The global economies are evolving and businesses are shedding. Cisco sheds 6,500 jobs, Yahoo flounders, HP buys Autonomy and mulls selling PCs division.   The evolution  is effecting every individual be it an employer or an employee.  You require constant sharpening of few skills that can help shape the future and not live in the future of day dreaming.

The following "4"  skills sets can help you develop a bullet proof mindset.  They are

-      Think Strategy.

-      Make Sustainable Connections.

-      Be Creative.

-      Ask Yourself Questions.

Think Strategy: Whenever you take up a project, ask yourself what are my “3” strategies to accomplish them?  Continue asking yourself till you find “3” strong strategies.  Further always talk strategies.  If someone says he intends to accomplish task “A” ask him what is his strategy?  There are two fold benefits to it.  First you encourage other person to rethink, mitigate risks and 2nd you are thinking strategy as well.    Outcome….. you strengthen your strategy mindset.

Make Sustainable Connections: Make strong sustainable connections.  But wait what is your strategy? There are few tricks to make sustainable connections and I would say Practice humor in your human transactions.

2^nd do something for others with no expectations.  We call that Law of Reciprocation.  It is human tendency that once you do someone a favor he is expected to return the favor.   Over a period of time you will realize that your sustained connections will morph into RELATIONSHIPS and success will be on the horizon

Be Creative: Few of us are endowed with a creative mind… and the rest of us should practice being creative.  What should be your strategy?  There are many exercises that can help you progress towards the road of creativity.   And the best among the few that I like is the creativity and lateral thinking exercsies authored by Edward De Bono.

 Ask Yourself Questions: The paramount challenge during duress is we lose direction.   Under duress most of us are like rudderless ships drifting in the open sea.   The best tip to get back on course is practice asking yourself quality questions.   Develop a regimen to ask questions – what is the best use of my time now?  What activity will help me get out of this mess?  How can I do it better, faster and cheaper?   Who can I delegate this to?  Who can help me? Craft your own quality questions and practice them.   And over a period of time you will realize that you have all the right answers.

The "4"  skills may or may not make you bullet proof but they certainly will help you to come out a better person during good times and during not so good times.