Episode: 102

Episode Title: 2020’s Career Lessons: Adaptability

2020 has been tough, but we sure learned a lot from it. Stay tuned for the first lesson I learned, coming up next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 102 show:

Hello, and welcome—I’m your host, Mark Perna. 2020 was the year no one was expecting. It was tough for everyone: healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, teacher or student. We’ve all felt our share of uncertainty this year. But amidst all the challenges, there are still positive lessons we can use. 

For me, there were three main insights that are changing the way I approach my life and work. And the first one is the power of adaptability. 

This year, adaptability has been everything. The ability to pivot is a critical attribute for success, because change is the only constant, not just in 2020 but in life. 2020 just highlighted that fact for us. Adaptability is demonstrated in your critical thinking skills, grit, and ability to stay focused amid distractions.

To become more adaptable, examine how you think. When something throws off your groove, do you instantly panic—or plan? Do you look for the bright side, or are you focused on the difficulty? Do you accept change as a natural part of life, or are you resentful that so little seems to be within your control? I had to ask myself these questions and commit to change my thinking so I could adapt more readily to the changes brought by this incredibly challenging year. 

I’ll be candid—I didn’t always want to be adaptable. I wanted things to stay the way they had been…I liked my old life and way of working. But adaptability is the secret of success in a world that is changing faster than ever. And when I chose to be flexible, to adapt to the new reality I couldn’t control, everything got easier. It can for you, too. 

Tomorrow, we’ll cover another lesson that 2020 can teach us: the critical skill of effective communication. We’ll see you then!