Budget cuts impact the freelance writer and the corporate writer and the writing business just as much as they do for teachers, car dealerships, health care workers and small businesses. These issues were discussed in a recent conversation I had with a few other writers and people in the communications field. We are all facing failure, loss and the need for resilience as the world economy tries to figure out where to go. Interestingly, the topic of resilience was one of the major issues.
One of the concepts I’m learning as I pay attention to world leaders facing severe economic problems is that effective leaders are resilient when it comes to change. They are also positive abut what they are doing or trying to do.
The consensus in our discussion was that resilience is a personal characteristic that some people have which enables them to bounce back with action and speed when they encounter loss and change. They also work with their eyes open and are among the first to realize that the status quo is unsustainable. They are realists but seldom pessimists.
The problem with so many of us is that when things are going well we skimp on working on our professional development. We assume things aren’t going to change and don’t have to invest in our own training. My thinking is when things are going well is when you can most afford to invest in yourself.
Most people blame ‘The Budget”, their budget, their clients’ budgets, the federal budget, and the banks not helping small business. I hesitate to say this because it reads so simply but as my dad use to say, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I did readjust my budget when I financial forces over which I have absolutely no control over interfering with my business. Unfortunately, I didn’t adjust enough and am continuing to downsize what I do and what I purchase for my writing business.
I know it’s so easy to say I’ve been so busy lately that I didn’t have time to work on the financial organization of my company. Honestly, I could use that excuse for not cleaning my office or not preparing ahead for my clients, or even for calling up a client who is tough to work with. One of my colleagues keeps adding on more projects and initiatives to his business so that he now feels helpless. I’m downsizing my activities. For instance I’ve unsubscribe to about 12 programs this past weekend. The programs were informative and it was fun to find out what the latest trends were in some areas but that wasn’t my priorities.
I admit to not being very resilient but I am working on it. It is so easy to be negative these days and when I’m negative I don’t think I write as well. There doesn’t seem to be any spirit in my writing if that makes sense. When I am positive, even if it’s less than perfect because it sits on so much effort, the attitude still works. For instance instead of saying it can’t be done I’ll ask myself what are the possibilities.
I am not mesmerized by my own thinking into believing that my decisions are the correct ones. I am always listening to what others have to say, even to a fault sometimes getting into situations where I shouldn’t be in the first place.
Based on my own experience I’m a firm believer that resilience can be learned. To help increase your resilience ask yourself:
- What has this particular challenge cleared up for you? What did you learn from this?
- What is your new reality and what are you doing to move toward it?
- What skills and understandings do you have that will help get you there? Where do you need help?
- What is your new vision?
- What are you still missing?
Much success in your writing and in your life.
Ruthan
Ruthan Brodsky – Content Creator
Copywriter
Business Writer
Health Writer
