It sounds cliché to repeat it again just like a mom’s tip to kids “Don’t be afraid of challenges and changes, my darling”, but there are probably some good reasons for us to revisit this motherhood statement. This year has been tough and challenging for many of us. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed people’s lives within a very short period, and the world is still struggling to cope with it properly. Who knows how long it will take for us to fully recover from this global crisis.
It is worth bearing in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic is not the first global crisis we have faced and certainly won’t be the last. What can we learn from it to get ourselves better prepared for future uncertainties?
There are many lessons we can learn, not least of which is the need to embrace challenges and changes. No one could have imaged that a virus originating in Wuhan would become a global phenomenon requiring physical presence to be replaced by virtual connections, remote work and distance learning.
Below we will look at three ways to overcome that natural fear of challenge and change.
1. Believe in yourself
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali
No matter what challenges you are facing, the first sale is always to yourself. The message should always be “Yes, I can do it!”.
During the long history of humanity, it is fair to say that not a single year has gone by with full peace and ease. Adversity is always out there although it may present itself to different people at different times and in many different forms. Our ancestors overcame wild animals, hunger, and disease on their journey from nomadic hunter to settled farmer to latte sipping city dweller. When they didn’t know what to do, they improvised.
Confidence is the first step on the path towards solving every problem.
2. Mentally prepare yourself in advance
“You are indeed much safer if you know where the wild animals are.” ~ Nassim Taleb
Challenges can come in many forms, and so you need to be prepared. The biggest danger comes from those risks which you don’t expect because you will be completely unprepared and will have no idea how to handle them.
Challenges are those risks which were previously hidden somewhere underwater and which become visible only if certain conditions are met. Challenges can be dealt with more effectively, and perhaps avoided entirely, if you pay attention to detail, notice unusual situations, and clearly understand the sources of risk based on current findings or past experience.
3. Upskill to stay competitive
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle
No matter how challenging the external environment, the key to maintaining your current advantages and improving your position is to develop the habit of constant improvement.
Continuously upskilling is a sure way to stay competitive. This could be done by obtaining a professional certification, or consciously developing new skills at work and in your free time. By having more advanced skills and capabilities, you are more likely to be able to offer faster and better solutions and to offer perspectives that others hadn’t considered.
With new hopes and wishes for 2021, there is one thing we can predict with confidence. This will be a year of challenges and changes. By having courage, steeling yourself, and developing your skills, you will feel more comfortable to deal with the challenges that the new year brings.
Wendy Tao is a NZ based risk & compliance analyst pursuing a masters degree in accounting after 2 years in the financial services sector. She is passionate about exchanging ideas and creating better business solutions. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, natural landscapes and being engaged with charity in order to build a better future for the next generation.
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