The entire global economy has changed drastically in just a few weeks. These highly uncertain times are causing companies to re-evaluate their current situations, opportunities, and staffing needs.

As a result of these abrupt and often significant changes, there must be a massive recalculation of decisions made prior to the pandemic. That job offer from the major airline that looked very appealing before seems like a terrible idea a few weeks later.

As much as I believe in preparing for all kinds of unexpected events, in practice, it’s not possible to do so for every conceivable (and inconceivable) risk.

However, it is possible to build a set of capabilities that allow you to adapt to a wide range of changing circumstances.

Chief among these skills is the ability to sell your ideas to others.

If you need to change industries immediately, why should a new employer take a chance on you?

You have to sell them on that idea.

If you need to change roles within your company from a division with low customer demand to one with high demand, why should your employer approve that transfer?

You have to sell them on that idea.

If you’re building your network as a form of career insurance (which I highly recommend), why should someone make time to talk with you?

You have to sell them on that idea.

Anytime you want somebody, somewhere to do something for you… you have to sell them on why it is in their best interest to do so.

If you want to lead a redesign of a particular product, you need to sell someone on why your approach makes the most sense.

If you want approval to start a project that makes you more indispensable to your employer, you need to sell someone on how it benefits them.

If you want to keep your job in the middle of layoffs, you have to sell your boss on why she needs you.

It’s a universal truth that the ability to persuade and influence others is a useful skill.

This is doubly trying in times of significant change where there’s no such thing as a stable status quo.

In such turbulent times, you can be sure there’s a lot of selling of ideas going on behind closed doors.

In an ideal world, you would get what you deserve. Unfortunately, we don’t live in such a world.

In the real world, you don’t get what you deserve. You get what you sell others on giving you.

The people that control or have an outside influence on your future are being sold on particular actions that impact your career.

The only question is: Are you one of the people doing the selling?

If selling is not your strong suit, I invite you to check out my program on How to Sell Your Ideas in Everyday Life. It will be available soon. To be notified when the program is available and receive my articles about selling in everyday life, submit the form below.

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