Happy Friday!
For the past few months, I’ve been pondering some of the changes that are going on around us and thinking of ways I could adapt and pivot in order to not get caught on the wrong side of the wave. Have you been thinking the same way?
Earlier this year, I wrote an article on how to Recession Proof your Career and I had no idea just how much the world was about to change and how rapidly the recession inducing impact of COVID would occur. We are now nearly a year (depending on where you are) into the pandemic that is currently showing no signs of slowing down and there’s been non-stop chatter about ‘The New Normal’.
I personally didn’t have an old normal and so don’t anticipate having a new one 😉 but here’s how I’ve been approaching the need to be “competitive when you can’t compete”. For those of you who know me, you will know that everything begins with good questions, so here goes.
The Questions
1) Given how quickly some industries (hospitality, corporate real estate, aviation) have ground to a halt (or close to it), how can I ensure that my career is multi- industry relevant?
2) Considering how technology has been expedited and is now at the forefront of our new ways of working; a) What is the impact of technology on my trade?
b) Does technology enhance my value on the market or diminish it?
c) How do I get on the right side of the technology trend?
3) How do I protect my mind enough to allow me to capitalise on opportunities quickly? Seeking them, spotting them and securing them.
The Books I’m reading to help me answer some of these questions
My research has taken me to history; I’d like to understand what happened in the past in order to think about what I should look forward to in the future. With that in mind, I have read many articles on the tech revolution and the industrial revolution and my mind has been blown. The most relevant and easily digestible are Steven Johnson’s ‘How we got to now’ and this McKinsey Report.
The Mental Game
Those who know me, know that I’m not the strongest planner and my routines (apart from two things) change so regularly, I’m not sure they count as routines. But I am committed to some core fundamentals; positive affirmations, regular fiction reading, exercise, meditation, goal tracking and where possible healthy eating. That said COVID has been a game changer in many ways, and staying on top of one’s mental wellbeing has been tough and so I have added one more component, and that is FUN! Each week I commit to doing something fun (for me, not others) to just indulge myself and congratulate myself for being so focussed and for moving one step closer towards my goals. The caveat on this is if I haven’t been consistent then I can’t have my treat.
The mental game brings us very nicely into, the final two topics:
Remaining Competitive even though you can’t compete
Overcoming resistance and staying motivated
Which I will discuss in a little bit more depth in the next two weeks . I can’t help but feel optimistic about the possibilities that this time presents to us, and even though many of us feel optionless, despondent and/or overwhelmed, there is light all around – it’s up to us to find it.
Have you been thinking about the future in a different way? Or even a similar way? I’d love to know.
Michelle
Following her degree in Politics and International Relations and a Masters in Public Policy and Management, Michelle has spent her entire career engaging with senior leaders. Over the past 7 years in particular, Michelle has enjoyed working as a trusted advisor to over 200 CEOs in entrepreneurial businesses, as well as larger organisations such as Microsoft, BP, Rakuten, BT and Unilever.