OPINION

We all are talented, which means we excel at something. Lucky people are the ones who recognize their talent in the first place and do it passionately, which helps them attain specific work achievements.

However, the problem is that it makes us feel too special to be replaced by someone else. The truth is that life revolves around nobody. We can be good at something and out there full of people who are also doing well or even better than us.

There was a time when I started to get upset that perhaps I am the best fit for the current position now, but there is always a better option to replace me when the time comes.

I started to obsess with the fear of being replaced.

If you are reading here and find yourself like me, don’t worry.

Here is how I overcame it:

Firstly, I shifted my mindset from “I am irreplaceable” to “I am valuable.”

• I am irreplaceable will nourish the ego to grow, be self-righteous, and fail.
• I am valuable will motivate us constantly to strive to improve and develop ourselves.

We cannot make ourselves an “irreplaceable” individual, but we can strive to be more “valuable” for the organization. And only that right drive can help us truly become better. Let’s start from:

1. Look for enjoyments at work

Every so often, things will get complicated. There will be times when I wake up bored and wonder: “Do I want to go to work?”. Indeed all of us have been through mornings like this.

In addition to building inner strength for myself, I also find small daily enjoyments such as:

• The smile of the parking lot keeper
• A cup of coffee from the teammate
• Set small goals that are easy to accomplish

Responsibility can help us commit to something, but enjoyments can help us stick with it for a long time.

2. Don’t just do what you used to do

• Do we want to earn a fixed salary forever?
• Do we want to stay in the same job position forever?

If not, why do we want to do just familiar things?

I used to think that just being good at one type of job would be fine. Perhaps this was still true in my parents’ time — but when the world is flat, with more accessible knowledge, the competition is fiercer now than ever. If you are a Designer with several years of experience, pay more attention to university student’s recent graduation projects, you may reassess the above.

I had always acknowledged my shortcomings, to the point where I subconsciously refused to overcome them. Knowing strengths and weaknesses is essential, but it will not help unless I take action. Hence, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and fight for new opportunities with self-awareness.

3. Don’t just sit and wait for improvement

It likes not buying lottery tickets but always hoping to win. There are no battles won without fighting, no auto-cooked dishes, and there are no skills that you happen to master without practicing. Try allocating your time according to the 80–20 rule: 80% of the time, doing the things you are good at that create instant value, and 20% of the time is to practice new skills which can multiply valueand enable new opportunities.

I usually spend 30 minutes a day developing my writing skills, and better writing has helped a lot in systematizing my design knowledge.

4. Living on the edge

You will never know your actual limit if you do not bring yourself to the edge of it.

The social system directs people towards stability, and this creates a paradox: We grow up with a mentality that seeks security in life, in work, and in love. But deep down inside, we are stimulated by adventurous, new, and challenging desires.

I used to think that I could not run further than 10KM, but I once dared to register to run a 21KM trail by the end of 2018. Now for me, completing a Road or Trail at 42KM is not too hard and doesn’t require too much practice.

Thus, the sense of development makes us feel alive. And the moment we stop challenging ourselves to push our limits is the moment we stop living.

5. Make good on your promises

A person’s respect for someone depends on the consistency between a promise they make and how they keep their words.

This means that if you promise others at a level of 10, and the lower the result you make, the lower their respect for you. Of course, if it can be more than level 10, that’s more beneficial.

But if your promise is too easy to fulfill, nothing will change. Aim for the target you can reach, and promise to go a little further than that. See how far this can take you.

6. Keep yourself in a proper attitude

In the book “A Compass to Fulfillment” by Inamori Kazuo, he comes up with a recipe that I am really into:

The Result of Our Life or Work = Attitude x Effort x Ability

The exciting part of this formula is in the multiplication with “Attitude” in the first place. There are good Attitude (+) and bad Attitude (-). No matter how much effort or ability we spent, with a bad attitude, the outcome of our work and our life will be negative in the end.

For example, there is a brilliant and diligent person, but he uses those abilities to go out of line. The outcome of his life will be in jail.

Thus, no matter what situation we are in life, try to keep a righteous mindset.

The Fear of being replaced is bitter, and it’s always there when we emotionally attach to something. But my friends, if you aim to be a valuable person, then there is always a place for you.

Think this a good read? Share now with friends.

🙏 Feedback my writing: [email protected]

👏 Follow Hoang Nguyen to get updates on my recent stories.

🎉 My Portfolio: https://hoang.moe/