You’d think I’d know better after all these years. Yet, I cling to the idea that I’m in full control.
The fact is, I am not. I am not in full control of my success at work. Of my good health. Of my relationships. At least not 100 percent. And neither are you.
This week I listened to an episode of Marc Miller’s Repurpose Your Career podcast in which he interviewed John Tarnoff, the notable career coach who specializes in older candidates. The episode was titled, “Career Reality Check-In for the 50+ Crowd.” They discussed predictions: Where will we be a year from now? The answer from both—more of the same, and continued uncertainty.
We are definitely living with career uncertainty. There’s the ever-morphing pandemic, which has made it difficult for many businesses to plan and forecast accurately. There’s a huge bump in the number of employees who want to work remotely. There’s an unprecedented job reshuffling—the Great Resignation as well as a hot job market. And, if you’re over 40 or 50, there’s the often-subtle but always-present force of ageism. That’s a career landscape never quite seen before.
How could that uncertainty affect you? Well, you could lose your job. Or, if you’re currently out of the workforce, you could find yourself in new financial straits and need to go back to work. You could have health issues. Or you could be endlessly looking for a new job with little hope of success.
But don’t forget that uncertain conditions sometimes bring favorable surprises, too. You could be promoted. You could come into a financial windfall out of the blue. You could receive a lucrative job offer from your dream company.
It’s just that we don’t know which of these is ahead, if any. It’s all very…uncertain. So how do you deal with that?
Practice
Try some things. Take some risks. You could take a job at an early-stage startup, where risk is inherent. You could raise your hand to lead a new project you’re not completely knowledgeable about. You could reach out to new contacts who seem out of your league. Take risks and notice how you feel. The goal is to practice enough that you get comfortable with uncertainty.
Find your people
Talk to others, especially those who seem to have more tolerance for uncertainty and risk than you. They can provide inspiration, support, and modeling for your way ahead. Almost as good: Read books and articles by similar guides.
Create resiliency habits
What could make you anti-fragile? Learning something new is a great investment and keeps you relevant. Work hard. My father used to say, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” Put healthy habits into place so you have the energy. Guard your mental health. These habits all mitigate your risk.
Adjust expectations
You’ll be happier if you can accept uncertainty as a given. When you know you’re doing the right things but leave a little room for unseen events or forces, you can deal with the unexpected gracefully. You can take a look at negative developments with a clear head, make the best of the situation, and move on.
After all, you’re not in total control. Neither am I. But we are setting ourselves up to handle whatever comes our way. And that’s more than most.
Photo by Olya Kobruseva from Pexels