Hidden Opportunities Within the Coronavirus Pandemic for Bloggers

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” -Napoleon Hill

The coronavirus pandemic. Can anything good come out of this? The short answer is yes!

About 75 years ago, Napoleon Hill, best selling author of “Think and Grow Rich”, famously said, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

I agree with Hill, and believe the current pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is no exception. Why do I say that? Because in life you will always face a series of God-ordained opportunities, brilliantly disguised as problems, adversity and challenges.
 
As I write, about one third of the world is in lockdown. That is about 2.5 billion people around the world unable to leave their homes except for essentials. Sadly, many of them will be out of work by the time the pandemic is over. 

People are beginning to question everything in their lives – from their priorities and their values to their hopes and aspirations. Forced to stay locked in because of the coronavirus pandemic, people are questioning how they spend their time.

The World in Coronavirus Lockdown

As challenging and uncertain as these times are, we can’t ignore the fact that online businesses are THRIVING right now.⁣⁣

But first, the grim reality of the pandemic…

The Coronavirus Poem

As somebody so aptly put it recently in this poem which describes the current coronavirus lockdown:

We fell asleep in one world and woke up in another.

Suddenly Disney is out of magic. Paris is no longer romantic. New York doesn’t stand up anymore. The Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty.

Hugs and kisses suddenly become weapons. And not visiting parents and friends becomes an act of love.

Suddenly you realise that power, beauty and money are worthless, and can’t get you the oxygen you’re fighting for. The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages.

I think it’s sending us a message:

“You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters.”

-Author unknown

How to Unmask Hidden Opportunities During the Coronavirus Pandemic

For those who are willing to look beyond the surface, there are hidden opportunities within the COVID-19 crisis to transform their lives and the way they work.

For instance, according to Semrush, during this pandemic and period of self-isolation, an obvious game-changer that is reaping the benefits is remote working tools and platforms. Zoom Communications, a space designed for video conferences and webinars, skyrocketed from $108 on March 16 to $162 on March 23. An increase of 50% is staggering in itself and is even more astounding considering stock markets are slumping more than 30% — a true success story amidst a global crisis. Traffic to Zoom’s website has increased by 10 million site visits in the month of February. 

This unprecedented time in history has given most people unexpected time in their schedules as social distancing has forced us to stay home.  If you haven’t resorted to binge-watching every Netflix series, then the extra few minutes each day are the perfect time to make a difference in your life.

There are opportunities to:

• Learn new skills.
• Learn a new language.
• Start businesses and side hustles.
• Work differently.
• Acquire more knowledge and grow.
• Become a better person

Examples of What You Can Do During the Lockdown

Here is a selection of things you can do during this period.

#1. Undertake A Free Online Course With Certification

There are many free online courses that you can avail yourself of at this time. Just search “free online courses” on Google or any other search engine.

The SEMrush Academy

As an online entrepreneur, let me introduce you to a series of free online courses that will help you. The SEMrush Academy is a free online digital marketing course platform that allows users to learn more about digital marketing, SEO, and other related topics.

Why SEMrush Academy? – Enrich Your CV and LinkedIn Profile

With With SEMrush Academy’s free exams, you can test your knowledge, identify your strengths, and find your weak spots.

Upon successful completion of your chosen exam, you will be rewarded with an official certificate by SEMrush, proof of your skills and a valuable addition to your CV and LinkedIn profile!

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Why SEMrush Academy? – Earn Your Certificate from a World-Renowned Marketing Company

SEMrush has been recognized by the search community across the globe, winning several accolades as the best SEO software suite. Seize the opportunity to become officially certified by an acclaimed company.

Check Out My SEMrush Academy Certificate

I recently passed an online Examination conducted by SEMrush. I am quite chuffed to be honest! Take a look at my certificate!

And this beautiful badge below, is evidence of my mastery of SEMrush tools 🙂

#2. Grow Or Start Your Online Business

Millions of people are turning to the Internet for answers. For example, according to a recent report, coronavirus has sparked ‘staggering growth’ in online searches for foods with functional benefits.

Time To Step Up And Serve

If you’re an online entrepreneur who is NOT using this time to STEP UP and SERVE, you are missing out on the BIGGEST opportunity for audience growth in arguably this century.⁣⁣

And no, this is not about taking advantage of an unfortunate situation (although undoubtedly, many out there will). This is about having an understanding that because of the coronavirus pandemic:

• People’s needs have changed
• The way we do business has changed
• There is a new “normal” which will most probably continue when the pandemic is over

Opportunity Of A Life Time

And big-hearted entrepreneurs like you have the opportunity of a life time to make a bigger impact than ever before.  

Just like the Spanish flu, COVID-19 will pass. As you know, the Spanish flu (also known as the 1918 flu pandemic) was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic. Lasting from January 1918 to December 1920, it infected 500 million people – about a quarter of the world’s population at the time, killing about 50 million people.

#3. Learn a New Language

Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Well, this could be your opportunity. Thanks to the internet, you can learn a new language without leaving the comfort of your own home! Just search “learn new language” online.

Research by the US State Department Foreign Service Institute, (FSI) indicates that it takes 480 hours to reach basic fluency in group 1 languages, and 720 hours for group 2-4 languages. If we are able to put in 10 hours a day to learn a language, then basic fluency in the easy languages should take 48 days, and for difficult languages 72 days.

Language Groups of Difficulty

The FSI divides languages into groups of difficulty for speakers of English:

Group 1: French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili

Group 2: Bulgarian, Burmese, Greek, Hindi, Persian, Urdu

Group 3: Amharic, Cambodian, Czech, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Lao, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese

Group 4: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean

The FSI 5 Levels of Proficiency 

Elementary proficiency: You’re able to satisfy routine travel needs and minimum courtesy requirements.

Limited working proficiency: You’re able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. This is a limited ability to converse and really only a step towards real fluency.

Minimum professional proficiency: You can speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics.

Full professional proficiency: You’re able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs.

Native or bilingual proficiency: You have speaking proficiency equivalent to that of an educated native speaker.

Poem – And the People Stayed Home

The challenge we currently face and the hopes for the future are captured brilliantly in this prose poem inspired by the coronavirus pandemic—which begins with the line, “And the people stayed home,” written by Kitty O’Meara:

#4. When It’s Over Will You Make it?

Here is the reality: No matter how bad the coronavirus or COVID-19 is and no matter how bad it gets, it will pass. Things will return to a “new normal”. However, it is in this time of “adversity” that the next generation of successful entrepreneurs are being birthed.

My question for you is this: Will YOU be one of them?

Here is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth: To do something you’ve never done, you’ve got to be somebody you’ve never been. And if you don’t come out of this coronavirus pandemic and lockdown with any of the following:

• New skills
• A side hustle or passive income stream in place
• More knowledge
• Growth and personal development

Then you never lacked time. Your problem is a lack of discipline.

#5. Partner With Online Millionaire

To help you either start or kickstart your online business, I have arranged with online millionaire, Dean Holland to give you a FREE copy of his amazing book, The Iceberg Effect.

Time To Build

Time to build the profitable online business you’ve dreamed of.

A business that can give you the freedom that you so desperately crave.

FAQ Concerning the Coronavirus – COVID-19

Now to the Q&A section.

As this post relates to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, I thought it would make sense to have a Q&A section on COVID-19 dealing with frequently asked questions.

What happens when you get the coronavirus disease?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), People with COVID-19 generally develop signs and symptoms, including mild respiratory symptoms and fever, on an average of 5-6 days after infection (mean incubation period 5-6 days, range 1-14 days). Most people infected with COVID-19 virus have mild disease and recover.

What is the coronavirus disease?

The coronavirus or COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a type of coronavirus.

What is the recovery time for the coronavirus disease?

Using available preliminary data, the median time from onset to clinical recovery for mild cases is approximately 2 weeks and is 3-6 weeks for patients with severe or critical disease.

Who is most at risk for the coronavirus disease?

People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Is coughing a symptom of the coronavirus disease?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.

Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus disease?

Sadly no. When a disease is new, there is no vaccine until one is developed. It can take a number of years for a new vaccine to be developed.

Is the coronavirus disease new?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.

What are the symptoms of the coronavirus disease?

The most common symptoms are fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and even death. The period within which the symptoms would appear is 2-14 days.

What can I do to prevent the coronavirus disease at home?

Clean your hands frequently each day by washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser. This will help protect you and the people you live with. This step is one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of passing infection to others. Cover your coughs and sneezes.

Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have one to hand, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.

If you have a carer, they should use disposable tissues to wipe away any mucus or phlegm after you have sneezed or coughed. Then they should wash their hands with soap and water. Dispose of tissues into a disposable rubbish bag and immediately wash your hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser.

What should you do if you think you have the coronavirus disease?

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Can babies get the coronavirus disease?

We know it is possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus, but so far there are relatively few cases of COVID-19 reported among children.

• How can you prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease?
• Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work.
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwar

Wrapping Up – Make This Time Count.

How long are you willing to deal with the frustration, the fear, the anger of not having your own profitable online business?

How long are you willing to wait to get out of debt while working for someone else?

You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars－like I did －working with expensive coaches and attending almost every seminar in the online marketing business…

Or…

You can join me and Dean Holland, get access to my “insider business-building secrets,” and prove to your spouse, your parents, your friends, and especially yourself, that you really CAN start, run, and grow a Profitable Online Business!

After The Coronavirus Pandemic

This pandemic is not here to say. It will pass. It will come to an end. No matter how bleak the winter is, spring follows winter. We’ve never had 2 winters in a row.

As I said earlier, hard as it is now, it is from this time of “adversity” that the next generation of successful entrepreneurs will emerge.  

My question for you is this: Will YOU be one of them?