How To Stay Current In A Fast-Changing Work World
Technology is changing the workplace faster than many of 
us can keep up with. We all know this. It poses distinct challenges to people with highly specialised training, or have been in the workforce for longer periods.
The truth is, we are all happy to keep things the way they are most of the time. Change is threatening, frightening and involves lots of hard work. This means that very often, people retreat into their habits, ‘the way things have always been done around here,’ and similar reactions.
Unfortunately, this response is fast becoming a quick way to the exit door. The pace of change is only increasing and the only way to survive it is to adapt with it: to grow, to change and to innovate.
However, very few adults consider themselves the kinds of people that can easily think of new ideas, products, ways to do or approach things. We are simply not creative. Because we didn’t take art at school can’t draw, write, dance or paint, we also cannot be creative at work.
This is the biggest obstacle to happiness at work: this idea that you are a certain way and can therefore not change or develop. Of course, you can. Every new thing you learn means you are changing… and provides an opportunity to create.
Art is nothing more than a product of Creativity. Just one aspect of what this skill gives us. Creativity also gave us fire, the lightbulb, space shuttles and E=MC².
Creativity is actually the ability to see connections between previously unconnected things and join the dots. It is problem-solving. And we can all do that. The trick is to apply how you solve day to day problems to those big issues that require new solutions, thinking or products…
And the good news is, the more you know in life, the creative you can be because you have more dots to join. Highly experienced veterans are in fact MORE likely to come up with game-breaking ideas than youngsters. Why? Because they have seen more, experienced more, know more… if they can start to join the dots in new ways, of course, they can see more connections.
us can keep up with. We all know this. It poses distinct challenges to people with highly specialised training, or have been in the workforce for longer periods.
The truth is, we are all happy to keep things the way they are most of the time. Change is threatening, frightening and involves lots of hard work. This means that very often, people retreat into their habits, ‘the way things have always been done around here,’ and similar reactions.
Unfortunately, this response is fast becoming a quick way to the exit door. The pace of change is only increasing and the only way to survive it is to adapt with it: to grow, to change and to innovate.
However, very few adults consider themselves the kinds of people that can easily think of new ideas, products, ways to do or approach things. We are simply not creative. Because we didn’t take art at school can’t draw, write, dance or paint, we also cannot be creative at work.
This is the biggest obstacle to happiness at work: this idea that you are a certain way and can therefore not change or develop. Of course, you can. Every new thing you learn means you are changing… and provides an opportunity to create.
Art is nothing more than a product of Creativity. Just one aspect of what this skill gives us. Creativity also gave us fire, the lightbulb, space shuttles and E=MC².
Creativity is actually the ability to see connections between previously unconnected things and join the dots. It is problem-solving. And we can all do that. The trick is to apply how you solve day to day problems to those big issues that require new solutions, thinking or products…
And the good news is, the more you know in life, the creative you can be because you have more dots to join. Highly experienced veterans are in fact MORE likely to come up with game-breaking ideas than youngsters. Why? Because they have seen more, experienced more, know more… if they can start to join the dots in new ways, of course, they can see more connections.
duration from eight years to five, following the publication of a report last year which stated that most people do not benefit from the tax break for the full term.
The plans are currently beginning finalised, and will be debated by parliament’s finance committee on May 31. The final proposal will be presented to parliament on Prinsjesdag in September.
In the meantime, opposition to the proposal is mounting – particularly because the government is not planning to introduce a transition period for people who have benefited from the tax break for five years.
In other words, if you’ve had the tax break for longer, on January 1, 2019, you will have thousands of euros less to spend per year.
Employers, academic organisations and expat groups saying the proposal is damaging the country's reputation and will hurt many people financially.
Petitions have been organised and behind the scenes, intense lobbying is taking place. The Dutch universities association VSNU is writing to tax minister Menno Snel urging him to rethink, saying the plan will hit academia hard.
Employers organisations VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland have described the plan as 'not good' and say the measure will make the Netherlands less attractive compared with other foreign countries.
'It will not make it any easier to attract foreign talent but we need that talent because of the tight jobs market,' the organisation says. In addition, existing claims should be honoured because a 'trustworthy government is essential for a good investment climate.'
The current plan means that someone earning around €60,000 a year will have to pay some €8,000 more in tax, plus a further penalty if their employer pays for their children to attend an international school.
The expat media have carried many stories of people who may have to give up their jobs and move, because they will not be able to pay the rent on their homes – particularly in Amsterdam, where rents are soaring.
One American expat in Amsterdam told DutchNews.nl that the change will cut his family’s income by €20,000 from next January.
‘This could potentially ruin us. We moved here in January 2014 and have just bought a house based on what our income was supposed to be until 2022. ‘Now we potentially can’t afford it, and we can’t resell and leave without incurring a huge financial loss.’
ICAP, the International Community Advisory Panel, is currently carrying out a survey on the likely impact of the cut on the country’s expats. The results will be presented to tax minister Menno Snel and members of the finance committee ahead of the their meeting.
‘We’d welcome anyone who still benefits from the 30% ruling, or who used to benefit, to take part,’ said ICAP spokeswoman Deborah Valentine. ‘It is essential that when it comes to government policy, the voice of the international community is heard.’