You are not stuck. Or at least, not as stuck as you might feel.
The truth is you’ve got a lot more opportunities to refresh and reinvent yourself than you might know. In today’s YouEconomy, the chance to start over or just start something new is in the palm of your hand. From apps to side gigs to solo sales opportunities, you can find a way to get unstuck in no time at all.
The key of course is figuring out how to participate in the YouEconomy in a way that energizes and inspires you. That’s where you’ll need to do a little self-reflection. Sometimes that feeling of being stuck is so general, we don’t know where to begin in helping ourselves. If that’s you, try free writing—that is, put pen to paper and see what comes out. You might find there’s one area where you’re really feeling the strain.
Focus on that one area first and see what kind of joy you can inject into your life. Even small changes can help you get unstuck and engaged.
Here are some of the ways you can hit refresh in the YouEconomy:
1. Creatively
When you’ve got bills to pay and obligations to meet, it’s easy to push your creative self to the side. What used to be space and time for hobbies and artistic pursuits is now filled with must-do’s. Justifying that creative time would be a lot easier if you could make a little money at it though, right? If you’re crafty, why not duplicate each project and put one up for sale on Etsy? Visual artists can turn their paintings or drawings into products with websites like Society6 or Zazzle, which handle the production side and share the profits with the artists.
2. Financially
The most empowering aspect of the YouEconomy is its broad range of income options. If you’re ready to take more control over your income ceiling, opportunities like direct selling or online marketing can offer you unlimited potential. Yes, everyone starts at the bottom, so you might need to juggle a day job for a while. But once your income develops with your customer base, you can say goodbye to a paycheck and hello to an ongoing revenue stream. Or if being your own boss is taking it a bit far for you, a monthly side-gig income could be just enough to ease the monthly money stress.
3. Professionally
Always dreamed of pursuing a career in a certain area but never had the chance? Well, the time is now. With a plethora of online educational resources, community groups, and career coaches, you can learn on demand and grow into the professional you always wanted to be. The first step? Talk to someone who is doing what you want to do and get their take on the best way to begin. Develop a clear plan of action that suits your goals and personality. Then get plugged in to the resources which resonate with you the most. Maybe it’s a mentor or online expert. Or perhaps a video course is more your speed. Whatever you choose, remember that professional development comes in all shapes and sizes these days, so do what lights you up.
With a plethora of online educational resources, community groups, and career coaches, you can learn on demand and grow into the professional you always wanted to be.
4. Locally
The YouEconomy isn’t all online. In fact, a lot of it is on foot and in person. Whether you’re lending a helping hand through a task app or meeting like-minded industry folks on social media, you can grow your local influence with the help of the YouEconomy and its technological reach. Start by searching local groups in your industry or interests. Check for area festivals or events that showcase local talent or feature local speakers. Creating a community around yourself pays off in terms of systems, support, and camaraderie. If you’re dreaming of greener pastures, don’t dismiss local resources. Getting involved on a local level could be just the stepping stone you need to reach a higher level of influence.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
Image by Ohahladiy/Shutterstock.com
