Going beyond survival in the year 2002
Pri Notowidigdo, Amrop Hever, Global Executive Search
As we enter 2002, let's look at how we face life. Our challenge is to discover how we can achieve what we want beyond mere survival.
The past four years have been difficult for many of us. We simply tried to survive. For businesses, this has meant trying to simply maintain adequate cash flow.
Even for individuals affected by corporate downsizing, the issue has been less in terms of developing a career than in getting a job to make ends meet. The objective has been short term rather than long term.
The new year will require us to be more strategic. What does this mean? Talking with other people who run their own businesses, the discussion raised a range of questions that may give you guidelines for 2002, or at least, food for thought.
Has fear held you back? Fear of not being able to survive paralyzes us from engaging with life. It holds us back from everything we attempt to accomplish.
When you are willing to focus on the duty, risk, exhilaration and fun of doing something rather than on the fear of making mistakes, you will begin to understand the meaning of thriving.
Are you willing to try something new? In the trials of your life, instead of acting afraid, be willing to face the worst of consequences. You will find a sudden burst of courage that is rooted in knowing you can gain a lot from the new experience.
Can you step back to simply reflect? Taking refuge in your own mind, granting yourself grace, is the means to escape the fear of uncertainty in life.
It is so easy for us to get busy and keep ourselves busy without really thinking about whether what we're doing really matters to us.
What is motivating you? Are you motivated out of desperation or by an affirmation of life? By this introspection, you can manage these motivators into positive ones that will guide you to success.
What's really important to you? Focus your resources. Know what to give up and what to pursue. We are sometimes motivated by fear and greed and spread ourselves too thin, bending our standards a little.
Yet, as we look back, the results are rarely satisfactory. When we have lived long enough, watched ourselves carefully enough and learned from our mistakes, eventually we stop panicking and chasing after every opportunity.
Can you make peace with time? This means making peace with yourself. Get to know your own characteristics. Stay focused. Simplify your tasks. Keep your time agreements or recreate them. Focus on the task at hand, not the time. You don't have to do it all.
The new year brings hope, optimism and direction. Hope, because we survived the past year and see potential for the new year. Optimism, because problems bring opportunities for personal and professional growth. And direction, if we are willing to go beyond survival. Happy New Year! (The writer can be reached at jakarta@amrophever.com)