AI is exploding, and crypto is facing another slump; anyone who has been on the ride for a while knows that it isn’t always smooth sailing. Rapidly changing regulations, Trump’s new priorities and AI involvement have brought instability that’s shaking up many sectors. Working in the tech and crypto industries for many years, I’ve ridden some of the biggest waves from swell to crash, and it’s certainly not easy as a leader to keep your head above water.
But there are certain points to focus on that can take away some of the stress of leading in a chaotic environment and bring motivation and joy back into our work. We’re in for the ride of our lives, and it’s a lot easier if we enjoy it.
Channel your passion with purpose
The bottom line is that we’re in these industries because we’re passionate about them. Who else would be crazy enough to stay? We believe we will reap the long-term success and benefits from our work. But passion is a double-edged sword; it makes us feel highs more deeply and lows more exactly.
In crypto, we can contribute to the biggest financial revolution of our time, but it’s still in its infancy. AI is changing the ways we approach everyday tasks, but it’s only getting started. Biotech can have a profound effect on patients’ lives, but the road ahead is long and bumpy. I often need to remind myself that I’m in it for the long haul, and I won’t reach true success in the next months or even years.
Emotional regulation can be hard to manage when our enthusiasm and drive are what sets us apart. Letting passion depend on the current state of the industry — high or low — will leave a leader emotionally depleted in no time. Decide where long-term goals lie and aim passions at that end goal.
Of course, we need to be excited when things are going well, but that shouldn’t be what drives us; it’s just a bonus that gives a little extra push.
Weather the story with the right community
There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re facing a storm alone, and luckily, we rarely have to; there are often close-knit communities offering support if we put in the right effort to stay plugged in. Prioritize seeking out an impactful community on the relevant channels (X, Bluesky, Discord, Telegram, whatever offers the most value in your industry); reap knowledge and inspiration, and pour your passion and experience back in.
But beware. Industry enthusiasm can often be tainted by greed, and bad actors focused only on a payout can sour a community. There’s a difference between someone who asks the hard questions and gives perspective, and someone who lets short-term greed overshadow long-term success. Be an active voice that can help weed out those who make standing against the odds even harder.
Get comfortable on the front lines
I’ve been asked before how I keep my team motivated when the market isn’t looking so hot. Honestly, that’s not where we train our sights. Prices and outlooks rise and fall around us, and if we keep our eyes on those rapid changes, it would make us dizzy.
Your team should be in the trenches, living in the industry and engaging with its movers and shakers. No, I don’t mean they need to live and breathe their work 24/7, but they need to be in it. They should be interacting alongside you in the industry network and share the outlook that keeps us forging ahead.
Study the storm
Anyone in a volatile industry knows that things will go bad sometimes. Giants can fall overnight; we may see other players fail around us, and friends give up. Take the time to study what stake they had, where they went wrong, and what we would do differently. Building up strong reverse engineering skills can help dissect missteps. Examining collapses close to home can be uncomfortable — it involves admitting failure is a very real possibility — but sometimes the most valuable insights can come from this process. Look downfall in the eye, then look in the mirror.
The changemakers’ creed
When the highs are high, the motivation comes easy. But that’s only a blip on our radar; the best and maybe the worst is yet to come. Volatile industries are not for the faint of heart, but they are some that have the largest potential to make massive, life-changing waves. We believe it, that’s why we’re here. See you on the other side.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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