The future of work signifies the opportunity to evolve our workforces and workplaces. This evolution is being shaped by two powerful forces: the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace and the expansion of the workforce to include both on- and off-balance-sheet talent, often referred to as the open talent continuum. These shifts could lead us to reconsider the roles of individuals, organizations, and societies at work. [Source: Deloitte Insights]
With the Future of Work (FoW) dawning upon us today, the need for us to harness and cultivate our creativity is at a tipping point. It’s creativity that embraces originality and makes connections between seemingly disparate ideas and concepts.
I believe that to be creative we need to:
- Try something new and challenge ourselves whilst staying on the path of least resistance.
- Push boundaries but stay within your zone of comfort. Create something new in the area you know and love but are not (yet) an expert in.
- Whilst in the path of creation, FAIL, then LEARN, then fail BETTER and continue this cycle. Failing and not quitting leads to SUCCESS.
It’s encoded in the human DNA. Along the way of modernisation and running with the times, we’ve somehow left that creativity behind in pursuit of the rat race. We’ve lost touch with our inner creator and have succumbed to a world of knowns and routine.
“THE FUTURE OF WORK CONSISTS OF LEARNING A LIVING.” MARSHALL MCLUHAN
The Future of Work is present right now. More work is outsourced through to contractors, virtual assistants to meet changing the economic and technological state of affairs. According to business experts, this framework of new ways of working means that the traditional career life span of a long-term employee is no longer sustainable. We need to become more self-reliant and constantly self-improve in order to steer through this ever-changing landscape.
It’s now more pertinent than ever to pursue a more ‘self-centered’ and holistic approach to work and business. It may be a better course of action to determine your genuine values and planning life goals to accomplish those values. Professional advancement then becomes a road to self-discovery instead of another job search.
In order to accelerate this road to self-discovery, I strongly believe that online “Collectives” need to be created as a platform to help you navigate your way through this new landscape in becoming a successful, self-sustaining economic entity. The collective of like-minded people and professionals will help you with your business, career succession plans and strategies, but, if done right, also place an important emphasis on mindset, mental, physical and emotional well-being. You’re the engine powering your business and your career, without a strong and powerful engine, there’s no racing to the finishing line. The purpose is to see you on your way to living your best life in both work and play.
So if you want to be successful, to live those dreams and follow your true purpose in life, here are a few things to think about:
- Try something new and challenge yourself but DO NOT get off the path of least resistance. Start using unorthodox ways to get yourself excited again about your career and business. Share this mindset with friends and colleagues, and you’ll see that it will have an infectious effect. At the same time keep a distance from those who are against this way of thinking and doing. For example, take a dive in the ocean before you go to work, or a hike in the mountains on the weekend. Go to that meditation class down the street. Make a list of 5 things that are out of your comfort zone and try each out at least twice over the next 2 months.
- Push boundaries. Create something that’s not too new or too familiar but something in between. You can tell when you’re deep into the daily grind. The tired face when you look in the mirror, the lack of motivation when you get out of bed, the questioning of “is this really how it’ll be for the rest of my life?” For some, this may strike a cord more than others. Regardless of which state you’re in, creativity thrives on pushing new boundaries to a certain extent. That should, as an effect, make you feel happier each day. Don’t go overboard with this, create a bespoke approach and structure to boost the effectiveness of what will truly make you happy in life and work.
For example, from the 5 things that you’ve tried in the point above, what’s the one thing that stands out most for you? The one thing that sparks a little something within? Start looking for ways to blend that new interest with your personal and work life. If you’ve found a new passion in meditation, then practise a short 5 minute meditation before any important business meeting. If you’ve taken a culinary class and found out you love cooking, see how you can apply the discipline that comes with it to your day to day.
- Don’t be afraid to fail. By doing that, we can all learn to be more creative. “No one really has control over anything”. Control is a myth. Countless studies and highly respected thought leaders have shown that the notion of having control over anything in our lives is an illusion. Ask yourself, do you really have control over if you’ll get to keep your current job tomorrow or next month or in the next 5 years? Let go of the notion that you have control over how your life pans out. Then embrace all your failures and the many more to come. Life is a journey, not a destination. The more you fail, the more you learn. The more you let go of control, the less bad you’ll feel about your failures and the happier you’ll be. Simply apply this one answer to anything that you or others will initially see as a failure: “It’s a good thing, it’s a bad thing…who knows?”. Also, put a post-it note on your mirror in the bathroom that says:
“Invest in the journey, not the destination”
Some are open and comfortable with experimenting with the above and see how these practices can improve their lives. For others, it can be more challenging. If so, I’d love to hear from you and see how I can help you.
“It’s just as important to set apart time for the development of our aesthetic faculties as for cultivating the money-getting instinct. A man cannot live by bread alone. His higher life demands an impalpable food”. Orison Swett Marden
Written by Maarten Platenkamp
