“We’ve been trained to prefer being right to learning something, to prefer passing the test to making a difference, and most of all, to prefer fitting in with the right people, the people with economic power. Now it’s your turn to stand up and stand out.”

Seth Godin

A hangover from the past

Seth Godin highlights in The Icarus Deception how the Industrial Age conditioned us to think a certain way… We were taught to “play it safe” and “follow the rules”. This may have worked fine in the industrial era, but this thinking is no longer serving us.

Times have changed

We no longer work in a factory where the safest thing to do is to keep our heads down, slip under the radar, and follow instructions. 

The world has changed. We are now in a connection economy which has no set “rules”. Jobs are no longer “safe”. The current pandemic is wiping out more jobs every day. Artificial intelligence and automation technologies are doing things cheaper and faster.

In disruption also lies opportunity…

The new safe

The safer thing in today’s economy is to bet on yourself. We live in an abundant world where you can learn anything online at the click of a mouse. You can connect with anyone across the world. 

These wonderful tools didn’t exist in the Industrial Age. Why not make the most of them.

The world needs leaders who will stand up, embrace change, and connect with others. In this new economy we follow our own compass, think on our feet, and ship great work.

The “work” is unique to each individual. Only they can identify what feels “great” to them.

The Resistance 

We feel like we’re fenced in. It’s too hard to change. Or life is too comfortable.

But we aren’t actually trapped. That is just a story we tell ourselves. 

Why?

Because we have a dark secret… Deep down a part of us wants to hide. To be told what to do. To not be accountable. To not be on the hook for something. To take the easy way out.

Steven Pressfield writes wonderfully in The War of Art about the negative voice in our head that is always critical and telling us what we should and shouldn’t do. He calls this voice “The Resistance”.

The Resistance was developed for a purpose. It is trying to protect us. But we don’t always need to be protected. To do great work you probably need to take a few risks. Some people may not like your work. But that’s ok as you are not trying to appeal to everyone.

It’s time to recognise that The Resistance is keeping us from doing our best work.

The good news

You don’t have to listen to The Resistance. Each time you say no to The Resistance, you develop more confidence and feel a little stronger. It’s like a muscle.

Take action

• Where is The Resistance holding you back?
• What unique skills and abilities do you have?
• What strengths can you develop?
• What insights could you offer the world?
• How can you connect to people and make a real difference?

Don’t always listen to the resistance, it could be holding you back.

If you’re going to bet on anything, bet on yourself.