Sital Ruparelia

I love this track. I first heard it when visiting Colombia in January for a friend’s wedding. It was played at every party and club we went to and I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks!

The Translated Lyrics

Apart from the music, I love the message behind the song. Here’s the chorus translated from Spanish into English:

Whilst, of course, the lyrics in the song are within the context of a romantic exchange, the message very much applies to our careers and professional lives too.

In the complex, interconnected world we live in today, we can’t predict what’s around the corner. A global financial crisis instigated by a real estate bubble in the US,  volcanic ash clouds from Iceland or major environmental disasters like the recent BP oil slick effect can effect so many industries and so many workers overnight.

Similarly, new technology, new products, new competitors can change the face of your industry immediately.

Which is why having detailed career plans no longer works.

You Don’t Know  Of Tomorrow

You don’t know if you and your employer will be together for years to come

You don’t know how a personal health problem or family matter could change the way you view your career overnight

So stay focussed on the job you’re doing right now, be committed to the employer who you’re working with right now. And then be agile in adapting to the environment as you go.

And if you’re out of work and job searching -- that’s your current job -- looking for work. So be present and stay focussed on just that. Be committed to following up those leads or the meetings you’re attending today.

I don’t know of tomorrow. And neither do you -- so don’t stress too much about it and enjoy today.

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”

- John Allen Paulos

Ever-changing technology, globalisation and hyper-competition have conspired to make most of our professional lives an ever-changing landscape. Add to that a changeable economic climate, political uncertainty and a sprinkling of volcanic ash and voila – you have the makings of constant change and unpredictability.

While your ability to create and execute detailed plans may have served you well in the past, in today’s economy and work place, it’s your ability to operate in a much more fluid environment that determines your progress.

Regardless of whether you’re currently trying to lead a team through change or attempting to navigate your own career through turbulence, here are 17 tips which may help.

1. Focus on clear outcomes instead of detailed plans

In an ever-changing environment, you need to stay focused on your goals whilst still being light on your feet. So be clear about your broad business objectives, career goals, financial requirements and lifestyle needs – but be flexible about the precise ‘plan’ you’ll use to get there.

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1. The Trigger

Something happens which stops you in your tracks:

• Major changes at work which make you think… “Is this what I really want?”

• Redundancy

• A major health problem (for you or a family member)

• The death of a close friend or family member

• A divorce or major a relationship break-up

• Financial difficulties

• Extended travel or volunteering activities that make you question what you’re doing

• External factors that move you (e.g. 9/11, the tsunami in Asia, earthquake in Haiti)

Tip:

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1. Be more visible

- Now is not the time to go missing

2. Be more transparent

- i.e. the complete opposite to what most leaders do in changing times

3. Be more communicative (a lot more)

- If you’re not communicating, then the rumour mill will go into overdrive

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FREE TELESEMINAR

“Rethink, Reposition and Thrive In 2010″

Saturday 6th February 2010

3pm UK Time

4pm Central Europe, 10am Eastern Standard Time

Learn more and book your spot now

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During this 75 minute call, you’ll discover:

• 3 big shifts we’re beginning to see within the workplace during 2010 which will accelerate by the end of this year and into 2011

• Key predictions I’m making for the employment market in 2010

• 3 biggest challenges every employee and freelancer will have to adapt to this year

• One big mindset shift you must make in order to thrive in the coming year

• The 5 key steps you will need to take to reposition yourself and ensure you’re one of the winners who thrive in 2010. Which means you’ll learn:

• How to reinvent yourself without having to change job or careers

• The 2 keys to standing out in what is still a very challenging job market

• 3 ways to increase your income this year (even if salary budgets are capped)

• The key to finding meaningful work (without taking a pay cut and making a huge change)

• The 2 time-tested principles you must follow in order to achieve that elusive work-life balance you’re searching for

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Whether you’re working in a permanent role, consulting, freelancing or looking for a new job or career – this is a must-attend free teleseminar. I’ll demystify all the changes going on this year and ensure you thrive in 2010.

Don’t miss it!

Click here to learn more and reserve your space on the complimentary call.

FREE TELESEMINAR

“Rethink, Reposition and Thrive In 2010″

Saturday 6th February 2010

3pm UK Time

4pm Central Europe, 10am Eastern Standard Time

Learn more and book your spot now

During this 75 minute call, you’ll discover:

* 3 big shifts we’re beginning to see within the workplace during 2010 which will accelerate by the end of this year and into 2011

* Key predictions I’m making for the employment market in 2010

* 3 biggest challenges every employee and freelancer will have to adapt to this year

* One big mindset shift you must make in order to thrive in the coming year

* The 5 key steps you will need to take to reposition yourself and ensure you’re one of the winners who thrive in 2010. Which means you’ll learn:

* How to reinvent yourself without having to change job or careers

* The 2 keys to standing out in what is still a very challenging job market

* 3 ways to increase your income this year (even if salary budgets are capped)

* The key to finding meaningful work (without taking a pay cut and making a huge change)

* The 2 time-tested principles you must follow in order to achieve that elusive work-life balance you’re searching for

=====================================

Whether you’re working in a permanent role, consulting, freelancing or looking for a new job or career – this is a must-attend free teleseminar. I’ll demystify all the changes going on this year and ensure you thrive in 2010.

Don’t miss it!

Click here to learn more and reserve your space on the complimentary call.

Have you ever been go-carting?

Or maybe driven on a real racing track?

I’m not much of a race driver myself, but there are two rules I do remember learning when I first went go-carting:

1. As you approach a sharp bend – slow down

It’s hardly rocket science, but very true. Slow down, pay close attention to what’s happening around you and you’ll be safe and secure.

2. As you come out of the bend – step on the gas and push on quickly

If you don’t, you’ll get left behind. And once you’re chasing the leading pack, it becomes incredibly difficult to catch up without taking crazy risks.

We’re now at that same stage of the recovery cycle that resembles turning the corner on the bend of a race track. In fact, later today we’ll receive official confirmation that the UK economy has turned the corner and finally come out of recession.

So if you’re running a business, now is the time to be more visible, more aggressive in marketing your offering and work harder at building your brand so as to differentiate your business.

If not, you’ll get left behind as your competitors step up a gear.

If you’re managing your career, the same rules apply.  You need to be more visible, more aggressive in marketing yourself and work harder at building your personal brand so that you can stand out from the crowd.

If not,  you’ll be left behind.

And just like that race track, once you’re left trailing your competitors, it’s so much harder to catch up. So put your foot on the gas NOW and start building some momentum before everyone else gets ahead of you.

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By the way, if you need some advice on “how to step on the gas”, you may be interested in my upcoming teleseminar: “Rethink, Reposition and Thrive In 2010.” It’s completely FREE so click here to learn more and reserve your spot on the call.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr

You’re employer is going through a major restructuring process and you don’t quite know what will happen to you or your job.

You’re department has reorganised and you’ve ended up in a make-shift role that is unclear.

You’ve been given (what seems like) a pointless project to work on. You get the distinct impression that you’re being ‘frozen out.’

Your firm is cutting costs and you feel vulnerable

Sound familiar?

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If you speak to a financial advisor or expert, they’ll tell you that the key to avoiding financial troubles is to focus your spending habits around your “needs” rather than your “wants.”

When you spend in accordance to your needs, you’ll be satisfied, happy and financially successful.

When you spend based based on your ‘wants’ at the expense of your ‘needs’, it’s a slippery slope to financial trouble, instability and debt.

And often when you do spend on ‘wants’ it’s masking a ‘need’ that’s not being met (e.g. you spend because you’re feeling bored, sad, lonley, insecure, angry, tired etc) and so seek out the short term hit or high from spending. But the high is only short term and so eventually you’re back to where you were before – only a little poorer.

The very same applies to your career

I often meet people who are stuck in a rut. They’re not happy with their work and career situation, but don’t quite know what’s missing. Or if they do, don’t have the confidence or know-how to do anything about it.

They eventually hit a breaking point or get charmed by a head hunter and end up taking a role that meets their ‘wants’ (e.g. a ‘change’, more money, fancy title, more responsibility) but fails to meet their ‘needs’. So 12 months later, they find themselves in the same position as before – albeit it with a different title and maybe a little more money. And once again get caught up in the same cycle of frustration.

Sound familiar?

The key to getting out of such situations is to figure out your *needs* and developing a strategy to meet those needs.

Here are 4 steps that will help:

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10 years ago, when no one was looking, I’d often be reading personal development books (usually hidden behind a newspaper on the train).

15 years ago, when no one was looking, I’d be giving career advice to people twice my age (instead of doing my job).

20 years ago, when no one was looking, I’d be editing my fellow Students’ CVs/resumes (despite the fact that I had very little to put on my own CV/resume).

When on holiday, I’ve often been found quizzing the local taxi driver or waitress about their past and discussing their future career aspirations (..yes, I know, very sad!)

……so looking back, it’s no surprise what I now do for a living.

The clues are hidden in your past

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