The ten steps to self-sufficiency
The best way to succeed in today’s crazy economic environment is to become as self-sufficient as possible. To be successful, you need to be different and interesting…you need to make your mark. No matter what the state of the economy, you need to know who you are, your strengths, talents, abilities, and what you want to achieve. Then you need to focus, actively participate, and be passionate about achieving your goal. This is the essence of “being self-sufficient.” The following ten steps will take you a long way on your journey to becoming a more self-sufficient person.
1. It all starts with becoming self-aware. You must identify values, beliefs, feelings and emotions as well as other personal attributes that help you clearly identify your strengths, weaknesses and differentiating factors of yourself. When you really know who you are, it colors your decision-making process in the right shade of truth for you.
2. Self-inquiry should be high on your list because of the importance of having an inquiring mind in an age where knowledge is the currency that buys success. Seeking information from many sources and staying informed opens up many more possibilities.
3. Commitment to lifelong learning is key. Your focus on personal development should be a never-ending process. Your ability to continually learn and expand your skills will be the most important skill to hone, now and in the future.
4. You must explore and create opportunities. Your talent for exercising your investigative skills to identify, research, interpret, evaluate, and seize the opportunity to make a significant impact will greatly affect your self-sufficiency.
5. Ongoing action planning should become second nature. Using your time effectively to identify the steps needed to reach a goal, assess your progress, and prepare contingency plans to help ensure progress are all important in providing the answer to the questions: Where am I now? Where do I want to be? What do I have to do to get there? How will I know when I have arrived?
6. Taking risks is an important part of the game. As you develop your self-reliance skills, you will become more comfortable taking on a wide variety of risks, better at coping effectively with uncertainty, more creative and innovative, and more adaptable to ever-changing circumstances.
7. Networking with others is the hallmark of the information age. Just like the network technology you use or come into contact with, you too must develop a network of relationships made up of business partners, colleagues, mentors, coaches, and friends. This type of support network will provide you with valuable advice and support. It will also provide an excellent feedback system for your innovative ideas, thoughts and concepts.
8. The political awareness to negotiate effectively will open doors for you as you learn to navigate the new economy. Like it or not, it is very important that you understand power struggles, hidden tensions, and the location of power and influence within your organization. This awareness allows you to more effectively consider the interests and concerns of all stakeholders and increases your ability to reach “win-win” agreements.
9. The art of self-promotion is a positive attribute. Your ability to promote your strengths, talents, and abilities for the greater good of the organization, in a compelling way, is key to promoting your intellectual capital in an economy where knowledge is an absolute necessity in the decision-making process.
10. A self-sufficient person must exercise leadership qualities. A self-sufficient person does not stand around wondering what is going on. You must make things happen! You must help others as you have helped yourself.