There’s enough said about the dismal unemployment figures in South Africa and the retracting economy and even though President Ramaphosa is gung-ho
about getting us out of this mess, I prefer to keep it real.


Winston Churchill believed that one should never waste a good crisis and I agree. The reality is that whilst everyone is not an entrepreneur or businessperson, the ‘comfort’ of employment is fast becoming a misnomer.


‘Living in the moment’ does not mean that we should not have a plan. It’s just releasing any attachment to yesterday and tomorrow.


How can one prepare for a life situation that may or may not be realised? These are my top three recommendations.


(1) Find your passion

When some of us started out, we were not taught to interrogate what we really wanted out of life as opposed to ‘doing something that would end in a job’. We may have found careers or jobs that we enjoy, love, even. But that does not speak to the heart of passion. Not that thing that is romantic or sexual, the type that fuels your daily intent. It’s sometimes described as that which you will do regardless of whether you derive an income or not.


Every child is born curious and creative and adolescence is the gateway to the responsibility of life which manages to snuff our innate joie de vivre, making us fearful and anxious. In my experience, passion can only be rediscovered through moments of solitude and self-reflection. There’s a reason that ‘hobbies and interests’ are listed on CVs and they’re important.


You owe it to yourself to find and pursue your passion.


(2) Embrace change

This is the one thing that confounds human beings. We’re always trying to keep things the same. Yet evolution is premised on change. Constant change. Yes, we enjoy security and commitment, but we need to allow flexibility that does not paralyse us as life throws its ebbs and flows. Being rigid can be a debilitating flaw.


If we accept the ‘impermanence’ of employment, we can start to navigate alternatives that are, hopefully, fueled by our passion. It also gives one an allure of
self-confidence. There’s nothing worse than someone hanging onto a job out of
desperation. Besides, if a manager or management team is worth their salt, they
already know who adds value and who can be expended.  


Overcoming the fear of change is wildly liberating. 


(3) Learning is evolution

Online brings a world of opportunity as we have so much information at our fingertips. If we’re continuously learning, we’re growing. And if we’re growing, we’re
changing. There, not that difficult. 


For those who may not be 100% clear on their passion, exposure is a good place to start. Just as we need to expose to children to a wide range of activities and interests so that they can experiment. You can teach an older dog new tricks.


There’s a myriad of online courses – many free – that you can try in the comfort of your home, after hours and over weekends, that could possibly lead to the discovery of latent talent, opening up a new world. You can also expose yourself to different areas of the business you’re currently in, extending your skills set on-the-job.


Retrenchment can be a devastating blow to an individual or family, and current statistics indicate that the trend, both here and abroad, is on the rise.


Use this time of uncertainty for self-reflection. It may give you the redirection you need to live the life you want.