We are all tied together in ways we never have been before. Whether you live in the United States or not, the events since the global financial crisis of 2008 have had an impact on you, your organization, and your country.<\/p>\n
These continue to be difficult times for many of us. We are experiencing what I call the \u201cperfect storm.\u201d If you saw the film or read the book by that title, you know the people in the story had weathered many storms. A rare combination of events, however, created the perfect storm\u2014an event of such monumental proportions that even people and vessels well used to storms could not withstand it.<\/p>\n
Similarly, we have been faced with a number of difficulties\u2014all of them severe, but none of them without some kind of precedence. We have experienced economic slowdowns\u2014 recession, even depression\u2014but we\u2019ve bounced back. We\u2019ve survived terrorism attacks such as 9\/11 and Oklahoma City and bounced back. We\u2019ve survived corporate fraud\u2014the savings-and- loan crisis\u2014and bounced back.<\/p>\n
But all three at once is rare\u2014an extreme low in the business cycle, an event of terror that reaches us all, and a crisis of corporate confidence brought on by lack of character and integrity at the highest levels.<\/p>\n
We are in the midst of an economic perfect storm. Here are five specific strategies you can use on an individual, functional, and corporate level to survive and even thrive in these turbulent times:<\/p>\n
Strategy 1: Focus like a laser.<\/strong> Ask yourself, \u201cWhat are my competitive advantages?\u201d Can you add value by driving costs down? Can you innovate? Is it time to find out what your customers\u2014both internal and external\u2014really want? What would happen if you changed strategy, rethought structure, or revamped processes? You probably can\u2019t do all of these effectively at the same time, but ask yourself which two of these, if you focused, would create the most value. Then act.<\/p>\n Strategy 2: Think through the 10 Core Skills<\/strong> that are key to multiplying individual and corporate value a hundred-fold:<\/p>\n Make and keep commitments.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Face each day with a positive attitude.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Persist until you succeed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Have a clear, positive self-image.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Multiply your value.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Treat this day as if it\u2019s your last.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Master your emotions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Laugh at the world\u2014and yourself.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n See a need, take action.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n (If you\u2019d like my expanded white paper on these, send me an e-mail at: Bob@CTTNewsletters.com with \u201cCORE Skills\u201d in the subject line, and I\u2019ll get it to you right away.)<\/p>\n Strategy 3: Think about how the three barriers to change<\/strong>\u2014 the environment, habits, and multiple priorities\u2014 affect you. Remove those barriers. Think about how you can make change sustainable.<\/p>\n The environment: <\/em>Others in your environment may like the status quo. It\u2019s not easy being the pioneer, the one who takes the lead. It\u2019s necessary, however, for change to take place.<\/p>\n Habits: We\u2019re used to doing things in certain ways and can do them unconsciously. When we start to do something new, it requires focused, conscious effort. We can only sustain so many new efforts at any one time.<\/p>\n Multiple priorities: <\/em>While we may be trying to change in one area, it is, after all, only one area. Many other things must be sustained. Individually, each may not require much effort. But when combined with all the other factors, the totality becomes a major factor in change not achieving permanence.<\/p>\n Strategy 4: Start operating on the BDH formula<\/strong>\u2014 \u201cBe, Do, Have.\u201d Some 95 percent of all people invert the formula, using the HDB formula\u2014 and they never have enough. Those who operate on the BDH formula are in the most successful 5 percent.<\/p>\n The HDB formula says, \u201cIf I only had X, then I could do Y, and I would be Z.\u201d This faulty approach is based upon having something before you can succeed\u2014something more or something other than what you have at the moment. And people operating on this formula generally are waiting for someone else to provide that \u201csomething\u201d for them. They will never have enough to do what they want and be what they want. They are constantly dissatisfied.<\/p>\n However, when we focus on being who we want to be, we find we can do more, and this results in having more. The key to operating on the BDH formula is to focus on developing the 10 Core Skills on a daily basis.<\/p>\n Strategy 5: Overcome the crisis of character.<\/strong> Develop a strategic plan for building\u2014or rebuilding\u2014integrity.<\/p>\n People need people they can trust. What are we doing to become more trustworthy? People need people who will follow through. What are we doing to ensure we follow through on commitments? People need people who will brainstorm ways things can be done instead of looking for all the reasons things can\u2019t be done.<\/p>\n What are you doing to become one of those refreshing people who look for ways things can be done? Once more, it begins with the Core Skills\u2014and it begins with you and me. We don\u2019t have to wait for our organization, boss, spouse, or children\u2014or the state of international affairs, for that matter\u2014to be different for us to be better. We can start today on being who we want to be.<\/p>\n That\u2019s an awesome responsibility and an exciting challenge. I\u2019m committed to walking that path. Will you join me? Until next time, continue to add value and make a difference!<\/p>\n Bob Pike, CSP CPLP FELLOW, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame, is known as the \u201ctrainer\u2019s trainer.” He is the author of more than 30 books, including \u201cCreative Training Techniques Handbook” and his newest book, \u201cThe Master Trainer\u2019s Handbook.” You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook using bobpikectt.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Five strategies for being the person\u2014and leader\u2014you are meant to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[26],"class_list":{"0":"post-10440","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-magazine","7":"tag-trainer-talk","8":"magazine_issues-may-2016"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n