Robin Sieger Blog

On the 6th February the United States government released new statistics on the American jobless rate.  Without doubt, the numbers are high and the environment creates concern for a great number of people in the US and around the globe.

In the past couple of months I have spoken at a number of events around the US and Europe.  Without exception the same undertone is being expressed:
•    “We are entering a terrible recession,”;
•    “Times are harder than ever previously experienced,”;
•    “There will be redundancies”;
•    “We are entering an economic Ice Age”…

It is sad to me, however, that so many messages I hear these days are about doom and gloom. The press and media continue to give space to the negative impact, whilst the finger pointing of the experts seeking to apportion blame, must be giving many of them cramp.

Personally, I am concerned. Staff development budgets that have been a large part of my training business have been slashed, with many companies cancelling all training in 2009.  However, I love my business, I love what I do, and if the recession means a cutback in the training side of the business, then I will just have to manage it.

Recently I was the keynote speaker at a conference that was assessing how the current economy was affecting my client’s business.  After listening to others speakers, and as I approached the microphone, I decided to go off script. I told the audience that the recession will pass; that we will overcome; that it may be painful; that there is no guarantee it will be speedy; that it may take years; but, eventually the economy will improve.  The greater question at hand was, how would the people in that audience manage the time between now and then?

From where I sit (which is in a similar seat to all other employed people out there), I realize I have 2 options. Sit around and complain and worry, or do something.  I view this as a time of economic rebirth with new rules of the game being written.  Therefore, it is also a time of opportunity, an opportunity I intend to do my best to exploit.

In my book, Natural Born Winners, I have a chapter entitled, “Plan, Plan, Plan”.  In that chapter I outline some of the most important steps to ensure you have a solid and usable long-term strategy for accomplishing your goals. A “down-time” is the best time to review and re-assess your game plan – you might have that extra time on your hands AND you need to consider whether your long-term plan is still relevant.

Critical planning steps include:

1.    Learn from mistakes.  Too often we just accept the way we do things, without thinking.  But don’t be afraid to challenge your goals; don’t be afraid to challenge your plans; don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.  If your plan is rigid, if it cannot bend, it will snap.  This is why it must be flexible. If the time-frame you originally conceived proves too short, then extend it, reset the date and accept it. Move on positively. If you’re ahead of time, challenge yourself.
2.    Seek help.  Asking for help, for guidance, is your responsibility and yours alone.  You can’t expect others to come up with and offer you a job unless you make your goals known to those around you.  When creating your plan, ask for information, ask for advice, ask for the help you require.  Twenty minutes with an expert or with somebody who has achieved what you are attempting will be invaluable.  It could save you months or years of making the mistakes they made. It is guaranteed to be time well spent.

3.    Review contingency plans (and enlist them if necessary).  Ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could happen?”  Then imagine it happening, and say to yourself, with commitment, passion and self-belief, “I can overcome that. I can start over again.”  Pre-meditation allows you to manage the situation rather than be overwhelmed or defeated by it.  IF you are enlisting a contingency plan, be sure to go back to Step 1.

4.    Be consistent.  Your plan is one part of the process of your eventual success. Equally critical is a consistent self-belief and action, a conviction that you are going to succeed.  This means that the plan is not just something you say or write down; it is something you live, 24-hours a day.

5.    Be enthusiastic and act with urgency.  Enthusiasm engages our commitment, and commitment creates personal power.  And any delay in your progress will stall your momentum, undermine your ambition and dilute your enthusiasm and commitment.

Think about how you might specifically applying these guidelines to your personal situation.  And think with care, consideration and constructive optimism to the future.

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