The FPA asked me to write a practical tips article based on their research paper Advisory Firms in 2030: The Innovation Imperative. I did, here’s a sneak peak.
What to Do When Everything is Changing
Writing the Top Performer’s Guide to Change led me deeply into change research and a special class of people, the Thrivers. The Thrivers learned the secret to rise and thrive. Here it is: Develop Resilience.
3 Steps to Resilience
Step 1: Discipline your Mind
The resilience research is overwhelmingly clear; your mental frame determines your future. Successful Thrivers maintain a discipline of optimistic realism. They look reality squarely in the face. Then make a realistic assessment of the situation and focus on the positive opportunity.
3 Steps to Optimistic Realism
- Ask yourself “What’s true?” and “Where is my opportunity?”
- Make a personal mission statement from both answers.
- Push the mental repeat button on your mission statement, daily.
Step 2: Focus on Strengths
Thrivers also have a habit of focusing on their strengths. Despite massive hits (war trauma, crime, domestic violence, etc…) the successful Thrivers zeroed in on strengths, rather than losses.
A great technique to articulate and emphasize your strengths is to make the following three lists:
- I Am: List all your intrinsic strengths, the characteristics, qualities and personality traits that help you achieve. There is great power in remembering and leveraging your natural gifts.
- I Can: List all the skills, abilities and achievements you’ve acquired over the years, both professional and personal. You can deploy your accumulated experience across multiple new opportunities.
- I Have: List all the resources available to you. Resources come in many forms, tangible and intangible, money is only one. Don’t forget to include all the people who are willing and able to help you.
Step 3: Don’t Go it Alone
One of the most striking things about the Thriver research is that zero Thrivers achieved alone. Every Thriver intentionally developed and relied on supporters and advocates. They did a great deal of individual work to achieve and recognized their need for help. The mavericks and lone wolfs did not succeed. It takes a great deal of humility and courage to ask for help. Thrivers had that courage and it paid off.
To discuss Thriving in 2020 contact me
Interested in the FAP & SEI research paper? Download: Advisory Firms in 2030: The Innovation Imperative
