8 People Who Are Winning In The Pandemic

The pandemic has left many of us worse off. With the massive job losses and reduced economic activity, finances have been tough particularly for those living in countries where governments do not cover unemployment and recessions.

However, if it’s going bad for you, that does not necessarily mean that it’s going bad for everybody else. There is a saying in my country.

Don’t say “there is no money”. Say “I have no money”.

Speak for yourself, is what that phrase means. It encourages us to find ways to exploit opportunities even in the worst of situations and to not loop ourselves in the bandwagon or sheep mentalities.

With billions struggling to navigate through, here are some people who are winning in the pandemic.

Soytiet

After he started posting videos of himself singing numbers on social media and particularly on TikTok, this Vietnamese cow herder and content creator has been thriving during the pandemic.

His videos have received millions of views, and reposts from mainstream celebrities such as Snoop Dogg. He has gotten a management team, has gotten a recording contract where he has already released several songs that are available on major streaming platforms and has already been contracted to advertise several products and companies through his platform. He has of course been making an income through most of these activities.

As he continues to thrive, he has also used his platform to give back to his community as seen on videos on his social media. Soytiet deserves all the good things coming his way.

Elsa Majimbo

After the pandemic and the lockdown hit her country Kenya, forcing Elsa and millions to stay home, she decided to exploit the opportunity.

She had already been creating her funny videos about various subjects and posting them on her Instagram before this. Some had already received a considerable number of views. It is after the lockdown that most of them started going viral and brought her international fame along the way.

She has so far been interviewed on CNN, by Naomi Campbell for her YouTube channel and by other international news outlets. Elsa has also used her platform to advertise for various international brands such as Bumble and Fenty where she has made some money of course.

And to imagine all she used was her voice, sense of humour and mobile phone in her bedroom in her parents' house!

My favourite video of hers is when she is looking through her bags of posh products and then apologises while looking at the camera laughing as she mentions that she was looking for humility. Go Elsa!

Prince Jackson

Michael Jackson’s son has dedicated his life to furthering his father’s mission of healing the world. While in college, together with a friend, he co-founded Heal LA, a charity dedicated to tackling the issues the underprivileged residents of his home city of Los Angeles faced from hunger, poverty, and homelessness among others.

During the pandemic, while many celebrities and other privileged people complained on social media about how difficult life had become as they quarantined and self-isolated in their spacious, luxurious mansions and beach homes, while others sang Imagine to their followers on social media, Prince Jackson has been hands-on throughout.

He has mobilised funding for his charity and has been handing out healthy food to the homeless and also delivering it to health workers in selected hospitals in his city who are working to save lives through the pandemic. Through his charity, he has also provided turkeys to families that could not afford it during the festivities and has also helped some underprivileged families get toys for their children.

As stipulated his father’s will that 20% of his posthumous earnings would go to charity, Prince Jackson through his actions so far will confidently be the one to take this mantle that he picked and take it much further.

As a person who has dedicated his life to giving back, he is definitely winning in his humanitarian endeavours during the pandemic.

Paris Jackson

Sister Paris Jackson has not been left behind. As an artist, she has released two music albums during the pandemic that have received a lot of attention. One as The Soundflowers and the other Wilted as a solo artist. Wilted topped the list of alternative albums in 2020.

Jackson has also shot and released a music video that has garnered millions of views and a Facebook series also watched by millions. She also joined hands with the Black Lives Matter movement and was seen protesting, winning her fans along the way and critics too for proposing non-violent means of protesting.

After building her platform for years, Paris Jackson has been winning even in the pandemic.

Leslie Jordan

After he got bored while at his mother’s house where he found himself when the lockdown was announced, actor Leslie Jordan decided to create videos about himself and his opinions and post them on his Instagram.

He's funny, relatable, inspiring and entertaining videos starting gaining millions of views as he continued posting. I particularly love the video he posted about listening to Tupac and working out. It is super hilarious.

He shared that after decades in the entertainment industry, he finally felt noticed.

Since he went viral on social media in early 2020, Leslie Jordan has launched a successful merchandise website and has published a second book whose deal he landed due to his activities and platform on his Instagram.

Through consistency, hard work and creativity, even in a global pandemic, he is thriving.

Beyoncé

Queen B is the queen of success.

Not even a global pandemic that has depressed incomes of millions could dull her shine. Her products are in huge demand. In one year, Beyoncé has sold out two different drips from her Ivy Park / Adidas collaboration. Her third one, Icy Park that was recently released has been doing well so far. She also released her successful visual album and musical film Black is King that has received a lot of acclaims.

Beyoncé also appeared alongside President Barrack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to give an acclaimed and inspiring commencement speech to the graduating class of 2020.

Jeff Bezos

Due to the lockdown that has forced many people to remain at home, many online businesses have been thriving and Amazon has been on the lead. Net sales for the company have increased by 40% putting more money in Jeff Bezos’ pockets based on his 11% ownership according to The Guardian.

As the second richest man in the world with a net worth of $184 billion according to CNBC, he is projected to cross the $200 billion mark very soon.

Elon Musk

The billionaire has been named the richest man in the world even in a global pandemic. With a net worth of $185 billion according to CNBC, he overtook Jeff Bezos in 2020.

At the start of 2020, he was worth about $27 billion and didn’t even make the list of the top 50 richest people in the world.

In the first year of the global pandemic, Musk has gained $158 billion. Talk of a win!

By examining these people closely, we can learn valuable lessons from them.