Reinvent myself. Why?

If you don’t change, the world will do it for you. This phrase captures the times in which we live, as it has become impossible to do the same thing all your life. So, you often wonder, do I have to reinvent myself?

There will be several times in your life when you will have to reinvent yourself, change, learn new skills and modify your way of thinking. The important thing is to understand the causes that lead up to this change, and to prepare ourselves so that the transition is smooth and progressive.

Our environment often cries out for us to reinvent ourselves, but we don’t always understand the need to do so. We are happy, our effort is recognized, or maybe we know our work well and we are comfortable. So why complicate matters? Because we are in a rapidly changing world and regardless of your age, or your level of education, things can change for you too.

The best thing is to understand the reasons and prepare for change.

What we all sense, but do not foresee

At work, the need for updating or reinvention is more easily observed than at a personal level. For whatever reason we find ourselves looking for a new job, changing careers or starting a new venture. These situations create an intrinsic need for us to make certain changes, to acquire new skills, and to improve our knowledge.

In the past this adaptation to change was done less frequently, but now the dynamics of renewal must be continuous. This is mainly due to globalisation and technological advances. It’s a bit like smartphones that constantly release new updates to their versions and operating systems.

In a global study conducted by Deloitte “2018 Global Human Capital Trends”, it is explained that a fundamental change is taking place. As technologies advance rapidly and new business models drive organizations to redesign themselves, leaders also struggle to create new career models and develop new skills throughout the workforce. The results of the study indicate that

“building a 21st-century career” emerged as the third most important trend; 47% of respondents described it as very important. Yet only 9% of respondents are very ready to address this trend“.

So, we ask ourselves:

“What is a 21st-century career? – They define it as – a series of developmental experiences, each offering a person the opportunity to acquire new skills, perspectives, and judgment.

We all know that we have to prepare for future change, but it is important that we really internalize it and make it part of our life plan”.

We all know that we have to prepare for future change, but it is important that we really internalize it and make it part of our life plan.

In a different study by IPSOS for the event Revolution@Work: Fears and Expectations in November 2017, the majority of employees surveyed answered that they believed that a revolution in the workplace was coming, which will change the conditions in which we work.

“– Over three in four respondents expect the ongoing changes in the workplace to have a significant impact.

– 80% think we’ll work differently in 10 years’ time.

– 61% believe having multiple jobs simultaneously will become the standard.

According to this study, employees do not anticipate minor technology-driven adjustments, but anticipate massive changes that affect most sectors in all countries.

As these studies and many others indicate, most of us expect a transformation in the way we work. So, if this is what we think, why do we not take steps to anticipate it?

Either because we don't realize, or because we think we're ready.

On many occasions, we are so immersed in our daily lives that we lose the sense of what is happening around us. Routine becomes our greatest enemy, because it automates us, it kills our creativity and our ability to see change.

It is true that routine has often served to make our work more efficient and it is generally a positive force, but without dominating our day to day lives. It is therefore necessary to find a balance between automatic routines and improvisation. Observe from all angles the purpose of our work and its future possibilities.

Sometimes we know that things are going to change, but we believe that the work we do will only require small updates, and that we are already making the necessary changes. Make sure you’re looking at it the right way and making the correct adjustments. Your work may not undergo many modifications, but that does not mean that it will have the same importance in the future.

We must be attentive to the signs that tell us to change, reinvent ourselves or update ourselves. Now is not the time to be reactive, it’s time to be proactive. Look for your own opportunities and don’t be afraid of change.