Career
Biodun Da-Silva: Shoot Your Shot at Success! Here’s How
Like most millennials struggling to find their place in the world, I have been doing some reflection and I found that what success meant to me a decade ago doesn’t hold true for me anymore. I realize that going to school and getting a good job is not enough to solidify my spot in the world in this information age and, most importantly, not in the age of technological revolution.
We all define success differently. For some, success could be the ability to live in a nice neighbourhood, ride a fancy car, vacation in Seychelles. For others, it could mean being able to provide for one’s family, give back to the community or work for a multi-National company.
Everybody wants a good life, but it is pertinent to be definitive about what success means to us as individuals.
Times are changing at a very rapid pace. A lot of people have been left behind. Knowledge and digital products are becoming obsolete with each passing day. Job positions are being eliminated due to changes in technology and companies that couldn’t respond fast enough with those changes have been shut down.
Like most millennials struggling to find their place in the world, I have been doing some reflection and I found that what success meant to me a decade ago doesn’t hold true for me anymore. I realize that going to school and getting a good job are not enough to solidify my spot in the world in this information age and, most importantly, not in the age of technological revolution. My concern is how I can compete with Artificial Intelligence with the education I gained from the 80s and 90s respectively. Even if I consolidate my 21st-century certificate with the old ones, are they enough resources to compete with robots?
So how can I stay relevant in an ever-changing world? How can I stay competitive and comparable to my friends who are not just in the same geographical location, but beyond? How can I shoot my shot at success? Especially now that we are about to witness the end of a decade. Finding answers to these and many more questions may be quite challenging because the answer may not be a one-size-fits-all situation.
So here are 5 actionable and attainable points that, when incorporated into our everyday lives, would help us be better prepared to face the future.
Learn to Unlearn and Never Stop Learning
I understand that the strategic information that got me through the 80s, 90s, and 2000s may not be sufficient for today’s challenging life. Knowledge becomes obsolete at the speed of light, so it is important that I learn new ways to stay relevant in my chosen field. I feed my mind daily with vital information. Some may say that ‘knowing someone’ is what ensures success. Who you know may get your feet at the door but what you know gets you a seat at the table.
Evolve
In every cocoon, there’s a caterpillar and in every caterpillar, there’s a butterfly. The process of evolving must be holistic and gradual. Allow yourself ease into the new person you are becoming. There’s a seed of greatness in every individual. Find yours, nourish it, evolve and take control of your spot in the world.
Efficient is Good, but Effective is Better!
There’s no denying the fact that we live in the world of instant gratification. When we want something, we want it fast. I get pissed when a webpage is not loading at the speed I want it to. I wouldn’t want a robot with zero human emotion to carry out a major operation on me even though they are efficient. I can write an article titled ‘how to stop a bad habit’ and within five days, you can read it, say “oh okay!” but continue your path down the rabbit hole regardless.
But I can also write the same article in such a way that you’ll say “oh wow! I need to make some major changes in my life”. The difference between the former and the latter is the effectiveness and the thought I put into writing it. For every action you take, be intentional.
Be Consistent
No sustainable growth happens without consistency. The ability to keep on when the going gets tough is consistency. Life will throw hardballs at you and friends and family will swing curveballs your way. But amid it all, you have to stay focus and consistent if you truly desire to strengthen your chances of success.
Embrace Changes
Without changes, life will be boring. Change is the reason we got here. Humans have experienced a series of changes since the dawn of civilization. It is extremely important to know when to embrace change, when to stay put and embrace change and when to pivot.
We are fast approaching the beginning of a new decade and I believe if we merge these practical points into our day to day activity, we will not only strengthen our chances of success but we will be leaving a solid legacy for the next generation.
