Everyone has their favorite version of Rocky. For me, it’s hard to top Rocky 1. There was something about the fortunes of the movie itself that perfectly aligned with the movie’s story arc: a scrappy street-fighting Italian who takes the smooth, powerful, and lightning-quick champ the distance in a title fight. I had some interest in Rocky 2, primarily because of lingering interest in the relationship of Rocky and his beloved Adrian. After that, it’s all a blur for me.
I loved Rocky 1 so much that it is very difficult for me to name a favorite scene, but I have been reflecting on a particular scene this week as I consider the fortunes of Small Business owners in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Before I get to “that Rocky moment”, I want to share that as disturbing and unsettling as the coronavirus pandemic is for the health and safety of all humanity, it has also been a testament to my own closely held belief that momentum applies to everything, not just the physical realm. Many may disagree with me.
Momentum is mass times velocity. Velocity is directed energy. Mass is effectively weight, not necessarily size – because all matter has different densities, and various bonding properties can affect weight by packing molecules more (or less) tightly together.
Over the past couple of weeks, nearly everything has changed direction. Financial markets have suffered profound, record losses. People have been forced to leave work to work from home. Travel has been suspended among nations.
The suspension of all manner of economic and social activity has sapped the energy from societies across the globe, bring a haunting stillness so reminiscent of the first few days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During that time, I recall a moment in our subdivision when neighbors all gathered in a common area to hold hands, pray, and sing together. No cars whipping through on the way to soccer practice or the grocery store, no roar of planes overhead. Just stillness. I thought of that moment this morning as I watched online videos of Italians singing communally in communities all over that country. Movement was limited, but expression was unstoppable.
Bonds among clients and employers have weakened as remote work is emphasized, layoffs begin materializing, and retail businesses curtail hours and in-store access in favor of drive-through service. Travel and convention business is getting hammered. Performance artists and professional sports leagues are cancelling whole chunks of their seasons. We are getting disconnected from the things we love.
I find the fundamental momentum dynamic to be fascinating. In Rocky, we watched momentum play out the way we typically think of it….that give and take, ebb and flow from one competitor to the other, jabbing and punching the other across the ring while the other reaches deep to march the opponent right back across the ring. Back and forth, back and forth, into the ropes then into the corners, slugging it out until one prevails. Creed was a crisp jabber. Rocky tried to get inside. But back and forth they went. Rocky just wanted to go the distance.
But all of that assumes that gravity is constant for each opponent. In business, there are overarching competitive forces that feel a lot like gravity. Adam Smith called it the “invisible hand of the market place”. Sometimes that hand can be too strong for small businesses. They just cannot compete against buying power, branding, or whatever other form of scale large businesses can amass over time. The coronavirus pandemic is a universal weight on commerce in addition to every other competitive force. There may not be time for many businesses to adjust to the pressure.
Small business owners are bracing for the lashing coming from this unprecedented suspension of activity. We can readily envision empty restaurants and event spaces, idling taxis and Uber/Lyft drivers, and tavern trolleys garaged until energy is restored to the tourist/convention market. We are all relieved to see the federal government poised to intervene with $50 billion of stimulus in various loan programs offered by the SBA and participating lenders. We can only hope that the stimulus is sufficient and readily accessible to stem a tide of bankruptcies.
Now, back to Rocky 1. Round 14. Creed is coming at Rocky with everything: jabbing, punching, parading him around the ring like a marionette. Rocky won’t quit. Finally, Creed gets him in the corner and lands one to Rocky’s head. Rocky goes down hard, face-first. Mick and his corner team are screaming, “Stay down! Stay down!” Rocky has a decision to make as the ref counts him out. He can get up or give in. It’s that simple. He gets up and gets inside on Creed, knocking his breath out and probably cracking his ribs. The round ends. Creed goes to his corner in complete disbelief at the indomitable will of his opponent. With that one decision, Rocky went from inert to champion. No belt, but he won, and we all know it.
We can change the stillness with our own actions. What is the one thing you can do today to rise up from the weight that has been placed upon us? Can we help each other be successful without sacrificing health and safety? I bet you can think of a dozen ways if you tried. Keep doing business, with small business.