We knew it was coming.

Remote work and freelancing were slowly taking over, inching closer to becoming the working world's norm.

Then 2020 happened.

The pandemic forced everyone indoors, employees included.

Businesses had no choice but to pivot and have their workers operate from their homes.

Lo and behold, it worked. Businesses saw no real decline in their productivity. Some actually decided to have their teams go remote permanently. And just like that, the world of remote work shot into high gear.

Over the next decade, remote work would be commonplace. Our world will be more remote. How will you stand out? How will you recession-proof or pandemic-proof yourself?

Through skills, skills, and more skills.

Acquiring soft and hard skills that apply to a remote world will set you apart from the competition. You’ll earn more, grow your network, increase your influence, and secure your future.

Here are some of my recommendations. You don’t need to pursue all of these skills. Learning just one or two and applying them consistently can put you miles ahead.

1. Leading Remotely

As our work has transitioned remotely, so has managing teams and achieving goals. Leadership was already a challenge for companies before the pandemic. Now, everyone will need to lead with minimal face-to-face interaction. Learning how to manage others online, coach, set objectives, and practice the soft skills needed in leadership will differentiate you from others.

2. Meditation and Journaling

Humans need each other, and we’re accustomed to physical interaction. It’s been depressing to be unable to interact with those we care about, meet new people, and make new connections. Some of us have been home alone for months, and it shows no signs of slowing. How do we cope? We will need to get more comfortable with being alone to still perform at work or manage the current relationships we have.

Meditation and journaling are powerful tools to keep our thoughts and emotions from running amok. Even if you can meditate and journal for 10 minutes, you can bring much-needed calm in an isolated yet chaotic world.

3. Freelancing

In the next ten years, almost 70% of the world’s workforce will be freelance. More and more companies are taking on workers to complete quick tasks or bring a certain result. As a freelancer, you’ll need to know how to find long-term work, manage clients, and deliver on your promises. You’ll also need to be ok with the idea of freelancing compared to a conventional 9–5.

4. Focus and concentration

You probably already know that focus is the one thing that’s stopping you from being productive, running your business, or completing urgent tasks. We can get distracted with such ease now that we wonder why so much time passes and we can’t get anything done. That’s compounded in the new remote normal, where we’re now responsible for managing ourselves. Learning to focus on what’s urgent and resisting the urge to do anything else will become a superpower.

5. Analyzing Data

Every day, the world generates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. What happens with all that information? What can we learn from it? As we continue to consume and create data, the demand for those who understand it will only rise. It would help if you had at least a fundamental understanding of data. It will help you point your business in the right direction. It can also help you land your dream job if you venture into Data engineering or Analyst roles.

6. E-commerce

If you’re selling a product — either as a salesperson or business owner — it’s vital that you create an online presence. Actually, it’s non-negotiable. You need to learn and understand E-commerce to thrive in the coming years. From sales funnels, Marketing, Customer Support, and Business Development. Learn how to start and run a successful E-commerce business, and you’ll always have work.

7. Crisis Management

How will you and your team respond if another worldwide catastrophe were to affect you? Invest in your crisis management skills — learning how to design and implement a battle plan if things go south. For businesses, crisis management can help you pivot while still staying afloat. More and more businesses will be looking for people with crisis management skills to respond to any emergencies adequately.

We will be dependent on these and other soft skills in the coming years. Pick one or two that you will tackle in the next year and look for ways to leverage your newfound knowledge to thrive in our remote landscape.