What's Next ...again ...

Last year I wrote a short article that has come to mean more to me today than when I wrote it. It was titled "What's Next", and in it I pointed out that while we clearly have a desire to "know for a certainty", sometimes we can only get to the point of believing, trusting and hoping.

As I start this new year, this seems more insightful than it did in July of last year. Still true, but somehow more important for me to really grasp and hold on to firmly.

I am hoping today, that the idea of embracing What's Next can be just as beneficial for you and your own new year, as its been for me. Read the article here, or below-

Regardless of where we are in life, and what struggles seem heaviest, we have all asked ourselves, what’s next? The answers are rarely clear, and come quickly and decisively even less frequently. What is it about the Human spirit that wants clarity of mind and heart almost as much as it craves air? I personally have no clue. I’ve wondered, and come up empty. I can however tell you I am content not clearly knowing.

M. Russell Ballard, once said;

“Sometimes we can learn, study, and know, and sometimes we have to believe, trust, and hope.”

Such a simple statement, yet somehow it feels a lot deeper. It carries more meaning than its simple words would indicate. When asking what’s next, can we find our answer in belief, trust and hope? Or, do we insist on learning, studying and knowing? Now that, is a personal question!

Like I’ve already said, no matter our stage in life, the question of what’s next is a tricky one. And while there is no magic way to answer it; being willing to believe, trust and hope, may help. Like the quote says, “sometimes” either is sufficient. For myself, my list of answers is filled with less knowing, and more believing. Belief for me, comes easiest most of the time, and although I highly regard knowing, I am content and happy, hoping. Are you? 

But the thing is I want to believe, and I’d love for others to feel the same. But let’s be completely and brutally honest; it can be really hard to believe without seeing. And while you may be thinking I’m making a spiritual point. I’m actually thinking about our belief in ourselves. The personal belief and assurance that regardless of the fight, we can, and will come out better on the other side. Win or loose, the belief, that we can learn, grow and improve our circumstances regardless of what life throws at us. I would not dare presume to tell you that I have woken up everyday of my life “believing” this. I can recall more days, when I doubted. Perhaps I can recall the nonbelieving days easier because they were the most painful and sad. However, I prefer to think it’s because those were the days of the most significant growth. The days of the most meaningful personal development. The days where even though I was down, I also picked myself back up. Isn’t that what actually matters? 

No matter how much I may personally desire for others to believe in themselves, it just won’t happen unless there is action. Action on my part, but most importantly, their part. Of those 2 forms of action, I however, can only control 1; my own actions. Just as there have been those in my life that have inspired me to action, I must strive to inspire action in others. So even though my actions and efforts may be the only thing I can control, I will act “as if” I believe that those actions will no doubt inspire others to believe in themselves.

So here is what I’ve done. I have formed a nonprofit company whose focus is to inspire my fellow humans to personal and professional success. My focus in this effort is on “white collar”, “un” and “under” employed individuals. This is a group that in my experience is vastly underserved. Many, have dedicated efforts to supporting and focusing on what would be called “blue collar jobs”, or jobs that require manual labor. I am not aware of any however, that have chosen to focus on business office work, cubicle, administrative, sales and service work for example. Skilled, well paying jobs that can be career paths, and are fulfilling to many, many people.

The company’s name is: Tsugi. First of all it is pronounced “Su gi”, and is a Japanese word that means “What’s Next”. We want to help un and under employed folks answer that question. 

I’m newly unemployed, what’s next?

I want to move up within my current company, what do I do?

I’m not happy in my current field, what are my options?

I’ve been out of the job market for 30 years and I have no idea what to do next?

I just graduated college, what’s next?

We believe that we all have, at some point, asked ourselves “what’s next?” We help answer that question before it is asked. We help our fellow humans prepare for the future, or what’s next, before they even need to wonder.

For more information about Tsugi visit  tsugi.io or reach out to us at  tsugi.io/contact-us/ Fill out the “contact us” form or give us a call, we’d love to chat. Or, stay tuned here for weekly messages geared to help you!