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A look into the crystal ball shows the future is now [by Michael Kinsman] I always thought that being a futurist was pretty good work.
I figured that if you were always looking out
gin to wonder when it will happen again. If we
that you should be using to create a more
into the future making observations about it,
have a career setback, we think we have done
successful work environment for you and your
you could probably never be wrong. By looking
something to deserve it.
company. Too many workers have lost their drive because they think the company will
into the future, you would always have the chance to recast your observations before
This is the kind of thinking that never lets us
stifle them. Companies know that nothing is
they were proven untrue.
get ahead, never gives us the chance to thrive
permanent, so you should, too.
in our work and never take the chances we I thought people would think highly of you
need to take in a business world that is con-
because as long as you saw positive things
stantly changing.
- Make new friends in your workplace. You might not think there is anything wrong
ahead, it would make them happy or reinforce Business never waits for workers to adjust
with your current group of work friends, but
to its needs. Companies make changes and
if you look closely, they probably are a lot
And, there’s the side benefit that never be-
expect workers to embrace them, or they hire
like you. We grow by being exposed to new
ing wrong assures a certain degree of job
new workers they know will embrace those
ideas and fresh perspectives. Those we know
security.
needs.
best probably think very similarly to us. New
But then I started thinking about this newspa-
Here’s some things to think about as you
our minds to new ways of doing things and dif-
per columnist I know. He writes on economics
evaluate your future, either with your current
ferent perspectives on what we are doing now.
and people refer to him as Mr. Doom & Gloom.
employer or with another one.
what they wanted to believe.
acquaintances, on the other hand, can open up
- Focus on what you have to do today and how
Well, Mr. Doom & Gloom is a bit of a futurist himself. His friends rib him, saying he has
- Envision the future of your business and then
successfully predicted 27 of the last three
figure out how you fit into it.
you can do it better. The future starts today so the quicker you
recessions. Most likely, your business is either undergo-
move the better off you will be. You don’t have
ing dramatic change today or will in the near
chart out an entirely new career or job to get
future. Instead of fearing this, look for the
rolling. All you have to do is adopt the attitude
But there’s no downside to becoming a futur-
possibilities it is bringing. Just because you
that you will look at things with an open mind,
ist for your own career. Unfortunately, most
haven’t done something before doesn’t mean
explore options that you might have dismissed
of us never realize that and stumble along
you can’t do it now. Unfortunately, workers
before and that you have an opportunity to be
accepting whatever happens in front of us.
are often told their limits by others. Don’t take
more satisfied in your job.
So you can see there is a downside to this.
that sitting down. The future is where your employer is headed.
We’ve all heard about this New Age idea that we have to take responsibility for managing
- Acknowledge that nothing is permanent,
You can either choose to be part of that future
our careers and plotting our own way in the
particularly when it comes to our livelihoods.
by thinking that you are, or you can retreat into the comfort of the past. Just don’t blame
world. Yet many of us fail to do that and, in fact, wind up doing just the opposite.
Many workers surrender to the forces of
your employer if they move ahead and you
corporate structure. But when compliance
don’t.
As rational human beings, we have a tendency
with the expectations of others or believing
to frame the future with our past. If we have
that others hold the key to your success, you
been laid off twice in the last 10 years, we be-
are losing valuable initiative and creativity
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