When my son was in middle school, he thought I should learn to play video games. Before this, I had never used a video game controller. I had a lot to learn.
I felt breathless from being chased. I could not see the being that was threatening me, but I could hear it breathing and feel the vibration of its every footfall in surround sound. Suddenly it was running faster, and I did not know if I could escape. I did not know the being’s skills, powers, health, or advantages, or if its range included the entire world or just a focused area.
Because I was in an open world, the path ahead was up to me. But every choice had an unknown consequence.
Could I develop the needed skills? Without them, I could not succeed. Could I manage additional hostile antagonists? That would be important because believing I had the power to overcome them might be the key to saving my virtual life. Could I design needed tools and weapons? Forage for food while staying safe from attack?
Fortunately, my game controller had a pause button, and calamity could be averted, at least temporarily.
In real life, however, there often is no pause button.
You could stay stuck like a computer that won’t boot up.
You could melt down.
Or you could turn on your learn-to-learn skills!
+ Seek challenges
+ Work with others who think differently than you
+ Think out of the box together
+ Be open to many possibilities and get right to testing them
+ Seek feedback and make adjustments
The Rise of Hybrid Roles
Deloitte predicts that 70-90% of (most!!) workers will soon be in “hybrid jobs”—roles that blend multiple disciplines and skill sets. Consider:
• Marketing professionals who also need data analytics and coding skills
• Doctors and healthcare workers who must integrate AI-powered diagnostics
• Engineers who need business acumen and leadership skills
This shift reflects the growing automation of routine tasks, leaving humans responsible for high-level problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
The question isn’t “What do you want to do for work?”—because that work might not exist anymore…or yet.
The better question is: “How will you keep learning to add value at work and stay ahead?”
I’m still not great at video games, but I love that as a generalist I can easily pivot and synthesize in a world where the ability to learn how to learn is more important than any single skill. Those who can navigate new challenges, persist despite difficulties, and adapt their strategies will be the most successful in an unpredictable future.
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Future Proof Yourself with Sherri