When a mental model stops fitting reality accurately, it produces errors in judgment. The experienced professional who “knows what this kind of client needs” and stops actually listening. The manager who “knows how teams work” and doesn’t notice that this team is different. The expert who “knows what this market does” and misses the structural shift that rewrites the rules.
The people who come through difficult periods most effectively don’t return to their previous state — they move to a new one. One that’s different from before, often more capable in specific ways, shaped by what the difficulty required of them.
Feedback is the mechanism through which you find out what you can’t see about yourself. Use it deliberately, and it compounds over time into something genuinely valuable: an accurate picture of where you are and what you’re capable of.
Self-leadership is the recognition that you are the primary driver of your professional trajectory. Not the only factor — circumstances, access, and luck are real — but the primary one.
In all truth, this movement has been an ongoing occurrence for over some time now; the only difference today, is systematic racism around the world is being recorded and shared throughout social media. George Floyd’s death and the deaths of many other African American citizens have led to the breaking point of the black community all over the world. Some believe that the black community are tackling two pandemics at the moment: racism and COVID 19.
Nothing trumps being great at what you do. The quality of your work will always stand out, and that is the real card you play in order to grow in your career. Your output will be on record, testament of your abilities. Make sure you set high work standards for yourself. Use the best practices and industry standards as a bar, and aim to always surpass expectations.
I went into marriage based on my family beliefs, cultural beliefs and religious beliefs. This was based on the fact that marriage was a life-time commitment – you were in it for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health and till death do us part. Those were the vows that a lot of took when we were getting married and I believe that we all took these commitments at those times wholeheartedly.
I believe the lockdown was a good period to re-assess our life and priorities, and ensure we take stock of the things that now matter to us and those that do not. I have used this period to take stock of things than I now want to start, stop, and continue. I can tell you that my ‘continue list’ keeps shrinking day-by-day as my perspective changes. The things that I though mattered, just as we started, have changed, 10 weeks into lockdown. And I am sure the list will keep changing. Please ensure that you take a good look at these things and re-prioritize
In my career, I have had the opportunity to meet many people making genuine impact in their workplaces. They are not always well-known experts, innovators, business geniuses, and entrepreneurs. They are our everyday regular people, who have found their niche. They contribute consistently to that niche and make great impact. They do not wait till they got to the top before they start making such impacts.