How to develop Antifragility?

As we have seen in the previous blog, challenges are essential to grow in resilience. Nassim Nicholas Taleb argues (in his book: ‘Antifragile’) that this is a vital mentality. The big question then is: how do you develop it?

Healthy challenges are a must if you want to stay healthy!

Norbert, a good friend from Germany had to choose a career-path after his degree in Business Administration. His personality-strengths all lay within the conscientious area (quality, clarity, good at analyzing, best working undisturbed), and the stable area (harmonious, good at listening, loyal, supportive, and in need of a lot of security and stability). Given this insight it would make most sense to find a calm, steady, risk-free, and not too adventurous job. But Norbert went for a challenge. He consciously went for a challenge, to develop himself further, and to keep on growing in a healthy way. He started to work for an import-export company that trades limber between Germany and the Ukraine. A rather chaotic, instable and risky job! Lots of wispy working-times, lots of people that come seriously late for their appointments (if they come at all), and a lot more vodka than you would want to!

Yet, what happened to Norbert? During his time in this company his resilience grew rapidly, and with it his attractiveness. To the extend that one of our female consultants discovered what a cool guy he really is. They got married, and they have two great kids now...

Connect with the actual needs of a specific market

The market is growing and changing ever faster. For nearly every one of us it is becoming increasingly important to think about (some of) the following questions:

• What is my unique way of contributing, and to whom?
• Why would someone choose my expertise?
• Why would a company want to acquire me with my unique set of skills and experience?
• Why would the ‘internal clients’ within our company need my service?

The times that we all could work somewhere and that ‘they’ would take care of you and your development are in the past. That’s ok! We are all independent people, and no victims. It is exactly this attitude that we need to change our surroundings, to modify, and to work in a structural environment. In an environment that serves us as an energy resource.