opening a business during a pandemic?

Since the very first day of opening, this question has always been in the back of my mind: should I have waited? Waited until things started getting back to normal before opening up. Sometimes I believe I did the right thing because of the slowness in the world that Covid created meant I could try and perfect every single detail and allowed everyone to settle into the environment comfortable. It also meant that procedures were created and set in time for when things picked up in August.

On the other hand, this uncertain environment means you just never know if you will be forced to close before you have even properly started. Recently, I was asked if I knew in July that the restrictions would be enforced once again, would I have still opened? Immediately, I would say no because to be honest, my thinking was 'Great, the restaurants and pubs are opening, in September, life will be back to normal with the end of social distancing in October/November.' On this occasion, manifestation did not work.

Ultimately, I do not regret my decision. Although it has been mentally challenging, especially recently, I have changed a lot for the better as well as understood the hardships that taxi drivers must suffer. Something my dad constantly reminds me of is what apparently the owner of Alibaba had said: it's something like 'If you survive this year, it is as though your company has profited ten times what you normally make.'

I guess then opening a business during a pandemic is a test to measure it's success?