This will be a 'user's guide' to help you best navigate 2015 based on the current changes in the marketplace. Headline: Business life as we know it is over. Things are changing at an ever faster rate — so you need to keep up or fall behind. No sitting still or hiding.
1. The idea of keeping your head down, working hard, not making ripples and hoping for the best is gone forever.
The world isn't over — just the opposite — there are innumerable opportunities out there. So MANY opportunities.
How? Keep your eyes peeled constantly and stay flexible with your projects. Develop a 360° view — what's happening with management, your peers and your team? You can't stay immobile for very long — keep your view and actions constant.
Read This: Extreme Mojo (Or Driving On The Corporate Autobahn).
2. Keep as many options open as possible.
Little or no options at your disposal invites tragedy. If you have a choice, you then have a way out of the corner you just painted yourself into.
How? If you lose a client, you should have 2-3 waiting in the wings. Keep meeting new people constantly. Keep your resume up to date. Look for new opportunities at other companies.
Read This: How Safe Is Your Career Today?
3. Keep your eye on the marketplace.
Who's up? Who's down? Why? Who are the movers and shakers in the industry? Is there a way you can meet them, get to know them, become friends? How? Start following some of your favorite companies and organizations. Read industry magazines and surf their sites. A well-informed professional is a force to be reckoned with.
Read This: Without A Doubt, The Money Is Still Out There.
4. Keep learning.
Your brain doesn't have a finite amount of space — keep filling it up with new knowledge, new experiences, and new behaviors.
How? When was the last time you read a business book cover-to-cover? How often do you read and follow the Wall Street Journal? When do you meet with peers in your industry for lunch to swap ideas, insights, and stories? You need to start doing it immediately.
Read This: 8 Things I Wish I Learned In College.
5. Take stock of your habits and behaviors.
Which ones move you forward? Which ones hold you back? Which ones do nothing? Understand these habits and begin to change them — it won't happen overnight — but a slow, focused and determined process will allow you to overcome almost anything.
How? Write down some of the habits you know hold you back — procrastination, cocooning, etc. Put in place behaviors which will counteract some of these bad habits. If you cocoon (stay in your office all day) — get out and meet new people.
Read This: How To Eliminate Procrastination From Your Life.
6. Be a billboard.
There are people who want you. They want what you can do. They want your products and services. They just can't find you. How?
Read This: How To Become Unfireable: Be A Billboard.
Don't be afraid of 2015. It's imperative you buck that trend 180 degrees and embrace your future. In good and bad times, there are people out there making a lot of money and getting promotions. You can do it too.
Don't hide. Get out there and do things that SCARE you.
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P.S. How did you like this article? Let me know. Are you interested in learning more? Let’s talk. I work with people from all over the world who need to take aggressive steps in their career — call me to schedule a test drive.