Don’t have a Plan B? Here’s how to start.
‘What’s your Plan B?’ ‘What’s your exit strategy’
I do remember these questions being completely alien to me when I was younger. I only had one plan and no ‘exit strategy’: I would spend my life making television!
I did notice back in my 20s that there weren’t many people working in television in their 50s and I was curious to where they all went but it seemed so far off, I didn’t dwell on it too much.
This was 30 years ago, so in those days, people probably retired on pensions or had paid off mortgages so they didn’t need to keep working. I could be wrong. So 80 year old former telly types, tell me what you did and where you went!
These days, in this economy, I think most people are needing a Plan B.
My Plan B was forced upon me when I was made redundant. I had some time off (paid) and was able to see the wood for the trees and figure out what I actually wanted from my life, what I was passionate about doing and the work I was most drawn to. By that time it was very different to what had brought me into television in the first place.
I still had big bills to pay (and still do) so not working was not an option. Instead, I tuned into passion and purpose and worked out a way I could use those to problem-solve for people in a way that I would get paid. And here I am as the Founder of Fast Track to Fearless and working as a coach with individuals, groups etc! And I love it!
It’s now with hindsight that I can see the process I took and retro-fit it into a step-by-step format for others.
So, if you are thinking, ‘F***(or some other expletive), what’s my Plan B?’ then this is where to start.
Accept that you probably need a Plan B
Gnash your teeth, thump your fists, howl at the moon about the industry and the world changing and it’s not fair and it sucks. Do this for as long as you need then take a deep breath and sigh it out, dry your eyes and look up and onwards.
Take a Balcony View
Observe the big picture - what is going on in the world, how are people, what are they needing, wanting, how are they buying, what are the problems and issues out there that need solving? What are must haves and not nice-to-haves? What is the reality of how consumers are behaving?
Take a dip in Lake You
Back to basics. Really think about what brings you joy, sparks energy, what you actually love doing (and don’t say the thing that you’ve been paid to do and is no longer needed - think about what’s underneath it). If money were no object, what would you be doing?
Have a lot of conversations and listen
Do your market research, get curious, have conversations where you are just listening for problems you might be able to pour your passions into to help solve. Don’t be blinkered in thinking you can only do one thing. When you hear problems then see if you can think of the solution. We are, by nature, adaptable and resourceful when we have to be.
Percolate and Process
Plan Bs take thought and often lots of iteration. They don’t come out fully-formed. They can be completely left-field. It can be an emotional process letting go of a work identify you’ve held onto for so long and embracing another. So give yourself this time and space to think, try, discuss, plan, maybe upskill in areas you need to.
So this is how to start formulating your Plan B. I want to assure you that even though it might be scary and painful it mostly ends up in people finding a lot of joy and purpose.
I now think my Plan A, wonderful as it was, has enabled me to do work that I find even more rewarding and joyful in my Plan B phase. And I’m already thinking about Plan C.
As ever, if you need help and support navigating this, I am here for you!
Tracy
