Inquisitive Minds Explorer: One Owner
Inquisitive Minds Explorer: One Owner
Edition 1
Hi Welcome to the first edition of Explorer
Just one owner means YOU! That talented, awesome, curious, unique bundle of atoms who is doing great but wants more from life, or as we now know it - your 4,000 weeks!
Yep - if you have not heard this before, it is the title of Oliver Burkeman’s recent book. This is the time you get, if you are lucky - to put your stamp on the world, and make a difference for yourself and others.
If you want to make the most of this you might need a new gameplan. I am here to help with that and navigating these turbulent times. The focus is on your Work^Life because they are linked together. Looking at the skills, traits and mindset you need for that gameplan to work.
LEARNING TO COOK
The only way to prepare yourself for tomorrow is to develop the right skillset today. See it as your role as a Talent Chef – where your skills and attributes are the ingredients to create new recipes.
This gives you the immediate opportunity with your existing basket of skills/ ingredients to spice up existing recipes in your Work^Life without even needing to learn new things. The next step is understanding what you have, what is available, what is trending, what goes together and the unusual combinations that might work gives you a creative way to look at your career differently. You are the chef and I am helping you see the abundance of ingredients available to you, and provide a few recipes along the way.
To do this well you need some great foundations - the skills, the attributes and the mindset. Plus you need a set of tools to help you navigate the change so you don’t get taken out with the first obstacle. I think we often act as if life is a ladder, as shown below, even though our lives tell us it is not!
This foundation is OWNER - to understand and manage your SELF better, know what you have to offer and what you really want. Gaining strength from your talents, attitude, skills, knowhow, self awareness, self care and with a big dose of hope.
WELCOME TO THIS WEEKS EXPLORER
In this weeks edition we take an introductory peek into the mindset and skillset that make up that OWNER role - we will explore:
ONE - The obvious INTRODUCTORY BIT to set the scene.
TWO - An OVERVIEW of the role - an outline on what it means to be an OWNER including tips on cultivating the right mindset.
THREE - Why OWNER is important?
FOUR - 3 practical things you can do to start the ball rolling and OWN IT!
FIVE - An EXPLORER update for the month and what we will be covering when on our topic OWNER.
ONE - Introductory Bit!
I am Jilli and I have spent the last decade building up a body of knowledge and experience - on the skills that will help us all thrive in this world of constant fast paced change. I could see Governments focused on future skills for children but not for adults. I have been a Change Agent working with businesses globally to navigate change for a couple of decades and this seemed crazy!
THE CHANGING WORK^LIFE LANDSCAPE
If you have 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 or more years left in your working life then you need ongoing constructive guidance on how, when and where to adapt to a world you were not educated for. That includes help from your employer (if you have one) but that is insufficient on three fronts:
Whilst many larger and successful businesses provide skill building and upskilling opportunities many do not. Even if they do you might not be using them.
You need to own this, and not let your development and future options be defined by your current role, and what your employer has planned for you.
In such a busy world we are often so overwhelmed with work^life demands and information overload - this stuff is simply not a priority. We live in an attention economy where everyone wants your ‘eyeballs and ears’ so it can be hard to work out - where to best focus your efforts and time. To escape the noise you might even just zone out completely and seek comfort instead.
You may need support to find your ‘own way’ to learn more and integrate it into your life. It is one of those important not urgent things - it won’t just happen and it is not going away. You have to OWN it!
It is also a tough thing to do on your own - my hope is we can build a live lab learning tribe around 21C future upskills and this Explorer newsletter is our initial call to action. More on the Hub next week.
I am known to be business savvy, resourceful, practical, a tad unconventional and creative. I want to use these skills and my wisdom to serve others - that means you!
Most people will have 8 to 12 jobs in their lives. The difference for the future is that many of those jobs do not even exist yet and if you are going to live to 100, retirement plans at 65 will not make sense in the near future. Your life may go through many more stages and you could have 20 or more jobs!
Post pandemic the rules are currently being completely rewritten, so lifelong learning is a must and you need a different gameplan.
The soft transferable power skills that you can take with you are the career capital of the future.
The more you can master, the easier it will be to adapt. I created a grid of skills and traits for four key roles to navigate this new world for now, to build your knowledge and skills. It gets updated annually.
The four roles are:
Owner is about taking responsibility for yourself and creating a life you want to live. It is the foundations and the bit people miss out on as they rush to doing stuff! It is about understanding who you are and what a meaningful life really means.
Discoverer is all about learning, thinking, creativity, curiosity and problem solving. This is your Explorer role!
Player is about being in the arena not a spectator - adding value and creating an impact - so you need the skills to do that - including how to communicate, persuade, collaborate, lead, coach and get noticed more.
Deliverer - is as it says - you deliver on your commitments and embrace technology as a partner/ enabler to help you do that.
Here is an Overview of the Hikmaty Future Skills Grid:
Our journey here together will be about me helping you better understand these roles and guiding you to some great resources.
TWO - THE OWNER ROLE
Choosing OWNERSHIP is a foundation 21st Century Future Skill - it is the mindset and skillset that guides you towards ‘being’ what success looks like for you.
TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND BEING AN OWNER
IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR
It is not about being an entrepreneur, but it is about thinking like one. You might work in a large corporate, government office, be a freelancer, be in the military, be a solopreneur, run a small business or have a side hustle etc. You can work for someone else and OWN your life. You run your own personal INC. for you. It is about how you manage this work relationship, others in your life and your relationship with yourself.
It is more than your work - it is about where you place responsibility for your life and choices. It is where you choose self-compassion and self-reliance over excuses and pity. It is about your future self, your mindset and the decisions you make every day when you decide to rise above your circumstances, take the keys and drive your bus!
It requires that you constantly work on your SELF (awareness, management, leadership, care) to be the person you want to be and that as the Architect you DESIGN & BUILD the life you want to live.
It is the primary future skill and most important role in your 2022 journey going forward because your future success depends upon you being an OWNER!
THE HIKMATY OWNER SKILLS GRID:
Below is the full Hikmaty Owner Grid and skills stack that make up our OWNER role to guide your own personal development journey. It informs what we share with you and curate for you. It is simply a map not the whole territory. It is deliberately detailed because that helps when stacking skills. It is not about doing it all - it is about choosing the best ingredients for you.
It is about using your talents, your character, your mindset and your skillset to deliver your dreams. Your future selves will thank you if you give it a 'must' rather than 'nice' to do.
It includes:
1) Life Success Owner: you think through and get clear on what a meaningful life looks like and why that life matters to you. Then commit to be the architect and builder of that life through the choices you make, the actions you take and habits you build.
2) Know & Lead You: you get the importance of feedback for self-awareness and EQ to better understand your motivations and blind spots. You seek to master how you lead yourself, manage the choices you make and your impact on others.
3) Vision, Direction & Priorities: You get what is important to you and what you stand for. You set a destination as a guiding star and constantly focus on what matters most now, to take you towards that vision.
4) Personal Brand: you get it is about crafting a reputation worth having not selfies. You set about living and telling the story you are proud of. You manage your career, the messages you deliver, the impressions you make and the relationships you build. Remember you do not define your personal brand - others do through the work you do, your contribution and your actions.
5) Change Agency: you get the importance of navigating good and challenging changes well, especially by adopting the right mindset. You build resilience, embrace obstacles, constantly adapt and ensure you are ready for whatever it takes to keep you in the game.
6) Refresh & Reinvent: You get what got you here won’t get you to the next stage. So you are constantly skill stacking and growing to give yourself more options. You regularly choose a refresh makeover and prepare for reinvention several times during your career, as a natural part of the journey.
7) Career Fundamentals: You get that you attract the right things into your life by consistently doing the right stuff, having confidence in yourself, being clear and focusing on what you want. You deliver work you are proud to put your signature to knowing it is all part of a bigger game plan. You begin with the end in mind, stick with it and adapt as you go. You are committed to designing and building the ‘BEST VERSION OF YOU’ life and the journey it gives you. You are proud to be you, enjoy the journey and your energy shows it!
THREE - WHY OWNER IS IMPORTANT?
For me OWNER means taking charge of getting the life and career opportunities you want. If you do not understand your SELF, your needs and wants; and what really matters you have no guiding star to move towards. That means you are blown about by events and what is on other people’s agendas and lifeplans. The map you create is the starting point to:
Understand, lead and looking after No1 first - Your SELF! Not selfishly but based upon the idea that 'if you want to help others you have to put on your oxygen mask on first'. If you are self aware and focused on being the best version of you that rubs off on others.
Have a compelling vision of your life well lived that you are moving towards. Then taking responsibility and owning your role as the architect and builder of that life through the plans and choices you make.
And saying 'Hello World - this is ME!' through the personal brand you create and the reputation you build with pride.
Understanding the impact of your energy in what you attract into your life and what you give out.
Navigate this precious journey and the inevitable challenges by committing to disciplined delivery through clarity, focus, consistency and lots of small steps forward.
And being adaptable knowing when to pivot or press the refresh button!
Learning from those two sports mantra's 'It is what it is' and 'doing whatever it takes'.
Do not dilute the truth of your potential. We often convince ourselves that we cannot change, that we cannot overcome the circumstances of our lives. That is simply not true. You have been blessed with immeasurable power to make positive changes in your life. But you can't just wish it, you can't just hope it, you can't just want it... you have to LIVE it, BE it, DO it.”
Steve Maraboli
Nobody is coming to save you so OWN it!
FOUR - 3 WAYS TO START OWNING IT!
The next 4 weekly Explorers will go deeper on each OWNER topic and give you many more valuable signposts. But if you want to get started now:
1. DITCH VICTIM MODE
The language of Owners v Victims by Steve Chandler
Owners use the words ‘I can’ a lot, while victims favoured ‘I can’t.’ Owners had goals, projects, and challenges, whereas victims had problems, hassles, and nightmares. Owners said they were busy, and victims said they were swamped. Owners were ‘designing a life,’ while victims were ‘trying to make a living.’ Owners were psyched and excited about changes in the workplace, while victims were worried and ticked off. Owners looked to see what they could get from an experience, while victims tried to get through it. Owners would plan things and victims would wish things. And although this victimization can often last a lifetime, it is only a habit. When it’s understood, it can quickly be replaced.
Steve Chandler was the first person in his book 'Reinventing Yourself' to introduce me to Owner v Victim concept in detail. I include Brian Johnson with his Philosophers Note below to introduce you to the book and the ideas it shares.
If you have not got your FREE access to Brian’s OPTIMIZE BY HEROIC - it is a great go to resource to support, you in creating the best version of you.
I spent 300 days last year doing Brian Johnson's Optimize by Heroic Coach Program. It was life affirming, challenging and life changing. (Another time but feel free to DM me with any questions). With the recent launch of the new Heroic App much of the content that I had paid for monthly, for many years, is now available for free simply by signing up to Optimize by Heroic.
Your free wisdom membership gives you access to his amazing learning library. That’s 600+ Books reviewed in Philosophers Notes (PDF's, Audio and Videos), 50+ one hour Video 101 Masterclasses, and 1000+ Video +1 micro-lessons. Yep, you have to give them your email address to set up your membership but what you get in return is valuable premium content that helps you learn new stuff and upskill. No advertising and no strings attached. You can find out more about Optimize by Heroic here
2. BECOME MORE SELF AWARE
I get it may seem like an indulgence or even too threatening to step inwards and take stock of YOU. My experience is that it is invaluable to build this into your life as the norm rather than an adhoc exercise. To OWN it you have to understand yourself and what makes you tick. It is a habit you can learn. I will cover this in more detail next week but you can start here.
For today, I am going to just redirect you, to sign up for the newsletter using this link or below. The reason is, you will get our CAREER STORY GUIDE as well as your subscription to Explorer. This guide is focused on helping you understand who you are and what you bring to the world.
It contains lots of self reflection exercises and signposts to FREE resources to give you feedback. It is written to help you manage your career, upskill and tell your story. So it also helps with resume writing, job interviews, profile writing and personal brand building.
This button below signs you up for the newsletter AND gives you the FREE Hikmaty Career Story Guide.
3. CREATE A LIFE PLAN
To design the life you want to live. I will provide more guidance and tools on this in May 14th Explorer and on the Hub going forward.
If you want to get started now CREATIVELIVE (recently bought by Fiverr) hosts the Stanford d.School design thinking life planning course by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans DESIGNING YOUR LIFE: HOW TO BUILD A WELL-LIVED, JOYFUL LIFE. They also have a FAST CLASS 60 minute version available.
You have to buy a CREATOR PASS to get both and these are regularly on offer for $99 for a years membership - just sign up to their emails to get the regular half price offers. Do not be confused by the ‘For Creatives’ label they have over 2,000 classes included with your CREATOR PASS and in the ‘Money & Life’ section you will find at least 20 that are relevant for building your future skills. It is a good investment.
This is not an affiliate link - I recommend it because I have had a pass for several years since Chase Jarvis launched it. It is great value for money and you might also be inspired to get creative and find a new hobby! I only recommend things I use and get value from.
You can also buy the book and workbook on Amazon. Here is a link to a useful review of the book on Medium. I also love my Medium membership.
FIVE - EXPLORER GOING FORWARD
We are just beginning to explore this topic because we learn more by going deep rather than just skimming the surface. We will have more on EVERYTHING SELF, LIFE DESIGN BUILDER, RESPONSIBILITY AND OWNERSHIP, PERSONAL BRAND and NAVIGATING CHANGE this month.
OUR MONTHLY EXPLORATION
This is a Live Lab experiment and the structure will evolve. We will start with an overview on the first of the month and then each weekly edition will be shorter, more focused on specific skill sets, give oodles of signposts and the opportunity to ask questions. The monthly schedule:
May 8th Exploration - Everything SELF and Brand Building
May 15th Exploration - Work^Life Architect and Design Builder
May 22nd Exploration - Responsibility and Ownership plus The Explorer + Hub details
May 29th Exploration - Navigating Change and our Monthly wrap up plus a look forward to that Discoverer role.
The next Explorer in June will focus on what it means to be a DISCOVERER to learn, create and be more curious.
Hikmaty means 'my wisdom' in Arabic. Why 'my wisdom'? because it equates to your applied learning i.e. from theory to practice to mastery or knowhow. It is not about the books you read, the courses you do, the qualifications and experiences you get - it is about what you do with those things and how you appply them to get wiser. Why Arabic? - because it was born in a burger bar in Jeddah one lunchtime. A story for another time!
I hope this initial smorgasbord (buffet) of ideas and thoughts in this edition inspires you to take onboard your OWNER role and the energy that brings it alive. Just finding one idea to take forward might be the beginning of a new adventure for you. Have fun!