How to keep your self-belief in a volatile industry

I work mainly with people in the creative industries and from what I can see this is the toughest year yet in the 30 years that I worked.

Fluctuations in the market, disruption, strikes, you name it, it’s been incredibly tough. The knock-on effect of that is a lack of jobs or fear of losing roles or too many qualified people for the amount of vacancies out there.

So how do you keep your self-belief in an industry with lots of knock-backs? Where following your passion and purpose sometimes feels like a mission impossible?

Two things I think are crucial: One, a strong sense of self and two, a sense of perspective about where you are on your journey....

1) A strong sense of self - This means that you know and can see that you are not just your job or your job title.

You can see that your job or title is just one of the manifestations of who you are. You are many things besides your job.

You are family to someone, friend, carer, community member, trusted confidant, supporter in times of need, entertainer and much, much more.

If you are struggling with a sense of self, look at yourself from other’s perspectives and ask yourself what you see. They won’t just see whatever your job title is.

2) A sense of perspective - I think a sense of perspective about where you are on your journey helps. As they say, the course of true love never runs smoothly. Well, neither does anyone’s life or career.
​You're on a journey. And any journey has its ups and downs, twists and turns, bumps and bounces. We aren’t on a linear journey. We ebb and flow and bob around then go full pelt.

So stop and take stock. Think about where you are on your journey. Look back at all the trials and tribulations you’ve already tackled, conquered and lived through. Look ahead, what trials, and tribulations are you likely to come across.

​
We are resourceful beings, we achieve so much without realising it. So in these times, take stock, take a moment to digest what you have done so far AND what you will need for the journey ahead.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, remember?

I hope that helps. Let me know your thoughts.

Tracy