Make Your Own Lane: Stretch. Expand. Move Against Inertia

We always feel safe belonging, conforming, remaining in our comfort zones, following the beaten path, even if the only place it is leading to is called “Nowhere”

I was comfortable in my job of 11 years. I quit.

The mind stretch seemed helpful as I ventured out to dig the digital more than I did before.

I was comfortable working for multiple clients from the comfort of my home for over a year with full control on my time. I changed gears again.

I decided to pick up large or ongoing assignments with teams after training them who had no experience or corporate background to deliver in the global market.

Thinking takes time. I did that part of the assignment and I let the team do the non-thinking components

I was comfortable with teams now as they were trained and aligned to clients. It was time for cerebral stimulation and challenge again. I had to elevate the doers to thinkers now. That evolution is an Herculean task.

This change is very much a part of BECKON Aspirants journey to be a BECKON Coach (Thinker)

I was comfortable with over 80 Clients; 12 virtual team members; 100% positive feedback; 40% repeat business, 6% World Domination, over 150 blogs, a combination of around 20 products and services with marketing and client acquisition Costs being zero. Now again I decided to let other projects gather momentum.

2018 Focus Area:

White Papers on Future of Work and Crypto currencies in India

Launch of a pet project in hospitality industry 

Plan a pet project in entertainment industry

To stand out, to be different, to let go off comfort zone, status quo has to be challenged that may affect your socialization, you may need support

from like minded members who have been there and done that.

It could be a community with a strong value system to lead you to your outcomes or a coach/ mentor who can motivate you to be a better version of yourself.

You need to be ready for that change though. No point attempting change, clinging to old belief system.

Each time I challenged my comfort zone, I first mentally prepared myself.

Power of Habit

I have a BECKON Aspirant who claims again and again, almost in every session that she is working very hard and yet she is not getting an order from client.

It is easy to identify the concerns:

3 - 4 hours in the whole week instead of 40/50 hours.
Working against age old habits which is the toughest part of learning
The natural thought pattern towards earning before learning

The fundamental piece of a learning community is to create a new comfort zone to allow the learners deal with the following more effectively:

Share Economy - Just skill and will is not really enough here, intention and impact are the real game changers that differentiates you from the rest 

Trust Economy - Be worthy of it. You are and you become what you repeatedly do. 

Your credibility depends on what you repeatedly do - Are you late? Do you forget? Do you lie? Do you give excuses? Do you repeat mistakes? Do you blame? Do you respect other's time?

Global First Mindset - If you think you are good enough for the local company, can address the issues of your neighbor - that will not serve long term purpose. You should constantly be able to absorb cultural trends and traditions from around the world and then create a road map regarding how you can use your skills and company's services to make an impact on the environment or business ecosystem

 Outsource "Thinking"

How can you depend on others to think for you? 

You are not expected to be a Think Tank, however to pause, reflect, think, being proactive regarding how to better yourself, how to adhere to the learning road map, how to stretch and do more that is measurable is completely your ownership.

What You Share

What you share with community and followers tells the world who you are.

Be mindful of the ideas and insights you exchange - Is it self centric?

Will they help them grow?

Is it aligned to the mission?

Will this democratize inspiration?

Is this accessible and beneficial to all?

Ask yourself

Are you a taker in giver's clothes?
Are you networking and talking to people only to get more out of them

Give, before you seek. Create abundance mindset

Take Up The Challenge

It is not enough just to rope them in who you have known for years – who has trusted you in the past and will always do in future. The idea is to inspire people who you may not know or who don't think like you - Inspire to uplift their status.

This leads to the fundamental question:

How will you respond to a client you cannot work for?
How will you say "No"?

In marketing campaigns we talk about  walk ins and foot falls. In the digital world it is the same story with eyeballs.

Understand the key sectors of the economy that you can influence with your skills. If you have no idea, try and deep dive, read, learn, talk or write to experts

Learn more about globalization and Industry 4.0/exponential technologies.

It is important to remember, one walk in or eye ball that does not get converted towards measurable outcomes (revenue) is increasing your customer acquisition cost.

A New Trend - The whole brainer

He is done with Engineering, then MBA, worked as Investment Consultant and now is a stand up comedian.

He is with corporate for 15 years handling data security and is now exploring music.

Will this be possible without stretching beyond one's comfort zone?

If you have the time to pursue degrees and certificate programs, it is your call. You have to however find time to build more skills

Industry 4.0 is gathering force, and if you carefully observe and predict expected changes, you have to develop skills and strategies to take advantage of these opportunities.

Are you stretching enough or still whining? Join the BECKON Learning Community to stretch your thinking horizons