No Opportunities? Create your own: Why Innovation & Initiative are Key in Uncertainty
So your summer internship has been canceled. Or your job search has been halted. Maybe you’ve been let go or your graduation date has been extended because you couldn’t meet practicum hours. Let’s face it, these times suck. LinkedIn has been filled with posts of lost opportunities and many of you are wondering what you can do during this time to prepare for the world’s reopening. This is the largest global crisis of the modern-day world and what you do during this time could be the key to unlocking your next opportunity.
DISCLAIMER: I’m all for mental health and this is in no way a preachy post about how you should be grinding during a global crisis. Do you, grieve your losses, cultivate your mind and spirit, and never feel pressured to live up to impossible expectations. I hope to give those who are searching for something a few ideas on how to take the next steps during these times.
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The world is calling for four things right now: Perseverance, Adaptability, Innovation, and Resilience. Interestingly enough, these are the same qualities valued by many employers and graduate/professional school admissions boards. If you can find a way to cultivate these traits during the pandemic, you will be well on your way to personal and professional success. The world may have stopped, but your purpose is enduring. I encourage you to craft your own learning and professional development experience so that when the time comes for the world to begin again, you have something to show for your time “off”.
Brainstorm: The world has changed whether we like it or not. And while it comes riddled with new challenges, it also becomes a gateway for new ideas and possibilities. Essentially, each industry is making some kind of shift and where there is change, there is the opportunity for you to make a contribution. Think about how your industry is changing and make a plan. Research companies are creating studies about the implications of COVID-19; businesses are developing new models to sustain crises; media and communications organizations are hatching ways to effectively communicate accurate news and literature across the globe. Spend time brainstorming where you are going to fit in this new world and how you will make your mark
Write: To help facilitate and maintain your brainstorming process, WRITE! Write down everything: keep a routine journal detailing your day to day occurrences. Jot down everything that inspires you each day whether it’s a line from a tv show or a random thought you have walking the dog. Inspiration comes without an invitation and we have to be ready to embrace it and take action. The thing about writing is that it is 1) Cathartic: it will allow you to open yourself to think more broadly and creatively and 2) Catalyzing: one thought often leads to many others. Don’t expect a legendary idea at first, however (although this can happen for the lucky ones!). Writing is kind of like sowing seeds. When we write, our words stick with us forever making impressions in our minds and altering our perceptions. A lot of times, something we write won’t become a revolutionary scheme until it’s had time to grow through our experiences. Either way, get to writing- it’s an investment!
Network: Now is the time to #NurtureYourNetwork and create meaningful, genuine connections with others. During this time, we are all feeling a little vulnerable. Even the most plugged-in and high profile members of our communities are struggling with loneliness and the desire to connect with other human beings. Your networks can take you places. After brainstorming who and where you want to be, seek networks that can help you achieve that. Reach out to LinkedIn connections, attend webinars, and send some emails! Joining Facebook groups, following twitter hashtags, and connecting with old professors/colleagues is a great way to nourish your network as well. In a similar vain, be bold and reach out to connections that have dwindled over the past few years and reignite the flame! The key to remember here is authenticity. Don’t seek to merely up your number of connections or increase your following. Rather, build relationships with a “what can I do to help this person?” mentality. Helping others achieve their goals is another way to reach your own!
Volunteer: Speaking of helping others, the world needs your gifts now more than ever. Have you ever noticed how those with the least are often the ones most eager to give? I believe that’s because giving affords us emotional and soulful fulfillment regardless of whether we are materially wealthy. In the midst of COVID-19, many of us find ourselves with more (or less) time on our hands. Try spending some of this time pouring into others; volunteer your resources (time, skills, words of encouragement, etc.) to those in need. This will leave you feeling GOOD (shout out to “Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown!) and we could all use something to uplift us. My thesis research taught me that altruism offers us the opportunity to take an active role in our own resilience. Who can you encourage right now? What skills do you have that can make the world around you a better place?
Expand: In 2019, I made a commitment to myself to spend 30 minutes each day learning something new. Sometimes it’s done by watching the news, other times by trying a new recipe or listening to a podcast. Either way, cultivating our minds is one of the best things we can do when it seems like all hope is lost. Read, take a free class, or tune into a podcast that discusses something completely foreign to you. Expanding your mind increases your ability to entertain conversations and connect with others. It changes your perspective, facilitates critical thinking, and allows you to feel incredibly accomplished. According to constructivism, knowledge is a process of discovery meaning, knowledge builds on itself. The more you know, the more you can create associations, make connections, and innovate new ideas. At the end of each day, ask yourself what you have learned whether it be a spiritual revelation or fun fact. Write these things down and at the end of the week, you’ll have a page full of new information, new insights, and potentially, new opportunities.
Initiate: In the words of Nike, just do it! Whether its an idea you’ve had for a long time or something you just thought of an hour ago, start today. Too many of us wait for others’ permission to be great, to follow our dreams, and to chase our destiny. Don’t be afraid to reach out to organizations to pitch an idea or offer your service. Are you a student out of an internship? Email a professor asking to help collect data, perform literature reviews, or format sources. Graphic designer out of work? Try creating some templates on ways to effectively communicate public health measures. Similarly, don’t be afraid to put your work out there! If you’ve been reaching out to no avail, this may be a sign that you can do it on your own. I pitched “Becoming Dr. Baker” to a number of magazines and journals and got rejected from all of them as they told me to come back once I got my PhD. The only person you need to believe in you and what you can offer is yourself. Similarly, don’t wait to give yourself permission. You don’t have to have all the details figured out; you don’t need 10 weeks worth of content, or one more class on research methods. All you need is faith and commitment and the rest will work itself out. The time is now.
Times like this elicit a flight or fight response in our sympathetic nervous system giving us the option to either retreat from or stand up to our stressors. Regardless of what you do during this time, make sure you stand up to adversity and invest in yourself. And while that can look like following the steps above, it can also look like protecting your peace by logging offline and spending time with those you love. The main takeaway is this: while we cannot magically eradicate disease or stimulate the economy, we do maintain control of what we do in the present moment. Take ownership of your life by continuing to sow seeds into your future and challenging yourself to find ways to adapt to the current circumstances and foster success.
