How to Succeed in your Career No Matter Who Wins the Election
Times have never been scarier than 2016. Where do I go from here?
Fear, paranoia, anger, hatred, and dissonance has dominated the discussion of 2016. Furthermore, the dominance of news through social media amplified propaganda, creating the scary phenomenon of fake news and algorithms feeding us what we want to hear.
We don’t know what’s real anymore. Even news can be fabricated, systems can be “rigged”, and there are “secret societies” out to ensnare us. The divide between opinions, behaviors, and lifestyles have never been more apparent with the transparency of the internet. People we know and strangers alike are starting to expose a side of them we didn’t know existed. Until now.
Uncertainty is the biggest creator of fear, and here we are, in the midst of the seemingly biggest upheaval of modern day society.
Except, it’s not.
We forget: we have extremely short term memories and deep personal biases on what matters at any given time. Our personal attributes (race, gender, beliefs, religion, etc.) will heavily influence how we react to certain events. Whenever the livelihood and social power status of certain demographics are being challenged, it’s inevitable that there’s a reaction.
We’re all experiencing the classic “us” versus “them” primitive knee-jerk reaction nature has bestowed upon even among the most enlightened of animals: the human race.
Every year, every day, it’s something. Abuse of power is as old as time. This is not new. Terrorists, rapists, corrupt politicians, domestic violence, indecency in the workplace, discrimination, espionage, violence, drug-fueled gang wars, exploitation, environmental ills, etc.; the endless amount of tragedies are truly a regular occurrence.
What I’m here to remind people of is:
We all need to demand more success from ourselves to earn the right to true power that will endure.
To get what you want, we must realize one thing :
We must succeed on a micro level before attempting to impact things at a macro level.
As a career coach and headhunter working with people from analyst-level to CEO, I’ve seen the full gamut of how panic and fear can infiltrate anyone’s life, no matter how much or little status, money, or power one has.
Nothing changes the fact that:
WE are still our own worst enemy.
In regards to:
- Feeling disenfranchised/helpless
- Losing economic earning power/our jobs
- Being unhappy with the current status quo
Even during periods of relative peace and prosperity, those who are unsatisfied still have A LOT to complain about!
Whether it’s success on a financial, relationship, career, or emotional level, people hide behind the 3 B’s (blame, bitterness, and bias) as a way to internalize their lack of sincere effort.
Self-victimization is the best justification of the lack of accomplishment. No matter who’s in power, the majority of people will still have not succeeded because we have to transcend ourselves and our upbringing, change our habits, learn constantly, to reach self-actualization of who we want to be.
You actually have to DO SOMETHING to reach success and happiness. There is no shortcut.
Let’s be honest, no one in the 1% is TRULY worried or as worried as the rest of us, because they are READY no matter what happens. Instead of being bitter about that, we should realize:
This is what we ALL should be striving for. Freedom from oppression or being rendered immobile by macro events.
The 1% put themselves in the ultimate defense and fighting position. They’re ready to react accordingly to any macro event because they’re educated in the larger lessons of life and business. They didn’t read a special manual only rich people have or inherit some magical omniscient gene.
Successful people had to learn through hard work, trial and error, and taking a few risks along the way. Now they know what to do when the market tanks. Furthermore, they have financial reserves and strategies to survive when Plan A and Plan B fail. They’re constantly learning and making new friends so they can get to the next level and have options on what to do when even Plan C fails.
What can we do today to start becoming free from oppression and fear? Well, let’s take a look at:
- Our personal finances. Do we understand the stock market, our retirement vehicles, our general financial game plan? If there’s one thing we’re now certain about, it’s how little anyone truly knows. Are you willing to continue putting your faith into others’ advice or do you actually want to start learning about what is happening? How much is enough for you to live comfortably, with money to spare? When dictators take over, environmental tragedies occur, or horrible financial crashes tank your retirement funds, you’ll need money to survive. What’s going to be your response, fight or flight? In each decision, you’ll still need financial might on your side!
- The previous point clearly extrapolates into importance of increasing our earning power as most of us have to earn our own financial might. If you plan to move companies or countries, you’ll have to be desirable for people to want you back! What do you bring to the table? What career skills, prospects, personal attributes, do you have to offer that others want? How are you going to charm the interviewers, officials, citizens, and stakeholders of company or country you desire to accept you?
- What can you do now to change your habits? Financially, what can you do to put yourself in a better fighting stance? Personally, what skills can you learn to make you more effective at work and with people? Relationship-wise, what can you do to make your family unit, business network stronger?
I have immense hope for my future and continued success because I realize, I have the control.
No matter who’s in power, where the financial winds are blowing, I can control my actions, my accumulation of knowledge.
And if it all goes down the drain and I lose everything? Well, I’ll just start over again.
As long as I’m alive, healthy, and surrounded by people I love, I’ll be fine. At the end of the day, success in our mindset and our hearts. Life is too short to live in misery and “woe is me/my team”.
