Make the Most of Fleeting Advantages

There’s been a lot of talk about transient advantages in business circles these days. The idea of transient advantage centers around the concept that our society moves at a fast pace, making it difficult to know how long any company will stay on top. Therefore, you have to strike while the iron’s hot.
In many ways, we experience the same trends in our personal lives. These are some pointers for making the most of fleeting advantages.
Understanding the Basic Truths about Transient Advantages
1. Accept losses. Enjoy life’s simple pleasures without becoming dependent upon them. Realize that everything is temporary. Savor good times without expecting them to last forever.
2. Act quickly. It’s usually good to take your time with major decisions like getting married. When there’s less at stake, take sensible risks and jump on those daily deals before they’re gone.
3. Stockpile your valuables. Store up benefits that will soon perish. Freeze the leftover zucchini from your vegetable garden and take an afternoon off from work to watch your daughter’s softball game.
4. Move on. Break out of your comfort zone and recognize when it’s time to make major changes. Maybe you’ve gone as far as you can go with your current company and you’re ready to start your own business.
5. Make contingency plans. Fill your pipeline with additional options. If your child gets turned down by the first college they pick, encourage them to consult their list for the next possibility.
6. Pursue lifetime learning. Additional education and training always strengthen your position. Call the adult education department at your local university. Sign up for workshops on new software at work.
7. Think more broadly. Envision yourself  in new roles. You may discover that you love city life even if you’ve always lived in the suburbs.
8. Focus on solutions. Think of setbacks as challenges. Take satisfaction in using your talents to enhance your life.
9. Transition gracefully. You may be changing jobs and taking up new hobbies more frequently these days. Figure out how to stay in touch with those you care about. Evaluate the skills and accomplishments you’ve gathered.
Managing Transient Advantages in Your Daily Life
1. Diversify your income. Explore how you can make some money by focusing on your leisure interests. Maybe you can get a thrill out of selling your photographs or photography services. The funds could also provide a buffer if you ever lose your job or face major medical bills.
2. Reduce your consumption. It’s easier to be nimble when you’re lean. Simplify your lifestyle and cut down on monthly expenses like cable TV or eating out. Enhance your well-being by maintaining a healthy body weight.
3. Be generous. If you want more riches, give more of your assets away. You’ll develop a mindset of abundance, and you’ll end up with more friends whom you can count on.
4. Remain vigilant. Think ahead even when your current circumstances are comfortable. Ask yourself if you’re saving enough for retirement or if you’ll be able to care for your aging parents if they become less independent. Foresight makes your luck last longer.
5. Build a circle of support. Material possessions come and go. Annual incomes fluctuate. Regardless of what the stock market is doing, you’ll feel more prosperous when you have lots of love in your life. Focus on others. Spend time with friends. Create family traditions.
6. Engage in spiritual practices. Know what a purposeful life means for you so you can remain steady when transient advantages are accumulating and when they fade away. Follow your traditional faith or develop your own system of beliefs and values.
Celebrate your good fortune while it lasts. A positive attitude and flexible thinking will help you adapt and succeed in turbulent times.