What did you want to become?
Have you been asked this question by anyone? Ever? And how did it make you feel?Did you go back to your childhood dreams? There are many children who want to become an astronaut, a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, a lawyer or a computer whiz. These were the traditional career options for those born in the 70s and 80s. How many of these careers are still standing strong in this age.
I recently heard the 2020 Graduation Speech by Google CEO Sundar Pichai. He told the class of 2020 that they “will prevail”. He further added,
“the reason I know you will prevail is because so many people have done it before you. 100 years ago, the class of 1920 graduated into the end of a pandemic; 50 years ago, the class of 1970 graduated in the midst of the Vietnam War; and nearly 20 years ago, the class of 2001 graduated just months before the 9/11. There are notable examples like this. They had to overcome new challenges and in all cases, they prevailed.”
His advice to them was :
“Be open, be impatient, be hopeful. If you can do that, history will remember the Class of 2020 not for what you lost, but for what you changed.”
These words can apply to all graduates not just those from 2020. Every generation has prevailed. Against all odds. It is in the DNA of mankind to get better with each generation and bring about changes which have given us the future that is our today.
The past ten years saw the birth of a GIG economy. With many new careers coming to the job market. Of these many have seen a sudden death in just these past six months of 2020. We are talking today of a VUCA economy. This too shall pass. These industries : Food , Technology , Supply Chain , Education and Retail will go through tremendous changes. Our future will and is looking different. What we could do a couple of months back without any second thoughts, such as dining out, going for a spa treatment, attending a religious gathering or seminar, watching movies or even sitting in the park are all no longer feasible given the current situation.
Restaurants and Hotels have to re-think how they want to make their business sustainable. Travel and Leisure is looking like a luxury and something which will only be affordable for the very rich. Even Budget Airlines.
Doctors are working unusually long hours, Lawyers are conducting meetings with their clients online. Teaching from pre-school to university level is all going online. Many pilots are sitting at home on unpaid leave, no work since the beginning of this year. Stay home mothers are signing up for tech classes online to learn coding. I met an engineer who used to work for a big MNC until he got retrenched few months back and is now repairing washing machines on house calls.
Organisations that spent millions on advertisement and e-commerce digital platforms are changing their spending behavior. Why would people want to buy online shoes and clothes so much when most will be working remotely. Life is getting simpler. The way people shop is changing. Is this for the long run or a short term stint , no one knows.
These are the changes people have to make to survive and thrive in these times. We all need to learn new skills, life skills like cooking, riding a bike or car, repairing devices, planning a second income career to make sure we are not left behind. We need to learn these skills not just to earn income but to make sure we are not left depending on someone else to provide these services to us. Not everyone can aspire to be in a cushy job anymore. And those who still have a job have to work twice as hard to retain their jobs. Learning should not stop and only that can help us make a better future. Be creative and be bold.
Yes we will prevail and survive this too. Nothing is impossible.
