As 2021 is coming to an end, I can’t help but think that the world is doing better than we think. Yet, it takes a certain mindset.
At first sight, it’s hard to put aside all the doom and gloom surrounding us. Don’t we have the highly mutated Omicron variant ready to take over the next phase of the pandemic? Don’t wreckless and selfish human habits endanger the planet? Aren’t we seeing extreme ideologies and disrespectful behaviors beating moderate ones?
All of these evils and the damages they cause are real. If you look close, you also see emerging competitors disrupt established businesses. Governments struggle with the diminishing return of traditionally learned and tried policies. We all fear our future is out of control!
So should we keep lamenting over the inevitable downfall of humanity? Is there any way out?
I’ve seen one approach work well for me in 2021. It requires different thinking, but it can help both make this world more bearable and turn you into a high-impact problem solver.
In a nutshell, it’s what I call a selective optimistic exponential mindset.
Let me explain!
Have an exponential mindset
We live in a world of exponential evolutions. Look around you; everything is accelerating. Yet, the way most of us keep thinking is very linear. Such incremental thinking is what’s causing us to get eventually blindsided.
An exponential mindset will help you better anticipate accelerating mutations instead and ease the transition from one paradigm to the next.
One way to get started with it is to assume that what took five years to happen will now only take one year. So, look at your market or category, imagine the consequences of such acceleration, and what impact it would have on your plans.
Be optimistic
Another critical dimension is seeing some good, even in the most screwed situations.
It helps you persevere and reach your untapped potential. As you try to identify these upsides, you’ll become better at solving problems and reap greater rewards than most.
Be selective
Another beneficial lesson from the Stoics! A lot is going out of control around us. But, the key to keeping your sanity and maximizing impact is to focus on what you can control and learn to be indifferent to the rest.
Selectiveness in such a noisy world has been the hardest for me in 2021. Yet, I’ve kept progressing by limiting my exposure to social media and general news and seeking more targeted insights.
I’ve made the best out of 2021 by deliberately choosing the problems to address and taking a bold and positive approach to their resolution.
2022 will not be any different, and I trust a consistent selective optimistic exponential mindset will help us shine.
So, embrace the unknown and be smart about it.
Happy Holiday and Happy New Year!