It is often said that change is the only constant thing that exists, and from time immemorial, humans have learned to adapt to change in its various forms and contexts. As the world continues to get more interconnected due to technological advancement, invention and innovation, there is an increasing need for young people to get intentional about staying relevant in the workforce. I remember a very important point Virginia Postrel made in her book, The Future and its Enemies, she classifies people as either Stasists or dynamists. Stasists are the people who resist change while dynamists embrace it and try tightly to manage it. What we have seen in the past is a rise in the number of statists, however, there are great signs that more young people are embracing change.
Staying relevant means staying useful, innovative and up to the time either as a business owner, a secondary school graduate, an undergraduate, a graduate or in your chosen career path. As a business owner, you should gain a competitive advantage by making sure that you are delivering the exact needs of your customers at all times. It’s about constantly improving skills to match what the world needs, ensuring a strong position in the job market. This pursuit of staying relevant is key to success in a world that keeps changing.
Here are a few tips I have learned over the years to stay relevant and thrive in any rapidly changing industry without losing your value and/or purpose.
Invest in yourself
Investment in oneself is the greatest asset of a man. This involves staying curious i.e. asking questions, reading books, attending workshops, seminars, conferences and programmes that relate to your career path. For instance, if you are trying to get a space in the Tech-Law industry, it means you are combining technology and the law, and how technology can be applied to law and vice versa. This means you have to stay up to date in both spaces by attending conferences, seminars, symposiums, and webinars that bring an intersection between both fields. You need to understand the market trends shift, new competitors emerging, consumer behavior, new inventions, technology advancements and the laws that govern them.
Engage in constant learning
The power of learning should not be underestimated. Knowledge is power. He who knows has conquered ignorance. The world is full of smart and knowledgeable people, to stay relevant you have to be extraordinary— the difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit of ‘extra’. Learn more about the industry you are getting into and how it evolves. Sharpen your core skills and build on your niche to thrive in your industry. Be current with the industry trends and news. Learning is beyond the four walls of the classroom, take online courses relevant to your niche, get certified, join communities, practice and always learn from your failures— embrace them and grow from them. Failures can be effectively used as a stepping stone to success. Learn from your mistakes. I could remember when I finished secondary school and I had to wait some years before I gained admission into the University. Though it was a difficult time, two years of waiting taught me the power of patience, dedication, resilience and the search for purpose and meaning—these are some of the things you need to build to stay relevant in any industry. I could say those two years shaped me into the person I am today. All thanks to God.
FAIL is an acronym which means First Attempt in Learning, thus, it’s not a death sentence.
It means another approach needs to be applied to doing that particular thing. Let your failures motivate you to do more and be a better version of yourself.
Have a brand (Personal brand or business brand)
Branding is the process of defining and promoting what you stand for as an individual or a business owner. I would talk more about personal branding because it has a great effect on an individual. It is about creating an identity for yourself. Personal brand is the culmination of the experience, skills and values that differentiate you from others. Your brand can also represent your business brand –it typically means, your brand represents both you and your business. Define who you are, what you represent and what you want to become. It makes you exceptional. Know what you are and promote it. There is more to branding than a brand logo. Align your brand goals with the industry you find your niche. Have a brand statement; it has to be short, descriptive and catchy. Mine is “I represent what is right and against what is wrong, therefore I will use my voice to contribute to the development of the society.” Think of how you want to portray yourself to people, your core values, beliefs, ideas, work and personality. Define how you want the world to see you. This will aid you to know your target audience and how they can identify and understand you. To stay relevant in any industry, you must brand yourself. You will be able to understand your target audience, customers and their pain points, and the solution you want to offer to solve their problems. Be unique, truthful to yourself, and stand for yourself as all these will help you build your confidence and command respect among your peers, customers and the industry.
Embrace change and take risks
Another key to staying relevant in any industry is having the courage and agility to embrace change, new technology, methodologies and calculated risks that can take your business or career a little further in the rapidly changing industry. Every exit is an entrance to something else. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Be open to new ideas, take positive steps towards achieving something great, and think outside the box when necessary. Take calculated risks; do your SWOT Analysis if need be (Strength Weakness Opportunity and Threat) and know where and what lies your strength, weakness, opportunity and threat. All these can make you competitive in the market. Mark Zuckerberg; CEO Meta once said, “The greatest risk in life is not taking one.” There is always no specific right time to do something new except now.
Grow your soft skills
Soft skills are skills you learn on your own. These include Interpersonal skills, Effective communication skills, Time management skills, Tech skills etc. Focus on skills that are in high demand in your industry and those that are critical for your future growth and success.
Have a mentor or role model.
Communicate with people who are already successful in the industry you are in and learn from them. Having a mentor or a role model can make your journey in any industry less stressful. They tend to keep you informed about the latest trends and changes in the industry and help you navigate your way in the industry.
Expand your network
The number of people you have access to determines your growth rate. Grow your circle, relate with people and learn from them. You can expand your network by navigating through the right social networking like Linkedin and joining online communities in line with your career path– Reddit.com, Quora etc. Subscribe to newsletters that can aid your career. Reach out to people and ask for help when needed but don’t be a burden. Build strong relationships as well as social circles because you don’t know who has the ticket to your next job offer or business progress. Talk to family and friends, attend networking events, connect with former coworkers, join professional organizations, and think outside your industry by volunteering – meeting people outside your profession and working side by side with people who support the same cause as you can foster a great connection and growth. I volunteer at an NGO and I can say the people I work with there are outside my profession but they have contributed to my personal growth and network. Also, relate well with your schoolmates and peers, and connect with your Alumni Association. You can’t tell where the next opportunity will come from. Your network is your net worth— cherish it, appreciate it and grow it.
Relevance is not only about what you know but your ability to add value, adopt the right mindset, and embrace growth, opportunities and change that comes in a swiftly changing industry. Believe in yourself, trust in God and aim for the best.
Written by Rodiat Otun (Co-Team Lead, Programs)