Nicholas Bate

Seven Career Mindsets For A Turbulent World: Shift 7

The back-story? That's here.

Shift 7: From individual to brand

1. For our grandparents: behave and be rewarded.
   
2. For our parents: excel and be rewarded.
   
3. For us: you are simply a resource. You must develop your own brand. You run your own business now.

In the New World of Work which is very, very different to that of our grandparents and increasingly remote from that of our parents we run our own business now.  We understand that:

1. We are as good as our efforts.
2. There are no guarantees.
3. Soft skills will always be needed and valued.
4. There will be increasing numbers of commodity jobs. These will either be out-sourced or very low paid.
5. There will always be a need for those for offer excellent value. And they will be well-paid.
6. Few careers nor organisations can get it consistently right over prolonged periods. Be willing to re-invent.
7. Think, read and act as a New Renaissance Man.
8. Carry a note-book. Think, plan and build a sustainable career.
9. Hang out with like-minded people. Not those who complain that their company is rubbish nor that the government should do more.
10. Start today. Now, in fact.

7 Career Mindset Shifts For a Turbulent World: Day 2: Shift 1-The Detail

Missed the back-story? That's here. And now Mindset Shift 1 in more detail.

• Shift 1: From planned single career to flexible multi-career.

1. For our grandparents: 1 career for Life.
2. For our parents: at least one career shift, common.
3. For us: the need for a multi-career path to cope with the comings and goings and importantly disappearance of job opportunities, whole sectors and the acceleration of technology.

Here's the great news: you're going to live longer than anyone ever thought possible, the barriers to your choosing (a) new career(s) are lower than ever and the pace of change gives blossoming opportunities every minute of every day. However. However. However. You've got to 'switch on' to the opportunity before it becomes a threat: there are no guarantees, there is no orderliness and your careers teacher, bank manager and the guy down the bar just don't get it. It's Frontier Land again. Whatever you are good at now whether it's being a dental hygienist, an English teacher, an MBA professor or brain surgeon; things are changing in your field and people are costly, very costly. Yep, stake your claim. But just as then, it is now: it's down to you. Here's your strategy:

1. Manage your own career. Talk to as many people as you can. Read as much as you are able. But never, ever assume your CEO is at all concerned about your career. If they are, that is a fantastic bonus. Take 100% ownership for your salary, your development and most importantly your passion for what you do.
2. Every month when you get your pay-cheque, ask the question: what will I be doing in 12 months time and how am I preparing for that? Are you sure?
3. Get on every damn course you can. Pay for some yourself. Discover what you love. Work on knowledge, skills and attitude. The latter is essential: stay open-minded to possibilities.
4. Read intensively about your field. What's happening? Where is it going? Who's just surviving?  Who's thriving? Who's dying?
5. Immerse yourself and become great at soft skills such as leadership. These cannot be replaced by a chip.
6. Decide to become astonishingly good at what you do. You will not then be out-sourced. Get within the top 10% of your field with 24 months. Then the top 1% within the next 36 months. 
7. Start building your profile and brand. Your brand = what people say about you when you are not in the room.
8. Start a blog. Write a book. Neither needs to be published (That is not really the point, in fact. Do you run a marathon to win?) but you must get clear on what you are about and get good at articulating your thinking. Both will force that.
9. Keep on top of technology (Michael Sampson will help) but don't be seduced by it. Your greatest asset is still your ability to think clearly. Notice what Michael has done on the publishing and personal brand fronts, BTW. Awesome.
10. Don't talk about this any more: create a plan. Stick it on the fridge. Share it with those who are important to you. No, no coffee: write that plan. Then coffee.

tbc.

It's Not A Direct Link. Doesn't Mean It Ain't Worth It

 

It Had To Be Done

 

Advice Times 2

There's advice and advice. Advice that's fun to hear such as running your own business will give you the freedom you desire. And advice we don't want to hear. It may well take a decade of solid hard work before you can sleep properly at night.

It's worth listening to both.

Rowan Manahan

has absolutely loads of good job-hunting advice on his blog.

Sabrina Dent

on what she's learnt while working freelance.

How To Be Brilliant, 1-50: 4

Look after yourself. To be the best version of you, to be brilliant, it's (literally) vital. Do less and achieve more. Take quality breaks. Take a retreat. Spend time re-charging. Get enough sleep. Read for inspiration. Spend more time with those who encourage and support and less time with those who are negative and criticise. Allow yourself to get it wrong. Look after yourself.

The 7Ps of Absolute Success Mind-Map

A big thanks to Matthew Lang for firstly a great site and secondly for mind-mapping my recent 7Ps Of Absolute Success post. Here's the mind-map. Fantastic! Thank you, Matthew. He's promised to mind-map some future posts....

Get Out Of The Bubble

One of the challenges for those who are ‘successful’ in business is not-as they get promoted- to become too remote from the 'sharp-end' of the business: the sales manger who no longer visits customers, the customer services director who refuses to talk to hostile customers. The 'bubble' can be rapidly formed: a combination of effective protective layers, a mountain of ‘admin’ to deal with and often a fear of being ‘shown up’ as juniors look on.  What’s to be done? Once you get that promotion, decide to ensure around 5% of your job is regularly experiencing exactly (not what the report or manual says) what those who work for you experience. Time wasted? No way: the regular learning and re-education will be priceless. Not to mention the extra respect and authority you will gain.