AN ENTREPRENEUR IN COVID TIMES | ELKE COOLEN – DEEDEE POUCH PROFESSIONALS

blog - 3 min.

Entrepreneurs talking business during the COVID-19 virus - What has been the impact in 2020?

The mirror of 2020

The year 2020, only 5 weeks to go. Around us we see strong and solid companies in the most difficult challenges, simply because they are in the ‘wrong’ industry. Hospitality and event organizations are fighting for survival. I see personal losses, suffering and pain. But luckily there is also sparkling energy, supportiveness and renewed entrepreneurship. Let’s use this positive energy to grow from this impactful year.

What did COVID bring with regards to leadership, entrepreneurship and the future of DeeDee?

We took the threshold to pursue our mission for more sustainable packaging with extra strength. As the 2nd generation of our family business, the packaging industry is our identity. And here we want to make a positive impact for the future. All innovative focus goes to more durable packaging solutions. Especially now, we see more urge for change; if you cán make an improvement on sustainability, you should! The reason ‘why’ we are in business is now crystal-clear to us, thanks to COVID.

COVID also tested us on the ‘how’ or our organization. What do we really stand for? ‘Humanity above everything’ turned from a value into a way of life for us. Honesty and open communication towards our team, towards our customers. It was never this hard and confronting, but never this important. Vulnerability became our strength, and it deepened our relations. So anchored in all team members, that trust got into a new dimension. With this trust you can let go and create freedom. For yourself and for the people around you. Because if honesty is your value, and sustainability your mission, then the story goes independent of by whom its being told.

We started 2020 with the courage to grow, create and deliver more perfect pouches with unusually good service. Fortunately, that’s still what we do. But there is more. To create impact in durability, we have to come out of our comfort zone. To enlarge knowledge as an activist of your mission. To seek for the innovations of 2030 as a true inventor. And to show personal strength and courage to remain close to yourself while out of this comfort zone. This is no roaring courage, but a small voice within yourself encouraging you every day to continue. To make the world every day a little bit more beautiful. With sincere attention. Because that’s what makes me spark as entrepreneur.

And now more direct?

For DeeDee, the direct development because of COVID is renewed trust. The stronger believe in our team and our ‘smile’ of sincere attention and unusually good service. Trust in our contribution to more durable packaging, because we will take all needed steps to create less garbage into our great world.   This also has made our necessary choices easier to take. Choices on well-considered investments, into better facilities for working from home, and creating this same atmosphere in our office. But also choices to not make investments, especially when part of our Fear-of-Missing-Out. We will build upon our own strength and our own wisdom.

And what about you?

Which impact mission will you take with you from the lessons brought by COVID? Which great values will you anchor into your organization? Which courageous voice do you want to hear, so you can look into the mirror of 2020 with pride?

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