Future of Work Archives - Page 3 of 3

Playforce Principles

People within a startup community and organizations throughout an entrepreneurial ecosystem often discuss the “future of work” together. As leaders transition today’s workforce into tomorrow’s playforce, the CIRKA equation helps us talk less and do more.

Curiosity is what drives us to appreciate what goes into the answers. It keeps us asking how and why. Curiosity has always driven ingenuity, but as knowledge and solutions become so easy to find, it will be the curious who avoid mediocrity by exploring the edges.

Initiative is a signal that shows you care. It’s showing up, raising our hand, keeping a promise, and sticking with it. The earlier initiative is shown, the faster trust builds. This allows initiative to stack, which increases impact over time.

Real Skills help us all connect, communicate, and collaborate. First curated by Seth Godin, this evolving encyclopedia is an expansive list of modern credentials that go beyond our natural talents. Real skills shine through self control, productivity, wisdom, perception, and influence.

Knowledge is foundational, specific proficiency required to do the work. For example, DJs need to know what knobs to turn, while doctors must understand human anatomy. Vocational knowledge may require formal education, but autodidacticism (being self-taught) is also an assessable path to transform anyone’s personal interests into know-how.

Adaptability is knowing how to learn. It keeps us nimble, even when systems try to force rigidity. When change is constant, adaptability is what helps leaders remain versatile and relevant while also avoiding the pull toward mediocre.

EXTRA SHOT

Life is too short not to enjoy our time.

Unquantifiable depth in each of these variables power the simplicity of the CIRKA equation. Energy guided by these playforce principles move us beyond loops that limit progress and ignite action on the timeline of now.

Brewed From Within
#57 📖 Leadership

Linear

We default to linear thinking in an exponential universe. If linear thinking is status quo, opportunity awaits those who augment their work through an exponential perspective.

When signals of traction, product-market-fit, and lasting momentum emerge, seek to understand how each part of your business affects the overall system. This awareness helps us to understand and optimize what must continue to work. This alertness also leads to stability that tempts most to coast along a linear path, but the goal is not more of the same. While it’s important to respect past success, such nostalgia does not guarantee the same results within a neon future characterized by constant change.

As discussed in the Community chapter of You Don’t Need This Book, the most accessible way to go beyond our own linear capabilities is through community. The collisions of so much unknown capacity is how community allows us all to do more with less. As we invest time into accelerating others, our generosity, curiosity, initiative, and adaptability activate diversified trust channels. Fresh feedback from more perspectives then rewards a willingness to experiment.

When we apply integrity long-term, the combination of new variables formulates an exponential equation. New opportunities emerge, with less activities that trade time for money. As we rent less time to others, our capacity grows. Each time we find a new gear, the system unfolds to release personal bandwidth, and the rising slope of impact, sense of peace, and happiness is set free to rapidly ascend.

Converting a slope of work from linear to exponential is not done all at once. Fortunately, we play for 80 hours to avoid working 40, and the creative spirit is nourished by a peculiar lack of routine. As we find more ways to earn with our mind and not our time, The Headline Trap will remain a distraction. This makes it easy to assume it takes luck, but we make our own luck with every action.

Extra Shot

Work Hard = Get Smarter

Learn to maintain what works, then build non-linear lines betwixt time and revenue by feeding new ideas, talent, collisions, and experiences into the system.

Brewed From Within
#63 📖 Leadership