“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”

I don’t think Brené Brown’s words could ring any more true than in 2020. It has been a year of great uncertainty and vulnerability but also a fertile ground for growth, innovation, and new opportunities.

So, what did you learn from 2020?

I personally have learned so much from our FreeU students on how they responded to the challenges of this past year. In fact, here are four lessons that stuck out for me that will help us all in 2021!

1. Persist

While I’m sure you may have felt stuck at one point or another in 2020, I witnessed many of our students mustering up lots of grit and perseverance even in the midst of losing clients, income, and new opportunities.

Angela Duckworth says:

“Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals.”

Two of my daughters are competitive swimmers with goals of one day going to the Olympics. When all the pools shut down, they donned their wetsuits and started training in a chilly lake!

Hasn’t 2020 strengthened our resolve and willingness to persist in the face of challenges?!

One of our students, Jeanne, shared:

“2020 has been kind of a whirlwind for me in the best possible sense. But my big win was fully supporting my family and making big strides working us out of debt.”

2020 taught us to persist, which only helps us better knock down any walls that stand in our way in 2021!

2. Adapt

I don’t know about you, but 2020 has caused many of us to adapt and live differently in so many ways. It’s also forced us to think about the services we’re offering, the types of clients we’re targeting, and how to best position our businesses for success in the midst of a global pandemic!

As you know, all in-person networking opportunities basically disappeared overnight in 2020, which prevented many from connecting with ideal new clients.

One of our students, Rosemary, completely revamped her approach to finding new clients and started to join Zoom networking groups that led to 1-1 sessions with prospective clients. She adapted her entire networking strategy and found amazing new clients as a result.

Another student, Rivky, saw the growing opportunities in Podcast Production and started to reach out to businesses on LinkedIn. This led to an awesome new podcasting client!

Those who are most ready to adapt will be best positioned for long-term success. Are you ready to make whatever adjustments you need to be successful in the new year?

3. Specialize

During this Global Pandemic, many businesses have emerging needs that require specialized skills that YOU can provide. They NEED specialists who have the exact skill sets required to complete a priority task or project.

Take e-commerce, for instance…. There were many businesses that needed to quickly pivot online and set up an e-commerce store. As a result, we had students quickly learning and specializing in areas such as Shopify and WooCommerce to respond to the current demand.

We also saw many speakers and coaches who were used to selling their products via in-person events and conferences shifting to online courses. One student, Desi-Ann, made the pivot to provide content creation and management services for new course creators.

By specializing your services, you make yourself distinct and in-demand in a growing market. People need your skills more than ever before, so it’s time to specialize in those areas that will lead to the best opportunities. At Freelance University, we can help you level up those skills that will get you moving in the right direction!

4. Learn

Warren Buffett says, “The more you learn, the more you’ll earn.” This statement has never been more true in the rapidly evolving skill-based economy.

In 2008, we launched our very first Social Media Marketing program for VAs. At the time, I had no idea that our little course and first 50 students would precede an entire industry! Now it is commonplace for a business to either employ a Social Media Manager or hire a Freelancer.

The bottom line is your ability to hone and develop in-demand skills will determine your success path in 2020! If you are looking to explore new niches and develop new skills, then be sure to check out our all-access University that features 80+ courses and an incredible learning community.

So, as you approach a new year full of much promise, get ready to persist always, adapt when necessary, specialize where it makes sense, and commit to learning new things. Here’s to an amazing year in 2021!