It was long coming, the uncertainties and the upheavals. The past year has added a lasting statement to the pace of change and the tenuous nature of most things we take for granted.

We have witnessed,

- Industries like airlines and hospitality in peril

- Technology’s impact across lives and businesses

- Education constructs are undergoing a paradigm shift

- WFH seems more permanent, with many nuances

- Jobs / careers which once seemed secure aren’t

- Social media’s influence on society frothing over

- Families and relationships are struggling with bonding and understanding - Children learning from home, how ridiculous yet true

- The many who have lost their livelihoods

Lives and careers, as we used to know; will cease. Many of us are certain of perpetual uncertainty. Am sure many of you are wondering...

Is my job secure?

Am I going to be relevant in the new technology enabled business space? I see many startups, what exactly will be the impact to me?

As a student,

How am I going to be coping?

Education is changing...does my curriculum matter?

How do I set myself up? What is the right path?

What does matter to succeed?

You need to set yourself up. It is critical that we be comfortable with Change and Uncertainty. More importantly, Steadiness in these times needs a very different Mindset.

Mindset or Entrepreneurialism

During my many steady jobs for almost 25 years(the title was a giveaway!), a roadmap of my ca- reer was solace; my days, weeks and months punctuated by periodic business wins brought me self esteem, the momentum of my remuneration growths brought me status, my holiday plans a year down the line was a certainty. One can get very familiar with the predictable grind.

In these jobs, I was always stepping out. In most roles, I was out of my Comfort Zone ...it was a new product category, a new market or uncovering new growth strategies. Yes, it is daunting to be scaling a new business line across geographies, to be turning around a failing business with a new business model. You are forced to take risks and keep learning. After doing this a few times, you become confident in your ability.

Each time you step out, it brings great learning and they accumulate.. It is almost like you are constantly revisiting your University throughout your life.

It then becomes a way of life.

In choosing your paths, Step out as often as possible. Try to go where you haven’t been before, as many times as possible.

You need a structure to cope?

It is important to be able to replay the cycle of..

Locating the Challenge / Understanding / Learning / Discovering / Mastering

Standing still is not an option. Skills matter, not Knowledge.

You need a structure to Re-Learn, to have the Skills to Re-Learn continuously. You need to get that Mindset.

A Mindset that is undaunted by Change, in fact a mindset that can Thrive in Change.

How do get that Mindset?

Mastery the Cycle should become part of your job. Your company can be your University. Imagine being paid to Re-Learn !

Many job functions have been evolving ... first with the Internet, then Social, Data and now Cloud. And Mobile is the keenest battleground in many Asian economies.

As a Business Leader or Marketeer, you need to be on top. Digital Marketing led the charge star- ling us with the speed in usurping traditional media like TV, Press and Radio. Starting with SEO; Social Media and Data are now essential for targeting customers. Add to this the layer of Omni Channel and you can start feeling the heat. The Customers have moved from the laptop to tablet to the Mobile with their Cloud App/Platform plays. Throw in App analytics and Payments for good measure.

These can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned?

Marketing, as taught by Kotler didn’t mention that you will need to know Cloud Technology, didn’t mention that you needed Big Data Analytics to target customers, didn’t mention delivering the Best Customer Experience with cutting edge Ux/UI and AR/VR. As a Brand Leader, you need to be much more.

Kotler taught in MBA schools for decades is history, you need Kotler 1.0, 2.0 ...every couple years!

So marketeers have had to keep repeating the Cycle of constant Learning, Discovery and Mastery. Else they lose their Customers and their Businesses fail.

This might seem like an extreme example, but haven’t we struggled to get our parents conversant with WhatsApp or Video calls. Now the same parent is having food delivered, booking multi-stop Ubers and paying Online! All of us, in our own small ways tend to get comfortable with Change.

So what is your plan to manage the changes impacting you?

Intrapreneur

You, as part of an organisation, can become an Intrapreneur. You can access the momentum amongst Leadership today who want to create a culture of Innovation and Risk Taking.

Whether you are in Customer Support or Data Analyst or Finance or HR; you can Identify a prob- lem in your space, Understand the numerous solutions being offered; Learn by diving into relevant solutions like BOTs, Data Analytics...Mobile. In an organisation, you are not alone; form a team, stitch together your own solution and take it to management. The management may ask you to make a business plan and provide you with a mentor! How cool would that be?

These are my most celebrated experiences. Launching new Brand categories, Exploring growth strategies, collaborating with Remote teams to pilot, learn and scale. These are great contexts to Master the Cycle. Yes, many times have I been told, why stick your neck out?

In today’s context, you won’t be asked!

Side Hustle

Of course, not all businesses can provide the Intrapreneurial context.

In which case, you may want to start a Side Hustle. Much has been written about this.

You and a couple of your friends will be amazed that you can launch a business in less than a month working evenings and weekends; and without much investment. The Covid lockdown provides that context.

Most trainings and learnings are available free on the net!

Am sure many of you are nursing an idea for long. Not everybody needs to be a BYJU or an Elon Musk. It is okay to make an impact even within your community.

Look up that school friend of yours who is doing something interesting. Form a team.

Mentorship or Providing Skills

How many of you have launched businesses with Shopify, or run a Analytics aided Promotion for e-commerce?

Many Startups and Small Businesses need your Skills and your Understanding of Marketing or Global Scaling or Customer Acquisition strategies. You can consult with them. There are many platforms who are marketplaces for you to list your skills. Choose platforms that are global, that way you get wider exposure too.

You can think of becoming a mentor to aspiring youngsters.

Start Now

This Mastery takes time...maybe many years.

You will need many cycles. But start you must, else you will find yourself woefully inadequate. These Changes are now the norm. The future belongs to those who can Re-skill and Re-Invent constantly.

With lockdowns and WFH, access the free time. Step out of your Comfort Zones. Get a mentor, that can be powerful.

When you traverse the uncertain path and break through, Steadiness, you will find in the roughest of rides.

“The Magic of the Moment” is now!