Build for Tomorrow

Jason Feifer is currently editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. He's also a keynote speaker and startup advisor. He hosts two podcasts titled Build For Tomorrow and Problem Solvers. A graduate of Clark University, Jason Feifer was previously an editor at Fast Company, Maxim, Men's Health, and Boston magazines. He was also a writer for The Washington Post, Slate, New York magazine, and other publications.

The moments of greatest change in the economy can also be the moments of greatest opportunity in your personal career, as long as you know what you're doing.

The reality is we all experience change in pretty much the same four phases every time:

• First, we panic.
• Then, we start to grudgingly adapt.
• Next, we find a "New Normal".
• And finally, we reach the stage where we wouldn't ever like to go back to how things used to be.

To successfully build for tomorrow, position yourself to thrive no matter what tomorrow's needs ultimately turn out to be. To do that:

• Pause when others start to panic.
• Be the first to change, before you have to.
• Lead the charge to the New Normal.
• Seize new opportunities that did not exist before.

1. Phase 1 — Panic. The scary thing about change is you feel powerless, and maybe disenfranchised. You want to make it stop, so you go defensive, or you make a knee-jerk decision you hope will solve everything. It won't. Instead, look at panic as something to harness, not something to hide from. Overcome panic by forcing yourself to think about what has been gained.

2. Phase 2 — Adapt. When things are changing, you often have more control than you think. Always view change as an opportunity to be freed of the thing you don't like about the status quo. Change before you must, and get in the vanguard of working your future job. Work the options and go where they lead with energy and enthusiasm. Make it your goal to be the first to change, not the last.

3. Phase 3 — New normal. You have to create your "New Normal" whenever change arises. Don't jump to conclusions, or try and oversimplify. Lead the charge to the New Normal, whatever that may be. And don't view that as your destination either. It will simply be a place to plant your feet until it's time to jump again.

4. Phase 4 — Won't go back. Inevitably, you'll reach a moment where you think you never want to go back to the good old days. That's progress. Good changes stick, and they always create opportunities that did not exist before. Seize them and prosper, and start building for tomorrow.

1. The moments of greatest change in the economy can be the moments of greatest opportunity in your personal career.
2. To successfully build for tomorrow, position yourself to thrive no matter what tomorrow brings.

Another great business book this week. There have been some exceptionally good books published this year, and I rate BUILD FOR TOMORROW highly. Entrepreneur magazine's editor-in-chief Jason Feifer makes the point that the moments of greatest change in the economy are generally the moments of greatest opportunity in your career — if you know what you're doing. Whenever big changes come along, we all tend to experience change in four sequential phases:

Phase 1. We panic, and feel disenfranchised by the changes.

Phase 2. We start to grudgingly adapt, and start doing new things.

Phase 3. We then start to view the new circumstances as our "New Normal".

Phase 4. We reach the point where we like the new way, and don't want to go back to the old.

Jason Feifer suggests instead of waiting for changes to happen to you, harness them to thrive in the future. To do that:

1. Pause when others start to panic, and identify the new skills you're learning.

2. Be the first to change, or even better, change before you have to. Be a pioneer.

3. Feel comfortable about moving to a "New Normal", and view that as a place to stand temporarily until you change again.

4. Be highly proactive about seizing the new opportunities change brings, and thrive.

I really relate to his quote: "We live in a time of great change. We may not be able to predict what’s coming, but there is work we can do now. We can begin to build a trust inside ourselves, to feel confidence that we can make the most of the future. Change will always be part of the bargain. We only do ourselves harm by clinging to the past, and by believing that yesterday contained all the answers. It doesn’t. We must build, and there is only one direction to build in. It is toward tomorrow." — Jason Feifer

Very good thinking. Awesome book.