‘The waiting game is exhausting when you are motivated.’ Clarksville business owner discusses starting a company during the pandemic

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Christine Farnsworth, owner of White Oaks Home Inspection.

Opening a new business during a pandemic is probably one of the most interesting experiences you can imagine. 

Unlike trying to open a normal business, or even conducting normal business, you now have to do everything via email, phone or Zoom. There are rarely face-to-face conversations, which was a staple, especially in my field. Imagine the frustration of trying to obtain permits, insurance, buying needed items, especially when the cost of everything was — and is still — going through the roof. 

My story actually started in November of 2019, with my husband as my cheerleader. I began with a basic business plan, worked on ideas and started budgeting for everything that was needed. Setting up the backbone of the business, I looked into in-depth education in Tennessee and Kentucky. 

In March of 2020, while at a class in Kentucky for licensing, the pandemic crashed upon us; shut everything down. The world came to an abrupt halt. Not only did this stop my pursuit of becoming licensed sooner, it was also an emotional gut punch. How can one go forward when the whole world has stopped progressing?

The answer? You wait. 

The waiting game is exhausting when you are motivated. Not only can it be frustrating, it can be a non-motivator. Federal and local governments shutting down, the never-answered emails for questions or canned replies of “We will get back to you when we know more,” as well as the frustration in the voices of those working who were reorganizing to accommodate customers’ needs was just icing on the cake of what turned into a longer than anticipated business opening. 

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So what you do is take the frustration in stride. You turn around a bad, and try to interject good. 

If I spoke to someone on the phone for a question, I used Dad Jokes or forms of sarcasm to make them smile and hopefully, laugh. 

Why waste my good sense of humor on a pandemic? Why not try to make someone else’s day better? 

Since starting in December and slowly growing and getting my name out, I thank everyone I know who has helped me remain sane, and I hope I have made some people smile during this hard time. 

I spend my days reminding Clarksville residents if they are buying a house, always have a home inspection. You don’t want to waste thousands later on a property/investment that wasn’t expected.

When asked about challenges of opening up a business during a pandemic… let’s just say it really sucked, but always try to remain positive, and always put one foot in front of the other. 

One day you will get there.

Christine Farnsworth is the owner White Oaks Home Inspection. 

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: ‘The waiting game is exhausting when you are motivated.’ Clarksville business owner discusses starting a company during the pandemic