Facing uncertainty with confidence

2019 is already shaping up to be a fascinating year, and we can all be better, faster, stronger and more successful in 12 months’ time.

A new year always brings new hopes and expectations, new dreams and new resolve. But there’s a lot of uncertainty out there, with the potential for Brexit to have an impact on the UK, on the business community and on Nu-Heat. The truth is, we just don’t know what will happen.

Uncertainty can trigger worry and fear and sadly I think there’s going to be a lot of that this year. However, I’ve decided that I’m not going to succumb and let worry hold me back.

Be confident, but not complacent. That is my mantra for 2019.

Worrying doesn’t change anything

Five hundred years ago, the philosopher Michel de Montaigne said: “My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.”

Research shows that 85% of things we worry about don’t happen and on average we spend one hour and 50 minutes a day worrying about stuff. That’s nearly 13 hours a week – or about five years across an average lifetime. FIVE YEARS!

Decision made – I am NOT going to spend 676 hours of 2019 worrying about things I can’t do anything about. Instead I am going to invest that time focusing on making good things happen!

Step 1: Have a purpose and a plan

At Nu-Heat our purpose is to make a difference to people’s lives through providing the best possible way to heat their homes, delivering amazing service and a being great place to work. Through doing that brilliantly well, we’re aiming to grow and we’re going for it.

Now, Brexit probably won’t be as bad as some fear and there won’t be a recession this year, but there will be bumps in the road so we’re preparing just in case. Just because we’re confident, doesn’t mean that everyone else will be and low confidence can be bad for business.

Our plan means we can be more confident about what will happen in our market and about what our customers need and want from us. With this awareness we’ll enjoy ourselves more, keep solving and keep serving – all of which will boost our customers’ confidence in us, help us to stay relevant and give us best chance of success.

Step 2: Take action

In uncertain times there is a temptation to put plans on hold, but this is unlikely to bring success. With any plan comes the potential for an upside and a downside. Your current actions are the best predictor of your future, so consider and cover as much of the downside as you need to and then go for it!

The most successful people and companies are not the ones with the best plan – they’re the ones who are best at putting plans into action! Be confident but not complacent!

Step 3: Stick with it and stick together

I need targets to keep me on track and to let me know my plan is working, and we all need a helping hand along the way.

On a personal note, I signed up for Red January this year, an initiative that aims to raise awareness of the positive impact that physical activity can have on mental health. This means I’m doing my mental health some good by doing something active every single day. I’m tracking what I’m doing each day to see what works for me both physically and mentally and I’m looking for specific results. That will tell me if my plan is working.

I’m also telling everyone I meet I’m doing it. This is to raise awareness, but it also means I have more support and motivation. I won’t want to let myself down or the people I’ve told so it increases my chances of success!

The same applies in business – increase your chances of success by making a plan, sharing it, committing to it and tracking the results so you know if your plan is working.

Being confident, not complacent

Let’s be confident but not complacent in ourselves, our businesses and our communities in 2019.

Instead of worrying, let’s invest time in taking action, planning well, sticking with it and sticking together.

That’s how we’ll be better, faster, stronger and more successful by the time we get to 2020 – and have some fun along the way!