How can you retain a clear, sharp mind in times of turbulence? How can you make sure that you’re one of the few to see the forest for the trees in the eye of the storm? Two weeks ago, we introduced to you in this column the first five of ten tips to think clearly when the going gets tough: (1) Do stream-of-consciousness-writing. (2) Pay attention to your first thoughts. (3) Focus on your breath. (4) Meditate. (5) Indulge in your favorite idea breeder activity. Today, we continue the journey toward mental sanity in insane times with the remaining five tips.
6. Talk to business outsiders about your challenges: These days, you’re likely to encounter many doomsayers, whiners, pessimists and cynics in business. Temporarily shift your perspectives away from all the negativity and the tough work challenges you have to master by talking to people who take a more optimistic or detached view on the current turbulence. Gain different perspectives by having a discussion with your retired former colleagues or superiors who went through other periods of crisis before; by talking to some kindergarteners or first graders who take a fresh worldview on everything; by seeking spiritual counsel from a monk or spiritual teacher; or by meeting with a doctor or nurse at a hospital — they will tell you that each day, just like before the crisis, babies get born, people undergo operations, and people die.
7. Regularly do aerobic exercise: The great Mahatma Gandhi lived by the following maxim (and so do I): “No matter what amount of work one has, one should always find some time for exercise, just as one does for one’s meals. It is my humble opinion that, far from taking away from one’s capacity to work, it adds to it.”
In the recently published book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John Ratey shares the latest brain research findings that crystallize in one sentence: For your brain to function at its peak, your body needs to move.
Numerous studies confirm that aerobic exercise (like running, swimming, cycling, or power walking) in particular prepares your brain to learn and think soundly, improves mood and attention, lowers stress and anxiety, and increases your physical and mental health. Now is the best time to engage in physical exercise to fight and relieve feelings of stress, helplessness and depression.
8. Be grateful — and serve: Compared to the majority of the other 6 billion people living on this planet at the moment, how lucky are you? Take a piece of paper and invest 5 minutes to list down all the things that you are grateful for in your life right now. Most people spend a lot of time talking and thinking about what they want to have, but never appreciate all the golden moments and good things that they have already received. Say a silent “Thank you,” and think how you can serve others and create meaningful value today in line with Albert Schweitzer’s advice: “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found a way to serve.”
9. Simplify your life and business: Counter the complexity and uncertainty related to the current economic crisis with simplicity. Simplify your business by finding answers to the following questions: “What are the vital few activities that we do that are really appreciated by our customers? What are the vital few things that really count to flourish in spite of the crisis? How can we simplify our business without reducing our core value proposition?” Then make the necessary adjustments to increase your operational flexibility without compromising on customer value.
Simplify your personal life by asking: “What are the vital few people, activities and things that I really need to be happy?” Unclutter your life by giving to charity organizations all those things that you have not used in the past six months (whose donations have gone down due to the crisis and who are grateful for any help and contribution). Then enjoy the remaining vital few gifts of life that make your life really worthwhile.
10. Work less, think more: By now, you might say: “Sounds nice, but how do I find the time to follow all these recommendations?” This leads to my last, most important tip: In times of crisis, most businesspeople tend to work more, work harder. However, if you consider yourself a business leader or decision-maker in your organization, the right, counterintuitive thing for you to do these days is to work less and spend fewer hours in the office; instead think more and better by following the previous nine tips. Remember: It’s the quality of your thoughts and the resulting right actions that count, not the hours spent in the office.
Conclusion: In the ancient book Tao Te Ching, Lao-Tse shows us the way to insights into the true nature of things: “A mind free of thought, merged with itself, beholds the essence of Tao. A mind filled with thought, identified with its own perceptions, beholds the mere forms of this world.” May my ten tips show you ways to master the current economic turbulence by making you understand the essence of all ambiguous and uncertain situations that you and your business are going to face, so that you can respond with winning value propositions and effective actions.
© Dr. Detlef Reis 2009. This article was published in parallel in the Bangkok Post under the same title on 5 March 2009.