So here is something I have realised in the past few days. I have been quite careful with allowing the use of two words: being frustrated and annoyed. They seem rather negative and blocking than positive. However, what’s wrong with admitting that I am frustrated and annoyed by some people and their behaviour? It’s absolutely okay to feel that way. Nothing dramatic happens here. I’m just accepting the fact of how they make me feel.

I take that feeling and energy and transform it into a new wisdom piece and call to action for myself. I have learned that being frustrated with certain situations indicates that the results have not been achieved yet or have not been achieved fast enough (for me). Of course, I will need to accept certain limits but as an achiever type of person, I’m optimistic that there can always be found a different way of getting things done.

Before the pandemic, I have already found that if we all would do more and talk less, we would actually create more needed change. Now after a full year of on and off lockdown periods, I believe that a new challenge has arisen. People retreat. They “freeze” in my eyes. Not in the sense that they need to recharge their batteries for a week or weekend, more in the sense “I can’t change anything, so why investing energy in it?” We experience a status-quo-shattering pandemic and we are presented with a whole new list of future challenges. It’s an exciting time to be part of transforming an industry like one of my friends does with the aviation sector. It’s a fantastic time to be part of creating new companies, communities, and initiatives that lead to change. What I would love to see now is more people acting on it and becoming part of it. Creating that change instead of just talking and complaining about it. There is so much to do and it’s great. There is something in it for everyone.

What are the blockers and hurdles then that stop people from taking the lead, driving something, and becoming a change agent? To be honest, I’m still in the middle of understanding that myself and am happy for anyone to contact me and share his/her knowledge on this topic (leave your comment or email to colouresko@gmail.com).

Let me list some of the reasons that I think are keeping people in their comfort zones. Feel free to add yours in the comments section.

• People are busy with themselves. Especially now during a pandemic. They might fight depression, struggle with surviving financially, finding a new job and vocation, they or loved ones are dealing with huge health issues. Those people need to take care of themselves first of course before they can help others.

• People are lazy and ignorant. They prefer to stay in their comfort zone. I believe that there are some selfish and unempathetic “bubble lovers” out there who prefer to stay in their tiny perfect world. Some of them are interested in talking about the problems we humans need to face but that’s it. They don’t take the initiative to go beyond those conversations. Some of them are probably furloughed at the moment and simply waiting for things to get back to normal. Which they will never will.

• People really don’t know how to start something. I’m an expert in that. Get in touch with me if you want to change it. I do understand that we do not always know where to start. But I have learned that we need to start with something, reaching out to someone, becoming part of a group … if it’s not the right thing, we have not wasted our time, we’ve still learned something about the world and us.

• People are scared and lack self-confidence. It’s not easy to put yourself out there and announce, hey I am going to try this now but I’m a total starter and not perfect at all. We want to look, act perfectly at all times and deliver perfect work instead of meaningful work. And that takes courage and time, I believe.

Examples & Inspiration
Education - need a school reform? Found your own school like one of my friends from Germany does right now.
Mentoring - be a mentor for someone younger and share your career and working experience, or just share your very niche skills with them. I’m part of this platform www.pushfar.com.
Reverse Mentoring - grab an older person or become part of one of the new startups that teach the older generations and companies how to become better at digital.
Mental Health - understand the basics of psychology, become your own therapist and learn from therapeutic and positive people around you. You can then be therapeutic and motivating for someone else instead of only talking about your problems/limited thinking (which includes me, of course).
Transformation - if your industry has been severely affected by the pandemic and recession, bring industry people together, find new ways of restructuring your business. You can hold 1 or 2-day interactive sessions and brainstorm new ideas making use of design and creative thinking methods.

What are you doing to create change? Take your time and think through the challenges you have identified around you. Then take action. Do something. Review it. Change direction if needed. That’s the way forward.