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4 Critical Mindset Adjustments You Need to Thrive in Today’s World

Written by Hollis Nelson on . Posted in Achievement, Personal, Personal Growth, Success, Workforce Development. Leave a Comment

With the explosion of AI in virtually all aspects of our lives, including the workforce, how you decide to respond to it is up to you. You can choose to resist the tsunami of change or embrace it and begin preparing yourself for success in the face of change. In terms of the workforce, in addition to developing the technical skills you will need for success, having the proper mindset is also a critical factor in the process.

These suggestions are not new, they are reminders of what you instinctively already know. They serve as either kick starters to get you going, or confirmations to keep you going. Here are 4 key mindset adjustments you’ll need to continue or adapt to increase your chances of success in this new AI centered world both personally and professionally:

  1. Embrace Life-Long Learning

    Photo by Hurix Digital

In a world where not only technology, but knowledge in general, evolves rapidly, adopting a mindset of continuous learning is critical. This means making an active decision about acquiring new skills, staying updated with industry trends, and being open to new ideas. Life-long learning is not just about formal education but also about being curious and eager to grow.

Suggested Strategies:

  • Allocate time each week for learning something new, whether it’s a new software tool, a professional course, or something related to personal growth and development.
  • Attend webinars, workshops, and conferences to stay informed and network with like-minded professionals.
  • Get into the habit of reading—books, articles, research papers—related to your field, or some other topic of interest.
  1. Develop Resilience

If there is one thing that is for certain, it is setbacks and disappointments are going to occur in life. Developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks is a defining trait of successful individuals. Resilience includes maintaining a positive attitude in the face of setbacks, managing stress effectively, and viewing failures as opportunities for growth rather than unbeatable obstacles.

Suggested Strategies:

  • Create a regular practice, daily, if possible, of stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, exercise, yoga, or whatever works for you.
  • Look back on past setbacks and remember what you learned from them. Many of us can remember experiences that, while upsetting at the time they occurred, turned out to be one of the best things that happened to us.
  • Build a support network of colleagues, mentors and friends who can offer guidance and encouragement. There are few things in life as valuable as great relationships.
  1. Be Solution Oriented, Not Problem Centered

Are you a glass half empty of half full person? The cultivation of a solution-oriented mindset means approaching challenges with a positive attitude, focusing on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This mindset is a choice and fosters innovation, creativity, and problem-solving, all of which are essential skills in a dynamic work or personal setting.

Suggested Strategies:

  • When faced with a challenge, consider a variety of potential solutions before deciding on the best course of action. The key is to focus on finding a solution rather than searching for who to blame, or wallowing in woe is me thinking.
  • Utilize your resources. You are not alone. Tap into your support network and create an environment where everyone is comfortable sharing ideas and offering possible solutions.
  • Celebrate your small wins and move forward towards solving bigger challenges to maintain motivation and momentum. This serves as a reminder that you have overcome obstacles in the past, and you will overcome them again.
  1. Prioritize Time and Energy Management for Productivity

One of my core values is the effective, efficient use of time. Effectively managing your time involves recognizing and honoring your values, setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and using your best tools and techniques to manage your workload efficiently.

Suggested Strategies:

  • Find a productivity tool you like such as a task manager app, calendar, or project management software tool to organize yourself and your work.
  • Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks and set time goals for their accomplishment.
  • Practice working in time blocks using such tools as the Pomodoro Technique or some other time blocking system to maintain focus and prevent burnout. Balance is the key here.
  • It helps to recognize when your peak hours of energy are present. Are you a morning person, a night owl, or somewhere in between. Schedule your most important task for the time of day when you are at your peak energy level.

Personal and professional success requires more than just technical skills—it demands a fundamental shift in mindset. By embracing continuous learning, developing resilience, focusing on solutions, and prioritizing time management, you stand a much better chance of navigating the complexities of modern life and achieving long-term success. Remember, a positive/growth mindset is a powerful tool. Cultivate it effectively, and you’ll find yourself thriving amid the rapid changes in both your professional and personal life. [

Three Keys to an Effective Career Change

Written by Hollis Nelson on . Posted in Jobs, Personal, Training.

2022 is here! As the year begins the COVID 19 pandemic is still very much in play, and new variants continue to pose serious challenges. There is a small glimmer of light at the end of the of the tunnel. While there are still restrictions in place, we can still return to doing some of the things we enjoy. In terms of the job market, things are also beginning to pick up. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has the current 4.6% unemployment rate at its lowest point since the outbreak of the pandemic in March of 2020.

However, one interesting occurrence in the job market was the number of people who decided not to return to their previous occupations. The BLS estimates approximately 4.4 million people have quit their jobs, and contrary to what some believe, this is not due primarily to anti-vaccination, or mandated vaccination issues. That is a small part of it; but there are deeper, more personal issues at play here.

Photo By: Gatot Adri

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work, and as a result, enabled more reflective time to consider meaning, value, and “work-life” balance. It gave people a different experience, and time to slow down and reflect on what is important to them. Yes, some jobs did not return after businesses closed due to the pandemic, but millions decided that they no longer wanted to return to their previous way of life especially in terms of their work lives. Some will pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, while others will seek to make career changes and make a fresh start. They want to find and do work that provides meaning and value to their lives and the lives of others.

I want to share a few thoughts for career changers to consider as they embark on making that fresh start. There are at least three things I think you should make a part of your career change process.

First, consider your passions. Think about the things you enjoy doing in your own time, such as hobbies or things you do just for the pure fun and enjoyment of doing it. I believe this is a critical part in setting a direction for career change. For example, I am a tech enthusiast. I enjoy building gaming and business productivity PC’s and learning about new technologies and how they impact our lives. What you enjoy may be entirely different but identifying what you enjoy and have a passion for is important. You can have one passion or multiple passions; it doesn’t matter. Taking those passions into consideration as part of your career change is what is important.

This leads to the second thing to consider in making your career change. Ask yourself some key questions regarding your passions. They would include: What are the things I am skilled at in my passion? Am I learning new things and developing new skills in the areas of my passions? These types of questions are essential to the third aspect of the effective approach to career change.

The third piece would be to identify what industry your passions fall under. Is it the tech industry? Maybe its culinary, fashion and beauty, botany or the environment, retail sales, automobiles, just to name a few. By identifying your passions, skills, and industry, you have the foundation on which to build a satisfying and meaningful career shift, instead of pursuing a “job” because you need to pay bills – as so many do – finding yourself working but stressed and unhappy.

I have encountered many people who have jobs they hate but go through the motions every day because bills got to be paid. Impactful career change is about finding that right match of passions, skills, and industry. The career change search begins with establishing which companies are in the industry where your passions lie. You are probably already a customer with one or more of these companies. After you’ve assessed what your key skills are in your passion, you explore to find if there are positions available with companies in the industry that match your skills, and if not find out what skills are in demand that you may need to develop. Learning new skills centered around things we are passionate about comes naturally, so that’s an easy obstacle to overcome.

The key takeaway here is that career change is more than just searching for a new job. Doing work that brings meaning, personal satisfaction, and benefit to others involves finding that right combination of passion, skills and industry.

Of course, paying the bills and meeting the needs of life are important, but if you can do it in a space that has these three elements, you are more likely to experience career growth, rather than seek career change. I hope that 2022 will be the year that more people find careers that bring these three elements together. We will all benefit as a result. Namaste.

This article was first published on Transformation.net

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Greater Paterson OIC, its Board of Directors, or any other group or individual affiliated.

Overcoming Your “Great Wave”

Written by Hollis Nelson on . Posted in Personal, Training.

Article is posted by Hollis Nelson, written by Sergio Abrams

So, you say today is the day you’re going to do it. You’re finally going to start your own business and become the successful businessperson you want to be. But wait, didn’t you say that yesterday? In fact, you’ve been starting a business for years now, haven’t you? No, it isn’t the naysayers and no; it isn’t a lack of time. No, my friend, the problem is you and the wave you’ve yet to conquer is yourself. You’ve been fighting with yourself for years and it is your inner self which has clouded your mind with many fears and self-doubt. Your negative thoughts about what may happen cause you to become stuck in what’s called “analysis paralysis”.

That’s you analyzing and accepting every reason you believe you might fail, instead of analyzing all the reasons you may succeed. It is that self-doubt and inner voice feeding on your fears, telling you day in and day out that you will fail if you venture away from your safe place. Yes, that wave of fear that overcomes you each time the mere thought of venturing out on your own comes to mind, lies in wait, waiting to shoot you down and steer you back into your comfort zone. The voice says, “It’s too dangerous”, “no one’s going to buy that”, “you don’t want to leave your 9 to 5”, “starting your own business is way too hard”, “how are you going to pay your rent?”. Your fear and self-doubt win by knockout in the first round.

In the movie Castaway, actor Tom Hanks finds himself on a deserted island after a plane crash with seemingly no way of escape or being rescued. To survive he improvises and uses unconventional methods, including using a volleyball which he aptly names Wilson, as a companion whom he talks to, to stave off insanity. He soon realizes that no one’s coming to save him and if he’s going to get off that island, he’s going to have to save himself. Standing in his way is the great wave. The wave is a barrier between the island he’s stuck on and open waters and the chance to be saved. Eventually, he builds up the courage needed to face and overcome his great wave, and after he gets past his great wave, he looks back at the island that once held him captive.

Photo by: Jairo Diaz

The island that would have still held him captive had he not faced his greatest obstacle overcame the great wave.

You can survive with fear, but you cannot truly thrive with fear, because verily fear will only keep you stranded on your comfort zone island. Fear and self-doubt will tell you that trying is no longer an option, and only contentment with mediocrity and life regrets remains.

Each of us has a “great wave” we must overcome to find genuine success, but sadly, so few ever find the courage to do so, waiting for someone or something to come along and save us from our inner selves. Nope, no one’s coming to save you. No one can save you from yourself. This is a battle you will have to fight on your own and until you step on the battlefield and face the enemy within, there can be no victory. Verily, the road to success is the hardest road to take, which is why it is the road less traveled. However, for those who choose to face that wave, the reward of living is great.

Yes, there will always be naysayers and dream busters outside of you, waiting to tear you down with “you won’t succeed” bombs, and you may fail a few times along the way, but success is a journey, not an overnight mission. There is no instant recipe for success unless you plan on winning Lotto, and we all know the chances of that happening. If that’s your game plan, then hey, have at it, who am I to knock someone’s hustle?

In the end, there are only two choices, and as Yoda once said, “Try or do not try; there is no in between”.

You can choose to stay on your island of despair or overcome the “great wave” of fear and self-doubt and achieve your dreams.

It is all up to you!

Earn More Money with New Skills

Written by Mark Jackson on . Posted in Achievement, Community, Jobs, Personal, Training, What's New. Leave a Comment

Earning more money can be as simple as assessing ALL of your skill sets. Most of don’t list all skills like typing, clerical, our ability to exhibit great customer service, we leave out things we think are irrelevant. However, it when you assess your skill set that you can begin to compare your skills to what is in demand. Then you can develop a plan to acquire the new skills you want. There are many way to acquire new skills without having to pay thousands of dollars. Let me know your thoughts about this topic I am interested in hearing your opinion?

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