Hurricane Sandy ravaged the northeastern U.S. this week, causing billions of dollars worth of damage, but entrepreneur Gene Marks has a decidedly positive spin on the situation. Marks, whose business is in Philadelphia, argues that Hurricane Sandy could actually be good for business for a few key reasons (so long as you managed to avoid tragedy, that is).
- Catch-up time. Many brick-and-mortar businesses were shut down entirely for some of this week. Transit issues kept many workers home and disconnected from typical workweek responsibilities. Marks writes that this offers workers the opportunity to do tasks that might have fallen by the wayside.
- Cloud computing. The rise of cloud server adoption has dramatically slashed data loss in case of natural disasters. When Hurricane Sandy hit, those with cloud-based databases and Internet access could simply log in and do their work from home.
- Conversation. “Natural disasters bring people together and make them feel more connected,” wrote Marks. “If told the right way, it humanizes you and your business.”
- Care. Business owners know that within every crisis lies opportunity. Marks quoted an email he got from Citibank that stressed the company’s dedication to its customers and offered fee waivers and cash access for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Natural disasters give you a chance to win over customers by demonstrating your company’s capacity to care.
- Context. Marks’ last reason that Hurricane Sandy could be good for business is that natural disasters remind us to take a moment and express gratitude for family and the bigger picture.
Have you taken any positives out of Hurricane Sandy and her aftermath?
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