Instead of thinking about what you can’t do during the coronavirus crisis, think about what you can do. Being successful is not about what your needs were yesterday, or your needs are today, it’s about what your needs are in the future.

You have the power to create a better future now, not sometime in the future.

Change is difficult especially if you’ve lost a job, had to switch careers, break a bad habit, improve a relationship, or develop a new skill. To fulfill your potential and achieve your goals, change is necessary. As we recover from this pandemic, look to create a better future, not rebuild the past post-COVID-19.

Here’s why.

The world needs to change

Most people don’t mind change as long as they don’t have to change. Of course, there is a consequence of not embracing change. As you’ve seen by the coronavirus outbreak, change happens with or without your permission. How you deal with change now is what will determine all your tomorrows.

Blockbuster Video

Remember Blockbuster Video, the home movie, and video giant. They were founded in 1985 and one of the most well-known brands in the video rental market. At its peak, they had 9,094 stores employed around 84,000 people worldwide. The CEO at the time felt videos were still a niche business and underestimated the impact streaming services such as Netflix would have on the market.

Blockbuster Video filed for bankruptcy in 2010. They failed to adapt to the market and change.

Kodak

Kodak was at one time the world’s biggest film company but its hesitation to move into the digital market led to their demise. Although they were one of the first companies to develop digital cameras for the masses, they failed to capitalize on entering the digital market for fear of losing their all-important film business. Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012.

They failed to adapt to a changing market.

Nokia

Nokia was the first company to create a cellular network throughout the late 1990s and early 2000. At the time, they were the global leader in mobile phones. Nokia didn’t grasp the concept of how data, not voice, was the future of the communication industry. They do not want to lead a dramatic change in their user experience. Meanwhile, Steve Jobs launched the I-Phone and subsequently, Nokia tried to enter the Android market with no success.

There are many other examples of where iconic names in businesses did not keep with a changing world. Polaroid, Atari, Toys R Us, IBM, Compaq, J.C. Penny, Borders, America Online to name just a few. 

What does this mean for you?

Don’t rebuild the past post COVID-19

Change is never a question of your capability, it’s always a question of “Are you prepared to change? Are you prepared to risk stepping outside your comfort zone to get the results you want?”

Think about how you can create a future you want rather than rebuild your past.

Most likely we are headed for a global recession due to COVID-19 which will hurt your income. When your back is against the wall, remarkable things begin to happen, it unleashes your creativity and fosters innovation. It allows you to try things you have never tried before or buy things you could never afford before. For example, change your career, look for a new job, start a business, buy stocks at discounted prices.

As yourself, what opportunities are out there that could be life-changing now?

Gaining momentum

As you explore what this changing world has to offer, now is the time to gather the momentum you need to get the results you want.

Entrepreneurship

Consider using your special talents and abilities to become an entrepreneur. You don’t need a college degree or a background in entrepreneurship to succeed. There is an inner entrepreneur in all of us. Entrepreneurship is about the way you think and feel as it aligns with your level of self-belief. This pandemic is allowing you to explore your inner entrepreneur and create a better future for yourself by doing something you are passionate about.

Start brainstorming ideas as they come to mind. Research the market, draft a business plan, explore the opportunities around you now. If you wait until the pandemic is under control, someone else will snatch up the same opportunities before you.

Career change

Perhaps you hated your job, your boss, your coworkers, and dreaded going to work every day. Now is the time to reinvigorate your career by moving to another company or change careers altogether. Imagine what it would like to want to jump out of bed every day because you are passionate about what you do.

Get inventive and consider what companies you want to work for in a role you want to do. Reach out to your personal and professional network and ask if they know anyone who can give you a hand up.

Don’t wait until the pandemic is over before taking this step. As businesses get back to a new reality, they will be looking for people to employ. Aim to hit the ground running by building up your momentum now.

Starting a new career might mean learning new skills. Perhaps you need to learn a new trade or go back to college and study a new discipline, the opportunities are endless if you allow yourself to think big.

Remote opportunities

The world has discovered many businesses operate perfectly well with employees working remotely from home. Upskilling your knowledge of how technology supports working remotely from home presents you with enormous opportunities to work remotely with any company across the globe. This opens up a whole world – not just the town or city you work in.

On a final note

What you do today matters as it influences your future. Instead of thinking about what you can’t do, think about what you can do. By taking action now you will gain the momentum you need to hit the ground running once this pandemic is under control.