Thriving in the Tough Times
It is so easy to develop negative thoughts when there is so much turmoil in the environment. We have had a crazy year of weather and then banks are going through a scare and the biggest tech companies are laying people off. Consumer spending is retracting partly because people are worried. There is constant saber rattling between countries now at war and preparing for war. There are economic battles as countries are trying to protect their share.
Yet people that are employed are making more than ever and I saw an article that says new entrants to the labor market want to make $76,000 to start. Businesses are willing to pay for the right people and are trying to hold onto the important people. This is a time of disruption. That makes it a time of innovation.
As life moves forward and progress accelerates, we have to continuously learn how to recreate ourselves. AI is getting so much attention, it is almost like the announcement a big comet is going to hit the earth. I have friends that are writers and designers who see the economy powering forward without them because AI will be doing the writing and the artwork.
Don’t look at what is falling apart. Look at the new opportunities are that are being created because of the disruption. The first thing is not to let fear rule your life. We need a positive plan that says I am going to be better when the dust settles next year. These are always disruptive times followed by big booms.
2008 was the zenith year of depression and the years 2011 to now have been booming. As a writer and coach and active on Linked In, I get a steady stream of job opportunities for writers. Companies need people to understand what they do and how to express and sell it to new customers. Microsoft Office is a great tool with Excel and Powerpoint to tell intersting stories. I am not an expert at them, but I will now endeavor to learn more. I will have more tools as competition heats up for companies that are thriving.
Start with a Personal Plan as Your Base
Start with your basic personal plan to build a base. Grow the capabilities you can control. You can get healthier. You can get more fit. You can be more empathetic and generous. You can listen to people respectfully and give positive feedback. You can look for opportunities to be kind and helpful. At the end of the day and in planning for the next day consider all the things you can control to make you better.
This will create an environment for you that is improving who you are. You are becoming a healthier and kinder human interested in others. Now work on your skills. What are you good at that could be improved by making a leap forward. Learning is power. The fact you are improving your skills will make you more attractive to your current customers, organization, and maybe future customers and organizations.
Good Times Always Follow Tough Times
Remember, we always bounce back after tough times with even more growth. A friend who already had a good job got his Masters in Administration from USC. Now he has more opportunities. What will business need in the future and how do we want to participate. Maybe we will start our own business or become an independent contractor. Maybe we want to work in another specialty.
Early man always starved in the winter. Our metabolism recognized this phenomenon, and it started slowing down and eliminating unnecessary services to keep us alive. This is why we can’t lose weight by starving. Our metabolism slows down until it can no longer operate our heart and brain. We have always survived the tough times.
Consider this a great time to grow and be prepared for the whole sentiment to reverse into positivity. Weather destroyed a lot of businesses, but in California now they are saying we have plenty of water. Businesses are laying people off to preserve profitability, but they are all looking at being better at what they do in the future. How can we as individuals make businesses better at what they do? How can we as individuals support those who are doing? How can we make everyone’s daily experiences better or service needs that are not being met?
This is a time to tune our antennas to the wind and seek insights into the trends. Every day in the news and newsletters and social media there is information about what is going on and what is needed. It is time to elevate our personal capabilities in dealing with people and our personal desire to help solve problems. Select a skill set you could improve and begin to work on it.
Life is like an ocean sailing adventure when at times there is no wind or maybe a storm and then there is smooth sailing. No one said it would be easy. What makes us strong is being like life in Nature that adjusts to the tough times and each time becoming more resilient. You are a continuously evolving force of Nature that inspires people with what you are becoming.
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As a Thriving Worker Consultant, I can engage in conversations with employers on how to begin the process of helping workers thrive and reach peak performance. It begins with a conversation to see how far an organization is willing to go to change the culture for workers.
Great practices for daily living can be learned with the Markap Series of Books. If your organization would like live presentations or Zoom meetings, they can be arranged for small to large groups.
