Do you go against the grain or stay in your lane?

In 2020, I made a bold statement: Do you go against the grain or stay in your lane? 

I'm a big believer that we all have the ability to not only dream big, but to dream bigger. What does that mean though? I talk about this in my first Ted Talk, Going Against the Grain.

As children, we all dream. In fact, our dreams are so big that our imagination goes wild, we are innovative, courageous and take risks. These are skills that I would say most Entrepreneurs and Visionaries still possess. Their childhood dreams and actions continue into adulthood, so what changes in life that diminishes these skills for many? What is it that prevents so many people from dreaming big and pushes them to defaulting into what I would call a “normal” life?

Does it come back to circumstances, environment, beliefs, and experiences? Or perhaps all of it?  

In my first Tedx talk, I shared that I believe by 2040 almost all Millennials will become self-employed in some capacity. Bold? I don’t know. I believe it, in fact I encourage it. Exploration of self, purpose, and personal growth is part of what I would say has been unfolding over the past decade and continues as our youth explore what else is possible. I would say that this exploration is also becoming evident with women from the ages of 40 and up.  

This leads me to my second Ted talk, "Don't Sleepwalk Through Life”. As people, we are becoming more curious and in search of something more, unfolding those childhood dreams. We are beginning to remember the things that made us smile, the things that brought us joy and whilst exploring these, we are also thinking about the bigger purpose of life, our life.

Our circumstances, our environment, our beliefs, and experiences all contribute to the changes we are contemplating, but they are also contributors to how we make decisions and, of course, to what holds us back.

The young mind

As children, we believe that everything is possible. But often, we have had some experience from significant adults in our lives that has held us back based on their own limited beliefs. These memories, perceptions, and experiences are what we bring forward in our lives. 

For the most part, adults in our lives had a job, so we never quite considered an alternative. Perhaps everyone we knew never really complained about their job, they just got on with it, so we took that as what we grow up to do?

An underswell

So much has changed today, and many face a disenfranchised environments that are making them think that there has to be something else. Something that will once again bring them joy and a greater sense of purpose. Many have indicated that the pandemic has created an environment of the “great resignation” however, I believe that this was already on foot, but companies and leaders globally had not been paying attention. Today, in an era of awakening, we have stopped the sleepwalking. 

Creativity begins to resurface because the pain is now greater to stay and do what we have always done than it is to change. Our neuropathways are beginning to activate parts of our brain that have laid dormant for many years and our entrepreneurial mind begins to think bigger again. 

Societal Change

I believe, this is where environmental and societal experiences make the difference.  I go back to my Tedx Talks where I share that when we were encouraged to climb trees as children, to take those leaps, climbing higher each time. These lived experiences enabled us to understand risks and to develop our critical thinking.  

When we observed as children, we listened beyond the words and became more aware of what was happening around us, we broke patterns and asked more questions to better understand.  Yes, all the “Why?” questions.

Some of us were encouraged to explore, to get back up and try again despite the falls, or the failures, and yes I am aware others were told to never do it again. These experiences all have an impact on who we are, they have left an imprint, but I again share that the experiences of our past are now becoming a distant pain because the pain and dissatisfactions of what we are experiencing today is far greater than is has been historically. Because of that, we are becoming open to change and to exploring what else there is.

This is enabling many of us to look inwards and ask questions. Questions to ourselves, our family, our colleagues ,and yes of the companies we buy from, and work for. 

Our Pain is driving our search of Desire

fMRI studies have shown us that when we experience fear, it triggers the same part of the brain as when we feel pain. So, if we want to prevent ourselves from feeling pain, we avoid every experience associated with it, including fear. This drives us from inaction to action. The pain and grief of staying employed is greater than the fear of leaving.

This is why so many millennials are creating side hustles. They have identified that they no longer want to stay feeling stuck, disenfranchised so they have unveiled their creativity. They have seen more and more unicorns in the last decade evolve and seen more of their friends test the waters, so they are saying “why not me? 

They are minimising risk by staying with the safety of a regular income, but they are exploring what else is possible. Yes, they are beginning to think bigger and to Go Against The Grain.

So, are we seeing a generational change through psychosocial changes? Or are we, as people, born to be entrepreneurs, but through the system and environment we became employees and played it safe?

Are we born Entrepreneurs or do we become one?

This is such an interesting thought; one I have thought about often. This is similar to the thoughts about “are we all born nurturers and care givers or do our circumstances develop this?”

I know many will look at research, but even the research will be swayed by who does it, where it is done, and of course the level of consciousness the people being asked the questions have.

At the very core, I believe we are born as entrepreneurs and with the skills to be innovative, anti-fragile, and to have a deep respect for others, making our initial patterns and beliefs stem from being part of a community. Overtime,  through our personal experiences and that of our environment, we often lose our sense of community as we pursue personal goals, safety, and wealth. 

With security at the top of any scale, we begin to re-assess the path of least resistance, this means we accept a career, a job, and the environment we live in. This then becomes a pattern, our familiar playing ground, until we reach that pain point of no return. At times, this may even reach a point of crisis before we begin to reflect and look inward for deeper answers.

Stop Sleepwalking through life

With the world at a significantly tumultuous state, many people are asking “What else?” or saying “There has to be something more. Surely, I am here to do something bigger – to contribute in some way?”.

The rebirth of community is on the rise, the entrepreneur is being awakened, and consciousness is becoming the pathway in which we are stepping forward.

Life and work are entangled, as are our relationships. There is greater awareness of the wisdom that rests within each of us, and these are all insights and questions that are being investigated as a collective and as individuals.

We all have the ability to be greater contributors to this planet. We are beginning to recognise that our footprint, if heavy, will leave a imprint that may not be regenerative. So we are now asking each other and ourselves “what else?” but with the intention of serving as a collective.

The system is broken and this is why we are beginning to do things differently by “Going Against the Grain”. This is why we are beginning to rediscover that childlike-mind and to “Think Limitlessly”. The entrepreneur is being born again out of necessity to correct the course of humanity and community.

Ancient communities worked as collaborators. We have long left this behind yet, there was so much strength that came from working on things that you love as part of a collective. There was a sense of being part of something bigger and whilst many are recognising that this is what they are yearning for at work and in life, businesses and corporate fail to see the need to reinvest in their people and in the community.

Collaborations

My bold statements continue and, just like many things I have publicly shared, collaborations are another one that I have talked about, especially as social enterprises.

I stand as an individual with global vision. Yet I don’t stand alone. I have a deep belief that people that I cross paths with are a universal force nudging us with opportunities to collaborate for global impact.  There is nothing new about what I say, and those that know me know that this has become an inner drive, so much so that I have created a roadmap that brings people together with aligned values, aspirations, and commitment.

There are no limitations, other than the ones we place on ourselves. But with key values, we all align. As I see it Ethics, Integrity and Respect are integral to our success.

Once again, in 2020, this too has become a featured path. Each with a title of an anthology. Each being part of the roadmap showcasing the transformation. We needed to walk through challenges to get to where we need to be, to change the world.

The first two anthologies were written whilst the third was held for the unfolding of what I believe is about to occur.

Taking people on the journey

We have had significant changes globally and with each stage there have been learnings. However, the learnings for each of us have varied and this why it is so important for us to meet people where they are at. Respect is a vital part of life, despite any differences we may have, and it is through strengthening this skill that we will bring to life new beginings that serve us all as a collective.

My skills and knowledge in life have served me well. Whilst, at the time, each step may have seemed unruly, to me they made sense. From Lending, Asset and Business Repossessions, Securitisation, Counselling and Human Change, Business and Cultural experiences, from the Africa and the Maasai to Bhutan, New York, the Philippines and Vietnam, all now comes into play as I stand along others to shape a better tomorrow.

There is nothing that is impossible when you know what you are here to do.

Today, I run private retreats for people who are ready to transform and become contributors of the world. I work with visionaries and people who are focused on social impact, on projects with leaders who want to make a difference because I know how to not only changes lives, beliefs, patterns, but businesses and communities and  this will help shape a better tomorrow.

Will you join me?

Connect, register your interest and be part of the change you want to see in the world.