Turbulent times can be a great time for those who prepare and plan
If the uncertainty of the current environment has you sitting on your hands ... you may want to re-evaluate your personal and professional goals and plans.
Uncertainty causes frustration and anxiety for some individuals while it provides opportunities for others. Those who view uncertainty with a positive outlook have learned personal and professional goal setting and planning. By virtue of proactively developing their own personal and professional goals and plans, they have crafted a vision of where they want their career to be and have a reasonably detailed but flexible plan on how to get there.
First and foremost, they are decision-makers. These individuals evaluate each situation they encounter and quickly determine whether or not it fits into their plan to achieve their goal. If it fits, they pursue it. If not, they pass. However, they are savvy enough to realize that the best plan never survives the first contact with reality.
A person with focus and direction has learned that "turmoil" is a great opportunity. While many individuals wait for forces outside their control to improve, the person who is a decision-maker and is proactively goal-oriented is willing to make the sacrifices to take advantage of the environment. When encountering obstacles, they make course corrections or move to a predetermined back-up plan. Typically, they've already factored into their planning process adversities like a "downward-heading" economy, deficit spending, political dysfunction, government shut-downs and other obstacles that could inhibit success.
When we consider that nothing in business or in life is predictable, we also understand that turmoil and uncertainty are actually opportunities. This is true as long as we know how to leverage these circumstances. An individual with a goal and plan is willing to take risks and make sacrifices. They have a vision. They have a timeline. And, they have factored in the cost.
Capitalize on these unsettled times. You can't control the circumstances you are in. But you can proactively control what you do in this environment.
For help with developing your 2019 Goals and Plans, access our Personal and Professional Goal Setting and Planning worksheet. MBDi Personal Goal Setting & Planning Exercise
"Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals."
- Donald Rumsfeld, former U.S. Secretary of Defense