most of us We look for fail-safe professional careers. We tend to prioritize stability and predictability, those who manage to persist in the same place are praised, and we live in a culture in which the civil service is desired for the security it implies. But in an increasingly volatile world, that approach could be what makes us more vulnerable.
Or that’s what Nassim Taleb explains in his books ‘The Black Swan’ and ‘Antifragile’. There are systems that not only resist chaos, but improve with it. Like the muscle that gets stronger after being subjected to the right stress. How can we apply this to our work life?
The security trap
When we optimize everything for a “normal” scenario, we become very fragile to any deviation. It is the case of who…
- It depends on a single employer.
- He has a single ability.
- Live avoiding change.
- Clings to outdated methods.
According to Taleb’s approach, we can escape this inertia on our own. In what way?
- Increase your sources of value. Developing more skills and specialties, cultivating side projects and investing in different types of assets. The idea is not to put all your eggs in one basket. It is not about dispersing, but about creating a flexible safety net.
- Look for problems (controlled). Growth comes from positive stress. Take on projects that increase your tension, keep up to date with new tools or skills. Feeling stupid is not something to run away from, but something to delve into until you stop feeling that way. Like in the gym: without tension there is no progress.
- Keep the doors open. A comfortable situation can, never better said, accommodate us. However, the day may come when that ends, and we had better be prepared. And for that we can cultivate professional relationships beyond those of our company, maintaining a security cushion and staying up to date in our field of work.
Black swans as an opportunity
The concept ‘black swan’ refers to an unpredictable, high-impact event, the consequences of which can be devastating… or transformative. For example, 9/11, the 2020 pandemic, or the sudden rise of generative AI.
The difference is how prepared we are for these sudden events.
Some practical ideas to be better prepared:
- Keep your fixed expenses low. Every euro we commit monthly is a shackle on our ankles when we need to move quickly. Living with hardly any financial margin can mean that we have to give up on great opportunities that arise, or be left out of the game when they come about badly.
- Learn transferable skills. They are the ones that “travel well” from one industry to another. And they work like professional life insurance. The ability to manage projects, manage teams, write well or know how to analyze data has value in any area. Specializing too much leaves us at risk of being dinosaurs when the wind changes.
- Experiment smartly. For example, launching small projects that can grow. A blog, a YouTube channel, a newsletter…They are projects with a very low entry cost that can be converted into valuable assets. And if they don’t get very far, they will always have provided us with new skills: better writing, the ability to speak to the camera, notions of video editing, effective transmission of ideas…
- Diversify income, not just expenses. As simple as investing small amounts per month in index funds or as complex as setting up a parallel business. The important thing is not to let our income come from a single source. In case the day comes when that fountain dries up.
The final paradox is that true professional security comes from embracing some controlled insecurity. Once again: like the stress we subject the muscle to in the gym to ensure its growth.
It is not about being reckless, but about a certain courage or strategic bravery. In a world as changing as this century, being able to benefit from uncertainty and arrive prepared for it is an advantage. Even a necessity to survive.
Featured image | WorldOfSoftware with Midjourney
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