Staying Relevant When Everything Around You Changes
Spotting Early Trends and Adapting: The Key to Standing Out in Career and Life
At a time of continual technological revolutions, one thing is clear: staying ahead in today’s workforce requires more than just keeping pace. It demands boldness, adaptability, and a willingness to dive into the unknown. I've taken some big swings during my career—some that paid off, and others that left me wondering why I didn’t just choose the safe route. But here’s the thing: if I had stayed comfortable, I wouldn’t have grown, learned, or experienced the very things that has shaped me both personally and professionally.
So, what does it take to future-proof your career in the coming decade? Let me take you through a few of my pivotal moments and the key skills that kept me not just relevant—but ahead of the curve.
The Case for Curiosity and Risk-Taking
Before diving into those moments, it’s important to note something I’ve come to believe strongly—when hiring new talent, I generally gloss over anyone who has been at the same company for more than five years. Why? Because, in my experience, long tenures at one place often signal a lack of curiosity and a reluctance to take risks. And in a world where technology is reshaping industries at breakneck speed, we need people who can adapt quickly, take bold steps into uncharted territory, and aren’t afraid to disrupt the status quo. Staying too long in one place signals that you’ve chosen comfort over growth, and that’s not the mindset that will carry you or your company into the future.
The Art of Adaptation
It all started in the early days of my career in advertising, just as the digital world was beginning to take shape. Digital advertising wasn’t mainstream yet, and most companies were still leaning into print and traditional media. But I saw a shift happening and, rather than clinging to the "old reliable," I chose to embrace the future. I led one of the first digital sales divisions and helped launch a vertical search engine before most people knew what a search engine was.
Lesson learned: The ability to adapt quickly to emerging trends is critical. Spotting and embracing change early can set you apart in your career, even when it feels like you’re going against the grain.
I then decided to leave that stability behind to enter the startup world, joining a SaaS company in the learning management space. It was exciting, terrifying, and filled with endless uncertainty. At one point, I went six months without a salary in exchange for equity—a gamble that kept me sharp, hungry, and focused.
Transformative Leadership
My next leap came when I transitioned into broadcast television. Here, I led the creation of the very first digital advertising division. It was a time when TV stations were just beginning to flirt with “digital”, and the old guard wasn’t exactly welcoming this new kid on the block. But change waits for no one. I knew that if we didn’t embrace this moment, we’d be left behind.
Then, I shifted to a traditional newspaper company—a dinosaur that needed to evolve. I helped lead their digital transformation, with a focus on digitally driven revenue models.
Key takeaway: Being a transformative leader means not just implementing change, but guiding others through the transition. The next decade will demand leaders who can seamlessly steer organizations through rapid evolution.
Mastering the Unknown
The next chapter? I built the first-ever content marketing division for the same dinosaur mentioned above. It was a risky move. We were diving into uncharted waters, creating something from scratch that didn’t have a proven model. But guess what? That division became a multi-million dollar revenue stream.
I then decided to leave that stability behind to enter the early-stage startup world, joining a SaaS company in the learning management space. It was exciting, terrifying, and filled with endless uncertainty. At one point, I went six months without a salary in exchange for equity—a gamble that kept me sharp, hungry, and focused.
Why it matters: In the next decade, those who master uncertainty will thrive. The ability to take calculated risks and operate in ambiguity will differentiate leaders from followers. Don’t fear the unknown—learn to navigate it.
Leveraging Emerging Technology
My journey didn’t stop there. I dove into the AI space with a startup in Silicon Valley, working with cutting-edge technology that most companies were still trying to understand. This move was particularly nerve-wracking—AI wasn’t mainstream yet, but I knew it would be transformative. And being a part of something before it becomes widespread is where the magic happens.
Recently, I helped lead the evolution of a 35-year-old SaaS company. It’s one thing to build something new—it’s another to take a well-established entity and push it into the future. But that’s exactly what the next decade will demand: the ability to reimagine legacy industries with the tech of tomorrow.
Pro tip: Stay on the leading edge of technology. Whether it's AI, machine learning, or automation, understanding and implementing these tools is no longer optional. It’s critical for survival—and success.
Interpersonal Mastery
Through all of this, one skill has remained essential—interpersonal abilities. In each new role and challenge, the relationships I’ve built were key to driving change and ensuring buy-in. You can have all the technical skills in the world, but without empathy, emotional intelligence, and strong communication, you won’t get far.
A simple truth: The future won’t just be about technology—it will be about the people who drive it forward. Master the art of listening, coaching, and building relationships, and you’ll always find yourself in demand.
Final Thoughts:
Looking back, I could’ve stayed in one industry and watched the world change from the safety of the sidelines. But that would've been boring. Taking risks and stepping into uncharted territory made me sharper, more marketable, and, dare I say, a hell of a lot more interesting.
The future belongs to those who are willing to embrace risk, push boundaries, and fail spectacularly along the way. I’ve been sacked, gone without a paycheck, and faced uncertainty more times than I can count. But those moments sharpened my skills, toughened my resolve, and prepared me for the next leap.
So, what skills should you focus on for the next decade? Adaptation. Leadership. Mastering uncertainty. Technology. Interpersonal skills. But most of all? Embrace the fun of it all. Because if you’re not enjoying the ride, what’s the point?