything from Wicomico County.

Ocean City now is allowing rental property to open, and the beach and boardwalk are open and following the Maryland Plan.

Delaware has not lifted their 14 Day self-quarantine for those entering the State, but the beaches are open to residents.

The govenor of Virgina while lifting restrictions in some areas of the State still has Accomack County as restricted from opening. Chincoteague is still closed for business.

May 15, 2020 – 1pm EDT

6 Things: Being Productive at Home During Covid-19

For over a month now many of us have been working at home due to Covid-19. How are you adjusting? Here are 6 tips that may help get you to the point that you can comfortably work at home. I’m sure most of you are there, especially those who regularity work from home.

1) Keep your Schedule/Create a Schedule.
You had a pretty regular schedule before, why aren’t you keeping it now? Of course things may be different, you may be working at home with your spouse, or have kids that are home doing school work.. You schedule may have been forced to change. Find or create a schedule that works and keep to it, just as you would have been doing.

2) Create a Workspace
Are you now working at home all of the time, instead of a few hours per week? Before you may have been working at your kitchen table. Now you may have to share it. Create a space for you. It may only be in a corner in the spare room, one that you may have to share with your spouse and kids. Hopefully it can be yours, but if not create a work schedule (see Tip 1).

3) Learn New Things
Do you no longer have a commute? Now forced to do video calls? Take that time to catch up on some training that you’ve put off or some new ones.

4)Take Care of Yourself
It’s way too easy to walk to the fridge to get a snack. Now is not the time to develop bad habits. Continue your daily routines and get some exercise.

5) Be Creative
The old saying is when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That’s one way of being creative in the ways you do things. Working from home is not the same as working in an office, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do the same things. Just find new and creative ways to do them.

6) Don’t be Alone
We are in a time of Self-isolation with limited physical contact with people. But that doesn’t mean no contact. Have a question you would usually ask a co-worker. Now you can’t go to their work area, but you can pick up the phone. They actually may be glad to hear your voice. The same for clients. Those that you are actively working with and those that you have worked with in the past. Have a conversation with a former client and see how you may be able to help.

Have you been going to networking events, Rotary, Lions, BNI or other Business type Networking events, etc. and are missing them. Contact the leaders and see if it’s possible to do remote video calls.

I know that these are logical tips, but maybe you just needed to see them to change the way you are currently working to one where you can work better.

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Note:
There is an Eastern Shore Connect Networking Video Call each Thursday at noon. Our link can be found on the Facebook Page or email for the link

6 Things to Consider: How to be Successful During Challenging Times

6 Things to Consider
How to be Successful During Challenging Times

In the course of the life of a business, and one in business, there are good times and times that are more challenging. Some come naturally and others are forced upon us, such as now during the time of Covid-19.

Listening to many business leaders around me I have come up with these 6 items to help you through those challenging times.

#1 – Be a Leader
Many will look at a challenging time as a time to reflect. But what you really want to be is be a leader and help yourself and others get through those times. Look of it as an opportunity and not a challenge.

#2 – Not a Time to Stop Spending Completely
A first reaction is to find ways to conserve your finances. And the quickest and easiest is to stop spending. Of course you’re going to pay those essential expenses such as rent, electric etc. But it’s not the right time to cut back on Advertising. Especially if your competition is still spending and even more important if they are not.

#3 – Reach Out to Others
Reach out to your clients. Your present ones and ones that you’ve done business with in the past. Ask them how you can help them. Also reach out to those who you have meet while Networking. This is true during any time since even those can be a referrer.

#4 – Look to Social Media
This is especially true during the current times since more people are spending more time on social media. But which one? Facebook and Instagram are the two biggest today, but you’d only want to use whichever social media platforms that your potential clients will be using. For me it’s these two, but there are others and they may be better suited for you. Some of those are Pinterest, Snap Chat, and Tik-Top, just to ahem a few. If you are on Facebook, it loves it when you Like, Share and Comment on post.

#5 – Don’t Reinvent, Be Innovated
Look at what is working and keep doing it. If it’s not working, maybe it has never really been working. Try new things.

#6 – Don’t Be Afraid to Go Virtual
Even before being forced to go Virtual there was a fear of going Virtual and not meeting in person. Either as part of an Networking Events, or having a 1 on 1. I know since I was one. With Covid-19 we have been forced to do it. However, some of us are still afraid. Don’t be. It’s like everything, the more you do it, the more natural it becomes.

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In the coming days I will be working to expand this with more information under each of the 6 Items. Sign up to received the completed piece.

Comptroller Franchot: SALES & USE TAX NOT DUE TODAY Business-Related Tax Filing Deadlines extended to June 1st

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 20, 2020) – To assist businesses affected by the economic impact of COVID-19, Comptroller Peter Franchot wants to remind business owners that he has extended business-related tax filing deadlines. Sales and Use Tax payments that typically would be due today do not have to be paid until June 1, 2020.

The extension applies to certain business returns with due dates during the months of March, April and May 2020 for businesses filing sales and use tax, withholding tax, and admissions & amusement tax, as well as alcohol, tobacco and motor fuel excise taxes, tire recycling fee and bay restoration fee returns.

Business taxpayers who file and pay by the extended due date will receive a waiver of interest and penalties.

“Our state’s top priority is safeguarding public health for Marylanders, but we must also protect the financial health of our economy,” said Comptroller Franchot. “This extension will provide much-needed relief to our business owners as they adjust to changes in consumer behavior, tourism trends and employee workforce output.”

The Maryland Comptroller’s Office also will offer a 90-day extension of income tax payments from April 15 to July 15, 2020. Comptroller Franchot said both Maryland individual and corporate income taxpayers will be afforded the same relief for state income tax payments. No interest or penalty for late payments will be imposed if 2019 tax payments are made by July 15, 2020.

Fiscal year filers with tax years ending January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 are also eligible for the July 15, 2020 payment extension. The due date for March quarterly estimated payments is extended to July 15, 2020.

The agency has set up a dedicated email address — taxpayerrelief@marylandtaxes.gov — to assist businesses with extension-related questions. Business owners can also call the Comptroller’s Ombudsman at 410-260-4020.

A Message from the Maryland Department of Commerce

March 19, 2020

Dear Valued Members of Maryland’s Business Community,

If your business does not fit into one of the categories for closing in the executive order, there is nothing saying that you are required to close, but we strongly recommend that you use your best judgement and consider the possible impact on your employees and customers if you stay open. Public utility, such as the need to provide food or essential supplies, must be balanced with the need to preserve public health.

If you remain open, it is critical that you follow social distancing guidelines and do everything in your power to prevent groups of 10 or more people from congregating in one area. If your business is not covered in Governor Hogan’s executive order, please use it as guidance.

Businesses with 10 or more people that are not included in the executive order are not required to close, but we need your help to prevent the virus from spreading. This may require you to make difficult choices. Guidance from the CDC for businesses is available here.

Please visit FAQ’s for Maryland Businesses Planning and Responding to the Coronavirus for more information.