These days, everyone is talking about how we should be using the current situation to future-proof our operations or businesses.
The adjustment will require a lot of new things, such as finding new ways of working, coming up with new directions for our enterprises and obtaining new skills. It will also require identifying things that are no longer working for us or that we won’t be able to do in the same way. Both of these things – taking on the new and shedding or changing the old – will involve taking risks and being brave.
Essentially, we will be spending a lot of time outside of our comfort zone.
There will be new things that we will not be comfortable taking on. There will also be things that we will struggle to let go of, either because we are already so invested in them or because these are things that we are familiar with and know how to do.
So, how can we prepare ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone as successfully as possible? How can we use this time of uncertainty to get ahead or at least bounce back quicker after things have settled?
Take care of what you already know.
Sometimes we get so worked up about the unknown that we omit to take care of what is already known to us. This can get especially messy if the known things have deadlines attached to them or are meant to bring in much needed revenue.
Instead of allowing your worry over uncertainty to get the better of you, think of things that you could wrap up or continue to work on while you are figuring out your next move.
Having these under control will keep you calm and eventually leave you with the mental space and energy you need to deal with the unknown.
Make time for strategising and planning.
While it’s important to take care of what you already know, be careful not to go into the other extreme and busy yourself with regular work so much that you omit to prepare for the future. Instead, make sure you are making time to figure out what comes next.
At a tactical level, a good way to balance the two is to use your morning to deal with your known work, take a break and then use your remaining time to plan for the future. You could also try doing it the other way around, but I find that if I start with strategy in the morning, I get too distracted to do the ‘real work’ effectively afterwards. You could also try setting themes to your days, such as focusing on strategising and planning on Mondays and Fridays and doing your regular work from Tuesday to Thursday.
Don’t get stuck in the planning process.
I don’t know about you, but I love to strategise and plan. I am a future-focused person so, to avoid getting too carried away, I have to limit the amount of time I allow myself for planning. I also have to set a deadline for starting the implementation process, otherwise I will be planning for the sake of planning and that’s not going to get me anywhere.
Another thing to avoid is trying to make your strategy or plan perfect. If you’re venturing into the unknown, it is highly unlikely that you will get things ‘just right’ in your first go. By all means, use all the information you have at your disposal to make it as good as possible, just don’t get stuck making it ‘just so’, trying to foresee everything that could go wrong or planning things out in too much detail. That’s what review processes are for.
Take risk-based steps into the unknown.
I subscribe to the philosophy that it’s better to take small steps to make lasting change. I find that if I tackle something in small increments, it feels less daunting, removes the resistance to start and helps me persevere in the long run. In addition, the staggered approach gives me time to experiment and to readjust things along the way as needed.
However, sometimes it’s just better to ‘rip off the band-aid’ and take a big leap forward. For me, this is usually when the things outside of my control in a situation are unacceptable, unbearable or significantly misaligned with my values. In those cases, facing the big unknown feels better than maintaining the status quo.
But before you make the leap, try to develop some kind of contingency or back-up plan. A good example of this is quitting a job you hate to start a business you’re passionate about. Hopefully you have the skills and the contacts needed for a successful start. If not, you may need to get a different job or create another source of income while you prepare yourself for self-employment.
Ask for help.
This is not a good time for your stubbornness, pride or strong desire for independence to take over.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone will not always feel good. In fact, it will feel like crap most of the time. The constant learning and change and the underlying self-doubt will be exhausting. Believe me, as a recent solopreneur, I am speaking from a place of experience.
You will feel so much better if you drop the act and admit that you probably don’t know what you’re doing and that you need the help of others to make it through.
The help can come in various forms. It can involve talking things through and venting with someone you trust, or even seeking the help of a counsellor to work on building your resilience. It can include asking your contacts to help you with networking or to give you feedback on your plan. You could also find virtual mentors (people that have successfully done what you want to do) and consume their online content.
Prioritise self-care.
Through all of this, make sure you prioritise yourself and your wellbeing. What’s the point of all of this if you just make yourself sick with worry or stress?
In uncertain times, the best way to practice self-care is to focus on your perspective. Remind yourself that nothing is forever and that there are so many things you already have going for you that you should be grateful for. Also, remember that the aim is not to achieve perfection but rather progress, as well as that progress takes time and experimentation.
Keep yourself motivated by creating reminders about why you’re doing this in the first place. For some, it will be about creating a sustainable source of income and being able to take care of their families. For others, it will be about finally working on achieving certain life goals, like starting a career they’ve always dreamed about.
Along the way, make sure you’re covering the basics. Getting enough rest, making healthy food choices, exercising regularly and spending time with the people you care about will create the fuel you need to better manage these times.
Thanks for taking the time to read the post. I hope you and your loved ones are well.