I really like the words of Tina Seelig, director of the Technology Ventures Program at Stanford University: “Your knowledge is the toolbox for imagination”. And this is so truethat each student that comes out of the educational system should have his own “toolbox” to face the problems that he may encounter in an innovative way. Unknown problems. That we do not know which ones will be. And what the young people need, is exactly the same that should apply to us older people. Because the key to job survival in this century lies in learning to go through the unknown. Those things that we do not know that are going to happen cannot be taught or learned, but what we can do is prepare for that uncertain future; that uncertainty that we are not quite used to, and that sometimes paralyzes us or makes us suffer.
The difference between this fourth industrial revolution and the previous ones is that we navigate in the chaos of the unknown brought on by digitalization, as well as by their speed. How can we prepare for tasks and situations that we cannot even imagine? And for change and constant digitalization? How to make friends with uncertainty? An option for help is by acquiring a digital mindset, a knowmad mentality, as the knowledge nomad is the professional profile that is better fitted in this volatile and fluctuating environment. If we interiorize a “liquid” attitude and mentality, we will be more flexible to adapt to the changing needs of these new times. In this XXI Century, flexibility is the way forward, as he who better adapts is the one that survives.
Therefore, the knowmad is a great agent of uncertainty, who uses his knowledge, versatility, and flexibility to search for experimental solutions to problems that as of today are unknown. Agile learning. The working world we have under our feet brings us new challenges. Therefore, it demands new skills and abilities. But let´s see it from a positive perspective:
The good thing about not traveling in a straight line… is that we have an open future.
And that also means that life does not stop or close after reaching the age of 40 or 60. Any of these ages is the best professional moment as it is the one we have! The professional with a knowmad mentality, and who is over 40 years old, because of the complex labor and demographical conditions he has to live in, as well as because of his interest in surfing them to stay on the wave crest for many more years, makes him a silver surfer (Senior professional with a silver talent). Consequently, it is also important to cultivate in our companies an age friendly attitude, so that getting older always means an addition and not a subtraction.
If, as professionals, we are capable of freeing ourselves from our paralyzing fears, to dare to try things that scare us or that cause us vertigo; if we find those things that make us enjoy the journey, those that we feel connected to, that we are good at, that we feel like doing and therefore they bring out the best in us; if we have a job/profession where we can share a smile… then we will acquire a knowmad way to see life, which means that each one of us takes control over our professional future, taking the reins of our lives to decide where we want to go and assuming the responsibility for each step we need to take to get there.
When the future is uncertain, professionals and organizations are required to be in continuous change, evolving, reimagining ourselves. Learning, studying… working. Because the unknown is complex. Uncertainty cannot be totally understood or encompassed, not even compartmentalized, chopped, or broken, so we have no choice but to discover it (even appreciate it) while we move through the path, coexisting with it.
Let´s generate our own toolbox.
Happy future. Raquel Roca
