He said what?!?

It happens to nearly every generation.

Professions disappear, skills become irrelevant, entire industries grow obsolete (remember, just a few generations ago, jobs such as an "elevator operator," a "human computer," and a "town crier" were a real thing).

Yet, it rarely happens as fast and furious as it's happening now. 

This Oxford University study suggests that about 47% of jobs in the US alone will disappear due to automation. Gartner's research shows that organizations are now listing about 33% more skills on job ads in 2020 than they did in 2017. The Financial Times suggests we should plan for five careers (not jobs, full-on careers!) in our lifetime, adding a powerful punchline "Work is impermanent - reinvention is rational."

The message is clear: reinvent or get out of the game. Yet, how many schools, universities, or Executive Education institutions do you know that are taking this need seriously? 

There are almost none. Reinvention is still a fringe subject: questionable at best, laughable at worst.

No wonder that the words of the historian Yuval Noah Harari (the author of the fantastic book "Sapiens" on this matter created so much stir. "Forget programming - the best skill to teach children is reinvention," he said to WIRED magazine. "The art of reinvention will be the most critical skill of this century," he added for Forge.

So, if the establishment won't help us gain reinvention skills, how can we do it ourselves?

Here are some ideas on where to start:

1. Building a reinvention mindset is the first step in the right direction - and one of the best ways to do that is through books and movies. Choose a collection of books that deal with intense change (anything from "The Odyssey" by Homer to "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll to Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" works) - and explore the secrets of surviving and thriving in uncertainty.

2. Exploring a reinvention toolset is the next thing to invest in. Many fields offer tools and methods that help with some aspect of reinvention - whether it is anticipating change, designing change, or implementing change. So, choose an area that needs your attention most (would you like to be better at forecasting and anticipating disruption? Design of new products or processes? Implementation?) and try something new. 

Not sure where to start? Take our Titanic Syndrome Test (only 15 questions available for you on page 49 of this 85-page book preview for the "Chief Reinvention Officer Handbook: How to Thrive in Chaos," and you will see at least one idea of where to improve.

3. With the right mindset and the right toolset, now is the time to boost the skillset! My mantra is simple: Reinvention is not a spectator sport. Just as you cannot build strong physical muscles by watching someone else do push-ups, you cannot build your own reinvention muscles by just observing others. Practice is crucial. So, how do you get that practice?

Our Certified Reinvention Practitioner program, of course! This practice-rich, science-based professional certification program is the perfect way to boost your career or elevate your consulting/coaching practice. To learn more about the Certified Reinvention Practitioner Program and to enroll, get all the details here.

Ready to face the new uncertain future with strength and resilience? I am, too.

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Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva helps companies such as Coca-Cola, Kohler, and IBM turn change and disruption into an opportunity.

Want to join our amazing reinvention community? Grab this FREE 85-page preview of my new book and you are in: https://www.learn2reinvent.com/handbook

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