What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do

Are you frustrated? We know we are.

Most of us prepared hard for the future we expected, and yet things aren't working out as we had planned. That's true if you have been laid off, are a recent college graduate who feels underemployed, or are a manager facing constant upheavals at work, even if you are the boss, because you are wrestling with disruptive technologies and new competitors who seemingly come out of nowhere to upend your industry.

All of this is extremely confusing and unsettling.

This is not how we were told it was going to be. Growing up we were led to believe that the future was predictable enough, and if we studied hard we could obtain the work we wanted in an environment we understood, and we would live happy and successful lives.

It hasn't exactly worked out that way (even for those of us who are happy). Many of us, maybe most, are not making progress on achieving the things we want.

We think the reason is pretty simple. The way we were taught to think and act works well in a predictable future, but not so much in the world as it is now.

You know the steps for dealing with a predictable universe:

1. You (or your parents, teachers, or bosses) forecast how the future will be. 
2. You construct a number of plans for achieving that future, picking the optimal one. 
3. You amass all the necessary resources (education, money, etc.) necessary to achieve your plan.
4. And then you go out and make that plan a reality.

We have become so indoctrinated with this way of thinking by our education and our organizations that it is more or less the only way we approach anything.

But what is a very smart approach in a knowable or predictable future is not smart at all when things can't be predicted. And that fact is at the heart of the frustrations most of us feel. Things simply aren't as predictable as they once were.

In a world where you can no longer plan or predict your way to success, what is the best way to achieve your goals? It's a daunting question, but today — when saying "change seems to be the only constant" has become a cliché because it is so true — it's one everyone has to resolve.

Here's the central point of our new book, Just Start (and this blog post): When the future is unknowable (Is quitting your job and starting something new a good idea? Will the prototype we are developing at work find a market?), how we traditionally reason is extremely limited in predicting what will happen.

You need a different approach.

We have one. There is a proven method for navigating in an uncertain world, an approach that will complement the kind of reasoning we have all been taught. It will help you deal with high levels of uncertainty no matter what kind of situation you face. We know it works because entrepreneurs — the people who have to deal with uncertainty every day — use it successfully all the time. It is also the approach that is used by Babson College — the world's number-one school for entrepreneurship, of which one of us is president.

Babson calls the approach "entrepreneurial thought and action," but we use a simple shorthand and call it "Act, Learn, Build, Repeat."

Based on the research of Saras D. Sarasvathy, of the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, and similar work by others at Babson College, this approach is a time-tested process for dealing with the unknown.

Put simply, in the face of an unknown future, entrepreneurs act. They deal with uncertainty not by trying to analyze it, or planning for every contingency, or predicting what the outcomes will be. Instead, they act, learn from what they find, and act again. More specifically the process looks like this.

1. Start with desire. You find/think of something you want. You don't need a lot of passion, you only need sufficient desire to get started. ("I really want to start a restaurant, but I haven't a clue if I will ever be able to open one.")

2. Take a smart step as quickly as you can toward your goal. What's a smart step? It's one where you act quickly with the means at hand. What you know, who you know, and anything else that's available. ("I know a great chef, and if I beg all my family and friends to back me, I might have enough money to open a place.") You make sure that step is never going to cost more than it would be acceptable to you to lose should things not work out. And you bring others along to acquire more resources, spread the risk and confirm the quality of your idea.

3. Reflect and build on what you have learned from taking that step. You need to do that because every time you act, reality changes. Sometimes the step you take gets you nearer to what you want ("I should be able to afford something just outside of downtown"); sometimes what you want changes ("It looks likes there are an awful lot of Italian restaurants nearby. We are going to have to rethink our menu.") If you pay attention, you always learn something. So after you act, ask: Did those actions get you closer to your goal? ("Yes. It looks like I will be able to open a restaurant.") Do you need additional resources to draw even closer? ("Yes. I'll need to find another chef. The one I know can only do Italian.") Do you still want to obtain your objective? ("Yes.")

4. Repeat.

Act. Learn. Build. Repeat. This is how successful serial entrepreneurs conquer uncertainty. What works for them will work for all of us.

LEONARD A. SCHLESINGER, CHARLES F. KIEFER, AND PAUL B. BROWN

Leonard A. Schlesinger is the president of Babson College. Charles F. Kiefer is president of Innovation Associates. Paul B. Brown is a long-time contributor to the New York Times. They are the coauthors of Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future(HBR Press 2012). Learn more at juststartthebook.com.

Compiled By : 
Mahesh Sharma 
Know Your True Self Research & Training Acadmey (Kyts RTA)

  

PRODUCTIVITY 

TEAM BUILDING 

ONE TO ONE COACHING

Coaching is an effective way to experience long lasting changes. This can be applied to many fields like personal growth, accepting higher levels, enhancing personal performance and leadership.

EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMS

(Duration: 4 hr & 1 Day)

OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMS & SPEAKING ASSIGNMENTS

(Duration: 1 Hr & 2 Hrs)

SPECIAL ATTENTION To CO EVENT ORDINATORS

• EFT - Emotional Freedom Techniques
• NLP - Neuro-Linguistic Programming
• Time Line Therapy
• Life & Personal Performance Coaching
• Relationship & Behavioral Counseling
• Counselling and mentoring
• Solution focused therapy
• Energy psychology Healing
• Subconscious mind programming
• Integral coaching

I am pleased to offer counseling & Personal Performance coaching  in following modes: 

One-to-One coaching, 

Telephone Counseling, 

Skype (Video)  Counseling, 

Email Counseling, 
Home Sessions,

Cafe sessions  

and Instant Messenger Chat Counseling.

Many of the clients choose to participate in telephone counseling sessions but interest is rising regarding video/ webcam/ Skype counseling as well. 

Through Online Counseling via SKYPE and telephone sessions, I provide a private, personalized  service to clients who wish to stay in their own home or office setting during the counseling session.

Details of Professional Counseling & Coaching sessions : Here’s some of the services I provide in detail. Read them carefully and then choose the service that best suit your needs:

• Face-to-Face Sessions - Where you are required to book an appointment on the Counseling Center and you need to be present to have the One-to-One session.
• Online video/ webcam/ Skype sessions : You will receive professional counseling and undergo coaching live, person-to-person in real time (You'll able to see, hear and speak with me live in real-time)
• Private Instant Messenger Chat : Chat live, online, one-on-one in a private and secure chat room with me.  We can also use the FaceBook & Gtalk for this purpose.
• Phone Counseling : One-to-One session on phone.
• NEW! Home Sessions : In the exceptional case when you are not able to move out from your home for any reason, we provide Home sessions.
• NEW! Email Sessions : Email counseling is also very effective form of counseling which involves typing your feeling, thoughts, problems or concerns. I will then take the time to read the email and reply with a well thought our professional answer within 24 
• NEW! Cafe Sessions : Counseling or coaching sessions at a neutral place such as a cafe or a restaurant. This is specific to facilitate those who are not so comfortable or for any other reason wants to have a session at a neutral place.   

Benefits of Professional Online Counseling:

• Cost - By conducting counseling or coaching sessions on phone or online services such as FaceBook chat, Instant messengers, Skype, you will save money on traveling.
• Comfort - You can have sessions right from your own desk, office, home or couch and that also on an convenient time.
• Convenience - No need to spend your valuable time in travel or fight traffic.  Bad weather, lack of transportation or inability to leave home for any reason should not prevent you from a counseling or a coaching session.
• Confidentiality - Completely avoid the Waiting room filled with strangers and office staff.  See or hear only the counselor or coach at your online or phone sessions.

          I am located in Faridabad, Haryana, India, National Capital Region.  My phone services are available throughout India and  soon to be expanded to other countries.  You simply mail or sms me for  a phone counseling session and then I will be with you within 24 hours or sooner to set up a suitable time for the session.  Phone sessions  are either 30 minutes 0r 60 minutes long.  I aim to be highly productive and encourage you to always come to calls prepared beforehand and with writing supplies handy to take plenty of notes for each session..

For those of you who’d like to talk live, face-to-face, I use Skype or Google Talk to make this possible.  Anyone who owns a PC or a laptop can download the Skype or GTalk program.  These program are free to use for PC to PC calls and I’ve found the quality to be the same or better than a traditional land line phone service.

Brand New : Online Counseling Via Emailing

Emailing therapy consists of therapeutic email conversations. This service starts out with an introduction email where we get to know each other. You can tell me what you would like to work on and how you are feeling. Then begins the online counseling. I will correspond with questions and feedback.

Brand New: I now offer an unlimited email  package. This consists of unlimited monthly email support. I will maintain email correspondence with you throughout the month and will reply to your email within an agreed upon time frame. This email therapy service is for people on the go that wants to receive support, but does not have the time to receive regularly scheduled online therapy. Click Here to Select Your Email Package

Online Counseling Via Live Chat / Instant Messenger

Chat counseling is conducted via instant messenger with me. This type of therapy is for those that want their online therapy more interactive than email support. You will meet me in a private, secure chat room at an appointed time and then the session begins via instant messenger, . This is strictly confidential and is considered an online counseling session. If you've used instant messenger before it is basically the same thing.

Contact details

    Payment Methods

• Direct Bank Transfer (Bank transaction reference no. to be mailed/smsed)
• Axis bank Details : Pay to : MAHESH SHARMA.  A/C  No. : 131010100309035
• IFSC Code : UTIB0000792.    Branch Address : SECTOR 16, FARIDABAD (HR)
• Cash deposits in bank (intimation/scanned copy of deposit slip to be faxed/mailed)
• Check deposits in bank** (intimation/scanned copy of deposit slip to be faxed/mailed)
• Pay through pay pal (Credit card payment accepted) (we will send you the invoice first)


**Subject to check realisation.

    Fee Structure

Phone / Video / Chat / Cafe  Sessions

Service Agreement

• I have been informed that Mahesh Sharma is  a Personal Performance Coach, an EFT expert, a NLP pratitioner, a Relationship & Behavioral Counselor and not a licensed health care provider, therapist, or psychologist.
• I understand that the services he provides in EFT, personal performance coaching and counseling  are educational in nature.
• I agree that this work is not psychotherapy and I am responsible for my own well being, during and after our work together.
• I understand that I am advised to consult with my current health care providers before changing any medications or other treatments in case of physical ailments.
• I understand that Mahesh Sharma will not give medical advice or diagnose medical conditions.
• I understand I may contact Mahesh Sharma for follow-up via email or phone if needed.
• I understand that payment is requested before the session unless other arrangements have been made.
• I understand that clients having a history of epilepsy or psychotic episodes should only do EFT while under direct supervision of a doctor or therapist.
  
  By booking a session with Mr. Mahesh Sharma, i agree that I have read the service agreement and understood its content.
  
                 _______________________________________________________________________

Participation FEE