The Village | Issue Two: How Do You Tend to Your Business During Chaos?
2 min read
Federal deployment of Marines and National Guard in L.A., despite opposition from California leaders, amid mostly peaceful protests—some escalated with tear gas and clashes near highways and federal buildings
A Village Column Feature from Intellectual Ink Magazine
By Julia Press Simmons
When the world feels like it’s falling apart, it’s hard to focus on anything—let alone emails, invoices, or new content. But for creatives, entrepreneurs, and Black business owners, this isn’t new. We’ve always had to create, build, and survive while the ground shifts beneath us.
So what do you do when there’s another protest, another tragedy, another wave of grief or rage? How do you show up for your work and your people?
Here’s how many of us are learning to navigate the chaos:
1. Pause Without Guilt
You are not a machine. If you’re exhausted, heartbroken, or triggered by what’s happening in the world, allow yourself to step back. Rest is not quitting. It’s protection.
You don’t owe anyone constant output—especially when your own well-being is on the line.
2. Get Clear on What Still Feels True
Chaos has a way of stripping everything down. In times like this, focus on the work that feels most real, most human, most needed.
Maybe it’s your business. Maybe it’s community care. Maybe it’s just keeping yourself fed and safe. All of that counts. All of it matters.
3. Reframe “Business as Usual”
This is not business as usual. So don’t pretend it is.
It’s okay to change your content. It’s okay to cancel a launch. It’s okay to lead with compassion instead of sales strategy. If you do choose to show up—do it honestly, not automatically.
4. Use Your Platform, but Don’t Perform
Speak when you have something to say. Be silent when you need to process.
Not every entrepreneur is an activist. Not every artist needs to respond to the news cycle in real-time. Use your platform intentionally—not performatively.
5. Build Community, Not Just Content
Reach out to your people. Collaborate. Ask for help. Share resources.
In times of unrest, community is more important than algorithms. Let your work be a gathering place, not just a product.
6. Create if You Can. But Survival Comes First.
If writing, painting, or building gives you peace—do it.
If the only thing you can do is rest and breathe—do that.
There is no right way to show up in times like these. But don’t let anyone shame you for how you choose to cope or contribute.
You’re not weak for feeling weary. You’re human. The world may feel heavy, but you’re not alone in carrying it. Your work, your rest, your voice—they all belong here. Keep going at your own pace. We’ll hold space for you in the meantime.
