Uncertainty.
Is there anything more annoying than the uncertainty that shows up – uninvited – right after a layoff?
It’s an unwelcome party crasher.
Uncertainty about your future is like driving in a thick fog… you feel confident the road is beneath you, it’s just hard to see more than two feet ahead.
In 2024, there seems to be more uncertainty rather than less.
So,
Are you ready for some good news?
With uncertainty comes opportunity.
Big, vibrant opportunities.
How do I know?
Simple: Uncertainty is not one-sided.
In this world of time, space, and matter, a one-sided thing does not exist.
There’s ALWAYS another side.
I hope you find comfort in knowing you can embrace uncertainty because opportunity always comes with it.
Think about it like this…
When you’re certain, you aren’t looking for an opportunity.
When you’re content,
You are comfortable with how things are.
In those moments of professional uncertainty when you find yourself in the tension of the unknown next steps and what your experienced and protection-focused brain tells you, can you look for the opportunity?
It could be…
- A chance to uncover something you didn’t even know existed.
- A way to move forward that allows you to make the impact and the income you desire.
- A playfulness in your imagination about what could be.
I’ve lived through those moments of hazy indecision.
It was a long and winding road (and not the good kind). Tears and frustration, even anger were on this road. I don’t recommend it.
Here are 3 of the lessons I learned…
Lesson One – Perspective (your perspective)
Now that you know opportunity is on the other side of uncertainty, you can Go All In.
Did you know that half-heartedness can contribute to burnout, lower self-esteem, and a lack of fulfillment? Did you know that the realities of half-heartedness are frustration, disappointment, and ultimately, bitterness?
My teenage self can attest to the harsh truths of half-heartedness.
When you go all in
⭐ You learn that you can adapt to unfamiliar circumstances
⭐ You recognize opportunities that others might miss
⭐ You pursue ambitious goals
⭐ You take calculated risks
⭐ You’re willing to evolve and even those things that you thought would never change are no longer “off limits”
Lesson Two – Do Less (your performance)
Ah, the joy of doing.
You know it well.
The sheer pleasure of a big, thick line that shouts “done”.
But, when it comes to navigating the uncertain terrain, doing less is key to sustaining your performance.
If you think you should treat your job search like a full-time job, don’t.
Instead, think “quality” over “quantity” and focus on your highest-impact tasks and activities.
The first step is to create your strategic plan.
It starts with deciding (decide = to cut) what you desire to do next.
Will this stay exactly the same over the next few months? Maybe, maybe not. That’s less important than the fact that you are making a decision and then taking action.
Both action and inaction cause a result. When you take action, you get more clear. When you don’t, you stay stuck (period. The end. It’s not a great story, but it’s a true story)
Lesson Three: Discipline (your parameters)
A discipline is a prescribed pattern of behaviors, says Webster’s Dictionary.
When you adapt your perspective and define your performance you will need to develop your parameters.
Webster’s Dictionary also defines it as a system for activity.
I like both definitions.
They both remind me of one of my favorite James Clear quotes, “we don’t rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems.”
I’ve used a few different parameter-setting tools.
👇🏼These are the ones that have made the biggest impact for me…
✔️ Time block your calendar
I’m a fan of 20-minute blocks. If I need longer, I double it.
✔️ Establish your routine and update it as needed
When I decided that I was going to up my workouts from three times a week to four, I also committed to increasing my daily protein intake (thanks to my world-ranked crossfit-loving, personal trainer sister for that key).
✔️ Track your progress
You can’t manage what you can’t measure.
If you find yourself in the fog of uncertainty, I encourage you to embrace it and trust that your next opportunity is just on the other side, even if you can’t see it right now.
Get out there.
You’ve got this.