By Katie Adams
I always believed that specialization was the way to go, that it was wrong to dabble in other disciplines because then you might lose focus, right?
I’m primarily a marketer and I believed in traditional notions, that is until technology changed everything. People who relied on traditional forms of marketing were quickly replaced by online freelancers who ushered in a new era of digital marketing.
I didn’t want to be late to the party, so I adapted. It took me a bit longer than others but I made it out with new skills and, more importantly, a fresh pair of eyes that would help me better navigate the plains of the new world.
See, building an elastic, flexible mindset is key. It took me years until I realized the most basic of all facts: that the things and beliefs we perceive to last forever will one day become obsolete or change in an instant. Take the current COVID-19 crisis – the biggest example of a curveball.
Everyone has been affected, but I do not see this as the “new normal”, I dislike using the term “new normal” here because this can never remain or be “normal”. This is a brief setback for all of us and we need to try to see this as an opportunity to change our mindsets for the future.
My work has been affected in different ways but I see this as a way to unlearn and relearn things that I previously perceived as absolute; like my strategies for finding work, networking and what I consider as “work”.
This is where having an elastic mindset can help immensely. I completely understand how this crisis has brought some people to a standstill but I urge everyone to try to future-proof themselves by taking this downtime to develop a new mindset and also, new skills.
I, for example, can’t focus on my primary job because of the lockdown so I decided to use this downtime to focus on my passion: cooking. A friend of mine suggested that I should start a home-based restaurant and deliver food. I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a shot. It took research, weeks of planning and preparation and I was able to register myself with a local food delivery service.
I used my marketing skills to push my business online and I have since been receiving a steady flow of orders. I have also recently expanded my menu items!
I understand that resources can be scarce during this crisis (and I’m not just talking about financial resources) but we have to work with what we have.
Don’t worry about losing your primary focus, instead, learn to compartmentalize your focus so that you can give time to your personal development. When the chips are down, these skills are what will help you adapt and navigate through the chaos.
Humans are naturally resilient and have the innate ability to adapt, even in the face of crisis – it just requires time. Humanity has been hit by pandemics before, and yet, we have flourished as a community because of our courage and the human spirit.
Understand that your ability to be versatile, agile, and resilient will help you in keeping your head on straight and once you get a grip on the situation, you can steer your life back on track!
Now, more than ever is the time when you have to let go of old notions and reshape your character. Indulge in your interests, analyze the situation and see how other people are coping – read case studies. Also, try to go easy on yourself, remember, nobody can predict the future. The best you can do is respond to it.
This is your chance to future-proof your character and build yourself up with an upgraded elastic mindset. Most people, including myself, are starting fresh. If you can try to align yourself towards your goals during this crisis, you will become nigh-impenetrable against external factors in the future. Stay safe and good luck!
Katie Adams is a marketing specialist and also the founder of a software house, focused on providing business solutions to startups.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
