Help Those In Need
We all read about, if not experienced ourselves, unfortunate news almost every week, for the last few months. As we just started learning how to co-live with the viruses and gradually taking our lives back to normal, the economy seems to have started going the wrong direction. It feels like the hot job market where all tech companies, large and small, fight for the candidates was just yesterday. Before we know it, layoffs and hiring freeze are everywhere. For those of us who are lucky to still have a job, I’m almost certain that almost all of us have at least some meaningful pay cut, from the stock crashes and from inflation.
It’s a difficult time indeed.
And I’d like to help! I am old enough to have gone through the last couple of “recessions”. In addition, I’ve been through hundreds of rejections, a couple of layoffs, and more than 6 months without a paycheck (not in plan) through my entire career. I certainly expect more setbacks to come before I “retire”.
So in this article, I’m going to offer several advises, and help those in need.
How To Cope in Difficult Times
Here are my advises. No, they don’t immediately solve all your problems. Yes, I believe it will help you through the difficulty you might be facing and continue to make progress in what you’re pursuing.
1. Focus On What You Have In Control
You can’t control the economy. You can’t control the stock market. You can’t control the number of open job roles in the market. You can’t control the interview outcomes. You can’t control the layoff decisions.
Expend your energy and set expectations on these things will only frustrate you.
Instead, focus on what you do have in control. Your effort, your mindset, your improvement. Just remember, continue doing the right things (within your control) will still give you the best chance of success at any given point regardless of the external circumstances (out of your control) , and will eventually lead you to your goals.
2. Manage Your Expectations
You should not have the same level expectation in a bad time as in a good time. For example, if you know the current job market is worse than last year, don’t expect the same application response rate. It rightfully should be lower and have nothing to do with your qualification.
Set the right expectations is not the same as expecting the worst or be pessimistic. It’s to be realistic and avoid disappointing yourself for the wrong reasons.
3. Improving Yourself Is the Best You Can Do
Don’t get as many interviews as you wished? Got laid off and now have no work to do? They suck. But hey, lets use the time you now have, to focus on reading, learning, practicing, improving, reflecting, connecting. Any activity that helps you get better. In hard and soft skills. Physically and mentally. As a PM and as a human being.
You might not get immediate gratification (aka outcome) from doing these. But they definitely are what prepare you for the next opportunity, and also be happier in general.
4. Don’t Let Go of Your Growth Mindset
A setback is never a true failure until you stop reflecting and emerging stronger on the other side. In fact, the challenging experience never goes to waste unless you let it. In my own experience, all my failures shaped who I am today more so than my successes. They were painful and took me great deal of time to get through. But I got through them, learned from them, and grew better.
I know it’s hard to think positively and that this setback will eventually be a helping force instead of a negative one when you look back. Just think of a major setback you had in the past and how you got through it.
Also just know - you’re not alone. You’re never alone in facing challenges. We all face problems, and in fact, you should know that you’re probably luckier than many. Which leads to my final point
5. Appreciate What You Have
We’re often caught up in not getting what we’re pursuing, or what we just lost, or how unfair the life is to us. It’s helpful to remind ourselves the good things that have happened to us, and what we still have around us.
This is especially important in difficult times. This propels us to move forward with optimism, and be thankful about every bit of the progress we make.
Offer My Help
I started this newsletter and doing side coaching for one main reason: to share my experience with and help those who are going through the same path (of transitioning into and being successful in product management). It is as true today as ever.
So I want to see how I might help in this difficult time. Over the next one month starting today, I will open up and offer free Q&As over email or a 15 minutes chat for those in need. Topics include: job seeking, interviews, product management and career.
Send me a note at johnny@introvertinproduct.com.
I’ll do the best I can to respond, though I cannot guarantee depending on the volume of the reach out. I’ll aim to prioritize those who face the biggest challenge and urgently in need of landing a role. So if you do reach out, I’d appreciate if you provide a bit of context and introduction to yourself, and what you’re dealing with.
Keep it up, my friends!