Priscilla's Blog

The concept of improving yourself and not staying out of touch with the present day is something almost everyone is familiar with. No special header is needed to put the message across, whether you are a student, an entrepreneur, or a career professional.

I came across a newsletter that brought the concept of timeliness and innovation to view. When you think 15 years back and compare it to now, you would see that a lot of technological advancements have happened and products/ services that did not evolve (except those that are timeless) have become archaic to use.

A classic example is the typewriter. There were electric typewriters even, which made the world of typing look more classy. I cannot verify if they are still in production but I know they are rarely used now.  

Anyone who had a typewriter then had something to be proud of. I remember learning how to use the typewriter because it was taught alongside the computer – that showed how much relevance it had. People wrote stories, letters, and correspondences with the typewriter.

However, in the world of today, you rarely see typewriters. Could they have evolved and created something that could have competed with the computer? I can’t be so sure as every brand has its vision and Typewriters remain a classic forever.

The point with the Typewriter story is that to stay significant in what you do, you need to embrace relevance. To keep being relevant and not out of touch you need to love innovation and make it a centerpiece in your vision mapping.

What this means is that you don’t stay stuck on what isn’t working anymore. 

Let’s say you are the best with traditional marketing which I don’t think would ever go extinct but now your organization needs you to come on board for a digital transformation of how you do marketing. 

You don’t stay fixated on what you are a master at because you’re scared of being a beginner in a relevant field. That isn’t a growth mindset and is a very fast way to becoming replaced at what you do because Organizations want to stay in business and they need people with the relevant skills to keep their business as a going concern onboard.

Everything needs an upgrade – you are a living thing. Your mobile phone gets an update almost every quarter, and the applications you use on your mobile device also require steady updates. If you do not renovate and maintain a house properly, you’ll begin to see cracks. These are just a few of the things that require an update.

Don’t let the cluster of certifications you have, make you think you don’t need an upgrade especially when your skills are getting out of touch with the present day. 

Get up and get to work. You aren’t too old to pick up a relevant skill and every skill you have and those you’ll still have are yours to keep and explore with. 

I hope you’ll make the most of this post.

Thank you for reading.