Flux

Ah, there is nothing more quintessentially freelance than riding the highs and lows.

Some months, clients are stampeding to work with you and other months you pitch your projects to a resounding chorus of crickets. This book about thriving in uncertainty helped me ground myself in moments of transition (a.k.a. always).

It also helped me understand that the more unique my career was, the better, because it helps me differentiate myself from the pack. Plus the book reads like a warm hug, and that’s exactly what you want when, well, everything is in flux. 

The only constant you can count on in the world today is change. Yet for most people, change is incredibly uncomfortable at best and downright scary at worst.

Which is why this book by April Rinne is a godsend for navigating change and mitigating uncertainty. These eight mindsets are practical and research-based and offer the scaffolding to help you feel a little more in control as you meet change head-on.

It’s my go-to gift for anyone in transition, whether graduating from college, becoming a parent, considering retirement, or any of the other moments of change that cause us to take… show more.

Crises always come with ambiguity that complicates decision-making and communication. I’ve watched otherwise competent leaders stumble because they don’t deal well with uncertainty.

Rinne draws on her life story (an interesting tale on its own) to sketch out a series of “superpowers” for handling the turbulence that life increasingly throws our way. My favorite of the superpowers is running slower.

Rinne includes a quote from Frank Partnoy (author of Wait) that I keep at the front of my journal: “A wise decision requires reflection, and reflection requires a pause.” I use that to slow myself down (which isn’t always… show more.