Don’t Panic

As we reflect on how the year is going, I see people freaking out about whether it's going to be a down year, hard to sell, or fraught with increased competition. I get it—uncertainty is hard to sit with—but don't panic. Here are three reminders to help you keep things in perspective.

1. Take it one quarter at a time. Think about what you can control in this first quarter— just January, February, March. What are your goals? What can you stay focused on and disciplined about? Ground yourself in that.

2. Zoom out. Adopt a bigger picture perspective on the coming year. It's going to be a weird year or two in the marketplace and really in the greater world. Remind yourself that you’re in a two-year or five-year cycle. If you focus just on this immediate year, you’ll rightfully tense up. Instead, see this year in the context of others, and think about how you can set yourself up for success beyond the here and now.

3. Minimize… the news, the scarcity talk, the fear-based thoughts, and the commiseration and catastrophizing with others about how hard things are going to be. Be disciplined about how much negative, scarcity-based thinking you’re taking on and propagating. And remember, when you're selling and negotiating, nobody wants to do deals with people who are scared and desperate—it’s not a good look.

If the coming year has you in a state of panic, my advice is to slow down, take it easy, and put it in perspective with intentionality and composure. It's going to be okay—you’re doing great.

Onward.
Tom

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