While we will continue to be here for you as a resource for career strategies in the coming weeks and months, today we are here to give you immediate relief and provide you with solutions and actions to take to get your mind in a strong, self-reliant space today.
Having fears at this time is completely valid. The uncertainty of what lies ahead feels unbearable: we don’t know how much worse this pandemic will get, or how much farther the global economy can crash. What we do know with absolute certainty is that our mindset is the most important thing we are in control of in this moment. If we can take care of ourselves, we will be in the right headspace to see opportunities when they sneakily present themselves in the coming weeks and months and years.
What the heck is mindset, you may ask? We believe your mindset is your belief system, your positive attitude, and your inner compass that anchors you in a storm - that is, if it has been cultivated with kindness, compassion, discipline and intentionality. If you have left your mindset by the wayside during all this panic and have not spent time evolving your self-care and development, that is what might lead you to fall short in the coming months when we are all tested by the universe.
The first thing to know about feeling stuck and hopeless right now, particularly for those who have recently lost their jobs or unsure of their economic stability in the immediate future is this: being a job seeker who has not held a job for the next 3-6 months will not look bad to future employers. They get it. This is a Global Crisis we are living through and they will not question the small gap on your resume. What they will begin to question is your resourcefulness if you remained unemployed for 6-12+ months from now. So, do not panic and feel paralyzed by the present blank space on your resume.
The worst thing you can let yourself do in periods of unemployment is to stop exercising that muscle in your brain and physical being that has been trained and disciplined to work every day for that paycheck and/or livelihood. Do not let that muscle atrophy. It’s ironic how we all ask for and want change and yet it’s times like this where we become more locked than ever and even if our logical mind says now’s the time to pivot we’re frozen in place and can’t even turn our heads to see the change that’s possible out of our scope of vision.
If ever there was a time to consider change in your professional life, now is that time. Because of the current situation, now is the best time to build that flexibility, resourcefulness and curiosity about different types of opportunities out there, even beyond what you normally would have considered. Not only is now the perfect time to exercise that pivoting mindset, it is also a time where you will have to consider pivoting to a new career even if it’s not your first choice.
Do you define yourself by a certain title that you’ve loved and have an affinity towards? Are you a designer, strategist, VP expert at X,Y or Z? Be careful of how your affinity towards how you see yourself as that identification might possibly limit what you could consider in this next pivot.
Don’t let your stubbornness to continue wearing “the same hat” within every job dictate what your next move may or may not be. Remember the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” If you haven’t, go back to this short, insightful book (The Alchemist for professionals!) and read the life/career lessons it provides: Change Happens, Anticipate Change, Adapt to Change, and Enjoy Change! Now more than ever is the time to stretch yourself and exercise different parts of mind, skills and resources to stay lean and nimble in uncertain times.
Beyond what employers and clients (the external environment) perceives, there’s another more critical factor that changes in the next several months. The hardest part about being without a job or stable economic future is simply getting back into action. For now we’re all just getting acclimated to the #newnormal and how different it is than the life we’ve always known. Change in the past evolved over years and decades. This is an unprecedented time in human history, where we saw the most extreme, drastic changes happen to our status quo in just one fortnight.
Do not allow your fear of the future to take over
your mind and body.
Instead, adjust your mindset and create a safe mental space for you to see the abundance of opportunities rather than the tunnel vision of fear and “lack of” thinking. Before we can think months from now, we need to think about right now. Today. This minute. When the elements around us at this time are unstable and we need to anchor ourselves to a sure thing before we tackle the unknown. Ask yourself: what are ways you can connect with yourself and with others right now? Is there an opportunity to try on a “different hat”? Have you thought of any opportunities to stretch yourself in ways you did not know you were capable?
Lucky for you we’ve compiled a list of some actionable things to do starting today! Get off that couch and do the self-development work you’ve been meaning to do for years but never gave yourself the time… because that time has come knocking at your door!
When in panic mode, don’t just sit and dwell in the fear vortex while binge-eating potato chips...
DO SOMETHING!
Begin THRIVING today. Here's How You Can Start.
1. Turn OFF The News
You need to know what’s going on but really more than an hour or so is not going to change the current situation beyond making you more stressed. Turn off your push notifications. Step away from your phone/tv/computer even if just for 30 minutes (or for however long you are able to get out of the cycle depressing information and speculation).
2. Practice Mindfulness
Meditate
Our team has been loving Tara Brach, both her guided meditations and her insightful talks about Radical (Self) Compassion, Facing Fear, Embodied Presence, and Liberating Intentions to name a few! (also available via Spotify)
Yoga and/or Breathwork
Commune is a great online community that is currently offering a 14-day free membership including virtual yoga & breathwork sessions and more!
Journaling
May seem obvious, but many of us forget to do it or are afraid of where the pen and paper may take us... we say: channel your emo-middle-school self and let it flow!
Go for a walk
Go seek nature.
3. Volunteer and/or Donate.
This is a great way to find immediate purpose and connection in any community you find yourself in (virtual or physical). There are numerous ways you can get involved...for starters: donating blood. online and/or cash donations, and delivering groceries to those in need, are just a few. Please make sure to check in with your local public officials and follow procedure before heading out there!
4. Blast Music
Listen to our Stress-free playlist while you…
… Cook for yourself and your loved ones. We think Summer Tomato is a great online resource!
… Start one of those home renovation projects you’ve been too busy to start
… Take a bath! With bubbles!
5. Learn Something New.
Khan Academy
Free online resource!
Career Foundry
Learn to become a UX/UI Designer, Web Developer, or Data Analyst
General Assembly
Learn skills from digital marketing to coding to data science and more
Adobe CC Products
Adobe is offering 2-months free for preexisting members! If there's a certain program that you've been meaning to learn... now may be a perfect opportunity!
6. Make Music.
Sing in the shower, or try out these crazy things we’ve never heard of ‘til now!
In the coming weeks we’ll start to talk about what you can do to prepare yourself and create opportunities for yourself going forward. For now, take care of yourself so that you’ll be able/ready to think of the future.
You will get through this.
And we will be here for you every step of the way.
Our mission is to help our clients design thriving careers IMMEDIATELY. With signs of the recession lasting 2 to 4 years, the job market is going to get even tighter and competition is only going to rise exponentially. Employers will want absolute certainty and the best talent.
Now more than ever you will want a bulletproof career strategy plan to show you how to thrive in your career through this recession.
Now more than ever you’re going to want to secure your role in your company so you’re not let go in the next rounds of layoffs.
Now more than ever you’re going to want to know which are the best jobs that you can win and secure.
Now more than ever you’re going to want to know how to represent yourself and how to negotiate for that extra 20K in your interview with your client or employer.
Now more than ever is the time to take drastic measures to do what it takes to ensure you are thriving through chaos.
In the last few weeks our clients have won repeatable success:
One of our clients just secured a highly coveted Chief Design Officer position at a well know corporation
Another client is being pursued in interviews by a company that is cutting down funds and staff in other areas
Another client has successfully won 2 new major bids with their corporate clients to help them through this recession.
Another design client at a consultancy that was about to drop his role was not only able to secure his role was just promoted up to management despite the market
Our clients secure more work and jobs than the industry average and are making an increase of $50K- $100K.
If you’re looking for immediate help and guidance, you can schedule time with our founder, Angela Yeh, for a complimentary initial consultation.
If you need to speak with us, we’re here.
Music For Your Week
We've built you a perfectly STRESS-FREE Spotify Playlist for this week. Great for cooking, bath-tubbing, or any other stress-free activities
Thriver Highlight
Learn how Becky left her overworked, underpaid role as a Senior Industrial Designer to start her own business. Learn how she was able to turn a passion project into a thriving business AND use it to leverage potential positions with her future employer.