Fastsigns CEO discusses the impact of COVID-19

Fastsign’s CEO Catherine Monson has shared her thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic – how it has affected her business and how her attitude has prevailed.

In an interview with Franchise Times, Catherine described the lengths she’s gone to in order to protect her business.

The sign franchise CEO was quick to put measures in place. After she raised concerns in late January, her team were doubtful when it came to stopping travel. Catherine is also chair of the International Franchise Association, so she found herself working seven days a week, 13-15 hours a day from March to June.

“You might say that was exhausting, but I also know I have to listen to myself. If my body is really exhausted, I'm going to make myself take a nap. I know it's important as a leader to have juice in my battery, so I eat healthy, I take vitamins, I work out all the time.”

The successful CEO revealed how her past has shaped her determination in business today:

“I grew up in an abusive, alcoholic home. I made a decision that I was not going to be a victim and that I was going to control my own destiny. In my late 20s I suffered from pretty severe depression and went through therapy. The single most important thing I learned is to control my mind. I'd worry about things. I'm single, I'll never find a man, I'm overweight… I call it piling on. One of the things I do, I tell myself 'stop'. Sometimes I yell stop to myself, I mean out loud.”

Catherine has an admirable attitude towards fear, using it as a motivational tool to take positive action. She explained:

“Courage is doing it in spite of fear. So, if you're terrified you're going to lose your business, you can be paralysed by fear, or you could do whatever you can do. If there's one thing that's foundational, it's either a positive mindset or positive mental attitude. That's not like, 'Oh it's a pandemic and everything's OK.' It's, 'Hey, we can work harder and smarter than everybody.'”