2021 was not quite the same as 2020 and in some ways, it was better and brought its own challenges. The nationwide lockdowns have come to an end in some places but there are new covid variants which are causing concern.
Working from home has been beneficial too for those who are able to do so and for others, it has been a real challenge.
Thinking back over the past few months, these are the biggest lessons learnt in 2021.
Being Conscious when making Decisions.
This year presented several opportunities, some of which were unavailable in 2020. In a way, the lockdowns introduced in 2020 and the working habits allowed us more time to reflect and plan.
When 2021 arrived, we were pumped and ready to leap out there and take opportunities by the horn. Many people left their jobs for new roles and in some cases life changing decisions were made.
In the decision making process, the ‘why’ aspect of those decisions and goals came to mind.
There is a tendency to move with the crowd, get a second job, follow this new trend and pattern – some of which are profitable. The real question to consider is how these new opportunities fit in with your longer term goals and ambitions.
The great resignation as it was coined by some sources was an eye opener as workers demanded more from their jobs and in turn, some discovered they need to do more for themselves so they can benefit from better opportunities.
It is fashionable to be on trend and in sync with the market. Making smart moves as it seems is the ‘in thing’ but it is worth remembering people are at different stages at their lives so an opportunity that may work for them, may not work for you.
Things such as family commitment, starting a new family, how long you have been in your current job, children going to a different school, caring for family members or even starting a serious relationship can have an effect on how you view these opportunities that were presented this year.
Looking past career and finance, even when it comes to health, relationships and everything else, being in the moment and thinking carefully before making a decision is very important and this can make a huge difference in the outcome.
As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. The strategy is to wait for an opportunity that is inline with your long term goals and when it shows up, by all means stop waiting and act.
Spend Time like Money.
It is often said time is money and there is some truth to that statement but it does not paint the full picture.
Time is not money for everyone; for some people, time is health, it is travel and adventure. Or anything else for that matter.
I’d like to consider time as whatever value it can be converted to, for your benefit. In effect time is the currency of life and it should be spent was such.
Considering the myriad of distractions today, the ability to focus almost seems to be a super power.
The lockdown did starve us of human contact and the physical connection which is necessary for our mental and physical well-being.
Once the restrictions were lifted, a lot of time was spent in places and doing things that are not productive or inline with our goals.
There are so few hours during the weekend and not enough during the working week so it is important to prioritise and determine what is important. Not everything or everyone is important and this is crucial to how we allocate time.
The beauty of being cautious with who and how we spend to time is that we emphasise more on the quality of the time not simply the quantity or length.
There is a constant battle for our attention from work, family, social media and everyone else. Being in control of my time has been one of the biggest lessons this year.
Saying No
No is a statement by itself and does not require justification. Saying no seems difficult but saying it means or at least suggests you know what opportunities willing to overlook and this is important.
Saying yes to everything and to everyone comes across as though you are a people pleaser and these people pleasing attempts may not end well.
There is a time to be ‘nice’ as it may seem but more often than not, say no. You are accountable for your time to yourself, your family and your goals.
Saying no to many opportunities, calls, joining the odd WhatsApp group or being part of an initiative has allowed me to focus on what I have said yes to and commit to those opportunities.
Time is limited and each time you say yes or commit to something, another task or goal can potentially suffer.
Starting one thing and doing it well is more important in the long run than being stretched, and not finishing. Anyone can start, finishing however is a different matter.
Just Ask
Just in case you have not noticed, it is impossible for anyone to ready your mind although sometimes we wish people could – life would be so much easier right?
Unfortunately we have not yet transitioned to the Metaverse (Zuckerberg take note) so until that happens we have to stick to good ol’ fashioned asking and expecting to get.
Asking in this context does not refer to some metaphysical concept of connecting with the man upstairs and all that. That is beyond the scope of this article.
If there is an opportunity you are interested in, a new job or just some help and insight, just ask. I appreciate it is easy to type these words or to internalise and imagine the process of asking.
There are no monsters out there so go out there and ask. Ask your manager, your spouse, your friends, your parents, ask the right questions to the right people, ask for help when you need it without fear.
The worst that would happen is that you get a ‘no’ and that is not exactly the worst thing in the world now is it?
This year I have seen a number of people benefit from simply asking the right people. They have a career shift and better prospects just by asking and making it clear they were interested in such opportunities.
Of course doing good work, having a good character and other things help and build up to that moment.
Think of the sweat and intellectual equity you have put into the endeavour – you will get a thank you for your good work however asking and making your intentions clear will allow the powers that be know what you need.
Think about other aspects of living and new opportunities you will like to uncover. Asking the right people the right questions is the place to start.
Appreciation is good but does not pay the bills let us be honest. Ask and expect to receive.
Give Back
Social responsibility is something that has grown in the past few years and has taken many different forms. The increase in impactful investing, socially responsible investing and ESG has allowed investors to make profit and still sleep well at night.
On a personal level, giving back has one of the lessons I learnt this year that will stay with me. Wealth Sigma is built on the premise of learning and sharing that knowledge with a wider audience while growing together.
Giving takes on different forms and what readily comes to mind is giving money or time. More importantly however is giving back the product we have used our time to acquire.
So in effect, by translating our time to value, and sharing that value with people is giving back.
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Making time to listen to people, offering suggestions as part of different groups, doing some freelance work or anything that may seem small at first can make a world of difference especially for the recipient.
We rise by lifting others and sharing the little we have acquired overtime or what has been bestowed on us can make a huge difference in the decisions other people are making and can change the outcome.
Many people lost loved ones, lost their jobs, started life afresh, formed new relationships and all sorts. I found that giving back by being available, sharing my little experience, offering guidance and support made all the difference – and that was good enough.
Each individual comes from a community or has been positively impact by an organisation and this could be in a financial, educational, spiritual or even mental way.
Taking time to think about how we have been impacted, giving back through our time or finances or knowledge is one of the ways of expressing gratitude and inspiring others.
Summary
There are other lessons worth considering but these were the biggest lessons. Going into next year, the lessons learnt will not simply disappear and if anything, different aspects of these lessons will come to light.
Being aware of the lessons learnt is one indication of how much we have grown and can point to areas of new growth.
The underlying theme to all this is living on purpose rather than living as though we are not in control or have any interest in our existence.
When you have a bigger goal in life you are working towards, you will notice yourself saying No where the goals are not in alignment. You will become more conscious of your decisions and where you need to, you will ask.
Deciding how you spend your time and being more frugal with it is something that will naturally occur within the context of the goals and giving back to help those coming behind us as it were, is a culmination of all that.
Looking forward to the lessons and rewards for 2022 and I wish you all the best.
