Entrepreneurship in Challenging Times, with Anne Arvizu

For the past 23 years, Anne Arvizu has been an expert in the pharmaceutical industry. She has done six years of research in the development of infectious diseases and oversees medical affairs in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Anne calls herself “part of the police force” of the pharmaceutical industry, gathering, reporting and researching data to train doctors and health care professionals. This means that Anne has experience of entrepreneurship in challenging times.

In this episode, Anne explains what the Coronavirus is and highlights the top 2 symptoms you need to look out for. She talks about the impact the Coronavirus has on a global level and how it differs from the regular flu, answering questions like why masks don’t fully protect you and why the spread of the virus is so different from country to country. Anne says that contrary to what many believe, the virus does affect younger people too, but that now is no time for fear – fear actually makes you more vulnerable. We discuss why as entrepreneurs, we have to be in a place of power and not let the situation consume our lives, and what being creative, positive and kind can do for you and your business.

“We are in a state of chaos, but we need to choose to be in a place of power and make a new normal, especially as entrepreneurs.” - Anne Arvizu

In This Episode of The Sigrun Show:

The Coronavirus explained and the symptoms you need to look out for
The difference between social distancing and self-isolation
The impact the Coronavirus has on a global level
The difference between the regular flu and COVID-19
The controversy around wearing masks
How the spread of the virus depends on the action different governments take
How the virus doesn’t only affect the elderly
Why fear makes us more vulnerable
Why it’s the perfect time to be an entrepreneur
How Anne pivoted her coaching program
How entrepreneurs can take care of themselves in such times

I want you to know the facts about the Coronavirus and the impact it has – not in order to scare you, but to be able to prepare your online business for the coming times.

Anne Arvizu has been an expert in the pharmaceutical industry for the last 23 years. She has done six years of research in the development of infectious diseases and oversees medical affairs in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.

Here, she talks about the Coronavirus and explains why it’s important as entrepreneurs to be in a place of power and not let the situation consume our lives, and what being creative, positive and kind can do for you and your business.

COVID-19 Explained

Anne Arvizu has a vast background in the pharmaceutical industry and has been overseeing medical affairs for the last two decades. “I’m part of the police force of the pharmaceutical industry. We gather, research and analyze data and medical information and create FAQs and documents that educate healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, workers.”

The Coronavirus has been on Anne’s radar for weeks. “It’s called that because it has a crown-like shape. It’s not anything new, it’s been out there for a while. What we have today is a new strain of it.”

Anne says the three top symptoms are persistent fever, respiratory distress and malaise. “There’s a whole host just like flu-like symptoms, but you don't have to worry just because you have a sore throat or because you have a low, mild fever. We are still in flu season, and many people haven't gotten flu shots. But if you are at the point where you have a severe fever and you cannot breathe, that's the only time that I would say you probably have it, and you should go to the emergency room if you feel like you need help in terms of a respirator or oxygen.”

Social Distancing and Self-Isolation

As countries are shutting down borders, there’s been a lot of talk about self-isolation and social distancing. “There’s a difference there. Social distancing is if you’re choosing to be in your home with other people, or you’re around others in public. If you're going to the supermarket to stockpile for being home for 30 days, then you want to stay about a meter apart. That’s social distancing. Self-isolation is staying home if you feel sick and you know that you might be a potential carrier. Isolation means staying in your own room, even if you're in a home full of other people, so that you do not infect those people.”

The symptoms for COVID-19 can be incubating for about 14 days. “You might be walking around with it and not know it. Then there’s viral shedding, which could last up to 40 days. So it really is better to self-isolate during these times.” Once a person is symptomatic, it takes up to three weeks to heal for someone who doesn’t have any underlying diseases.

Anne says that there are multiple companies that are working on providing information. “We don’t know the full number of cases in any given country. The state of Ohio reported last week that if you extrapolate data for one percent of a state, it could be up to 100’000 people minimum who are walking around with the disease without knowing it, either being in incubation period or having mild symptoms.”

For anyone who is interested in the data, Anne recommends a site called Our World in Data. “There’s charts and graphics that show the development of the virus. For example, you see that the growth rate in Iceland is slowing down. Also in China, cases seem to go back. But we always have to consider that there is a big dark figure of cases that doesn’t get reported.”

Difference Between Coronavirus and the Regular Flu

The Coronavirus doesn’t have a linear growth and spreads faster compared to the regular flu. But there are other differences, too. “The number one difference is that there is no vaccine. Scientists are looking to create a cure, but the problem with that is that there have been some reports that the virus is already mutating in parts of South Korea. This makes the process a little bit slower and harder.”

Additionally, the time it usually takes to create safety studies, produce and market a product is about 10 years. “They've shrunk that to about a year because of the severity of the situation, and they're trying to get safety studies out by April. If there are no complications, then they can go ahead with creating a vaccine.”

The molecule size of the virus is small, that’s why it will penetrate a regular mask. “A lot of masks are just for one-time use. Various masks stockpiled by governments around the world are expired. And masks won’t protect your eyes. What this means is that you might touch something, a desk or counter top or sink, pick up the virus and touch your eyes. Even if you have your mask on, only by touching your eyes it could infect you.”

Global Impact

When the virus started to spread in China in February, people had a “not near me” mentality and weren’t too worried about it, Anne recalls. “But then there was a spike, and the number of cases went from 1,277 to 19,572 overnight in reporting. We knew that if it was going to do that in China, it would happen in other countries too, because people were traveling.”

All of a sudden, the virus was everywhere. “Qatar, Israel, Australia, Belgium, Sweden, United States, France, Iran, Italy. We can’t really say this yet, but in my opinion, it appears that there might be either varying strains, or varying mutations. Or varying severity, depending on how governments have reacted and depending on how people have chosen to take care of their own situation and stay home and social distance.”

Anne says that it’s important to take the virus seriously. “It’s not only dangerous for the elderly. A lot of young people are infected, too. We have a spread on our hands, and now is the time to social distance and follow hygiene. Even if you’re out of hand sanitizer, get some good soap and water and wash your hands, which is just as effective.”

The Perfect Time for Entrepreneurship

Looking at the data for the US, by this time next year, the highest number of deaths due to the virus could reach 1.7 million. “It’s a very scary outcome, but it’s important that people don’t start reacting out of fear. It’s time to say no to fear and yes to faith. Fear is going to hijack your nervous system and affect your body. It could put your immune system down.”

Entrepreneurs should choose to walk in a place of power and peace, learn to pivot, and learn to make a new normal out of the situation quickly, Anne says. “This is the perfect time to learn something new, to be an entrepreneur.”

She herself has organized her business to operate online. “I switched to a web-based program and I’m launching my cooks training program again this year. I think people now want to be more in a community than ever. As we self-isolate, it doesn't mean we have to be isolated.”

Anne has also developed a methodology she uses with her clients in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry called the Corecentryx method. “It shows them how to build their business but also balance their lives. When I talk to my clients, it often doesn’t come down to the project they need to create or the staff they need to build. It comes down to them feeling exhausted. So I’m in the process of validating data and doing research and putting it into a book.”

As an entrepreneur you are the front line. “You’re the creator of your income. This is a time to be creative and to be positive, and to be kind. The best of people can come out in a situation like this. It doesn’t have to be the worst.”

How Can Entrepreneurs Take Care of Themselves?

“Mindset is everything,” Anne says. “Choose to not get involved in those types of conversations that will bring you down. Stay in peace, learn to pivot, be more flexible. Look after yourself and be sure to keep your immune system as built up as possible. Be prepared and learn how you can stay calm through meditation for example.” According to Anne, we all have a choice. “I believe we choose peace, and we choose emotional control.”

#368: Coronavirus and Entrepreneurship in Challenging Times with Anne Arvizu