An article in the September 12, 2011 issue of Forbes Magazine caught my eye. The article, titled Volatility Is Your Friend, states, “with a little sense and a lot of guts, you can protect yourself – and, yes, profit – from the stock market’s wild swings. Really.”
The exact same thing is true in your career and in other areas of your life! Volatility is indeed your friend… if you are focused on leveraging the almost unlimited opportunities volatility brings to your career and to your life. With a focused, creative, receptive mind, as well as effectively applying your strengths and passions, volatility is one of the best things that can ever happen to you.
Volatility is not going away. Volatility is going to continue, and at an even more frequent and rapid pace in virtually every area of our lives. The smart and successful among us are increasingly embracing the fast, uncertain pace of volatility. The smart and successful among us are increasingly benefiting and “winning” by embracing, learning from and taking advantage of volatility while most people and most organizations are still frozen from fear, anxiety and worry.
I believe the number one source of opportunity, the number one “opportunity creator” in the world is volatility and rapid change. The quicker, the faster, the more dramatic and the more volatile… the more opportunity for those who know and leverage the fact that volatility is their friend.
How long has it been since you truly took the time to carefully and honestly examine your reactions and your responses to volatility? As the well-known chili commercial says, “well friend, that’s too long.”
You would do well to spend some quality time reflecting on your reactions and responses to volatility in your career and in other areas of your life. You would also do well to ask for and carefully listen to the honest perspectives of trusted friends, colleagues and family regarding your reactions and responses to volatility.
And then, of course, you must do something about it. “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”
Volatility. Are you effectively leveraging this valuable resource, this unlimited “opportunity creator” in your personal and professional life? Or are you like many people and organizations facing uncertain and significant volatility… either frozen in your tracks or very slowly crawling along a perceived safe path that endeavors to avoid or deny reality, volatility and its many ramifications?
Volatility is your friend. Nowhere will you find more opportunity!
