In our big 50th episode of the "Law & Business" podcast, Anthony sits down with Amy Birks, a strategic growth advisor for businesses. Amy has over a decade of experience in corporate finance, developing strategies and managing projects, and six years creating digital marketing and growth strategies for online businesses. That's what makes her the purposeful CEO’s secret weapon for growth and results.



Amy and Anthony talk about how the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has caused a "new normal," debate whether this is around for a long time, how businesses are already quickly adapting to it, and how businesses need to continue to adapt, regardless of what a "new normal" looks like. After all, no matter what happens, technology will continue to develop and change business. Enjoy!



Anthony Verna: (00:19)
Welcome listeners to the Law and Business podcast. Once again, I'm Anthony Verna, but you knew that if you've been listening to the podcasts. With me is Amy Birks. How you doing, Amy?



Amy Birks:
I'm terrific. Thank you.



Anthony Verna:
Amy, I see you as a business consultant, somebody who is helping people to think of ways to grow. Am I being too wordy about what you do?



Amy Birks:
Am I too wordy or are you too wordy?



Anthony Verna:
No, am I being too wordy?



Amy Birks:
No, I think you summarized it really well. I think you did a great job.



Anthony Verna:
Well cause you have people just go intellectual property lawyer. You can get me in a couple of words. I can never see if I can get you in a couple words. So let's start here. A lot of us are hunkered down. A lot of us are cooped up. You are. I am. And I guess a lot of businesses are changing because of that.
Amy Birks: (01:19)
Yeah. At the time that we're recording this right now, we're kind of in the height of all the unknowns around the coronavirus and so everything is uncertain and it seems to keep changing on a day to day basis, hour by hour, really. I mean right now, especially in our country and really across the world. So we're seeing this very, very interesting shift in how everything is done. And what I'm noticing is that there's a couple of different opportunities. One is that we can all react from a space of fear of the uncertainty because unknowns and change and uncertainty create a good amount of discomfort for most people. But I think the other opportunity is looking at how we can, as business owners, especially how we can respond creatively to what's happening. And rather than seeing it as like, Oh, wow, our business could be in danger. Our economy could be in some real danger to seeing what the possibilities are instead. And that's what I'm most excited about because I am somebody who sees opportunities. I find them like a heat seeking missile and so I just keep seeing them everywhere I go. I see them and especially for small businesses cause that's who I support.



Anthony Verna: (02:45)
I've always seen you seen you, Amy as a bit of an optimist as well.



Amy Birks: (02:49)
Yes. That is also true. That is also true. But I think that's needed right now. You know, like you said, we're all hunkered down. I'm sitting outside on the back porch of my home right now because the children are home from school and they're very noisy which is also wonderful. Like it's great that we're all getting opportunities to connect more with our families, but there's a lot of uncertainty and I think that if we can find those moments to be optimistic and hopeful, then that is what is really required. I think for all of us right now to move on and to continue to grow.