Change is the only constant

“The Only Constant in Life Is Change.”- Heraclitus

Welcome to The Growthmonk, a newsletter by ProductHood School where I talk about personal growth and future proofing yourself in the AI Age. Follow me to get updates.

What you will find in today's edition?

• Why change is the only constant?
• Future skills you must learn
• People you must follow for personal growth
• Books to make you better

Why change is the only constant?

Human beings are conditioned to stay in their comfort zone. Our genes carry a strong instinct that goes back to when humans lived in forests. Back then, safety, food, and feeling happy were crucial. This instinct still influences us today, making us look for places that are safe, where we can find food and feel good. Similarly, we're often afraid to try new things because we're unsure of what might happen, which keeps us sticking to what we know.

However this instinct is working against us today. If you stay too long in comfort zone, you will soon perish and will be outdated.

Technology is changing rapidly and every few years you need to learn new things else your job will be eaten by technology or given to those who adapt and learn fast.

Long ago, when lakes froze in winter, there were people who cut the ice from them. These ice delivery folks then moved the ice to different locations. Mostly, it was needed by catering services and the food industry to keep food fresh in summer. This happened before refrigerators were invented. After the 1920s, refrigerators became more common and replaced the ice cutters.

Same is happening today with AI, Automation. Time to upskill?

Future skills you must learn

What will make you in demand? Simple. Learn skills which help you solve the pain point of your client, customers, employers.

Here are the top 10 skills you must master to remain employable.

1. Problem-solving
2. Critical Thinking
3. Creativity
4. People Management
5. Stakeholder Management
6. Emotional Intelligence
7. Decision Making
8. Negotiation
9. Adaptability
10. Storytelling

What other skills you think are important? Comment below.

How to stay motivated and learn faster?

Personally I read a lot and follow a lot of people who are expert in their domain and share a lot of useful content. In the personal growth space, I follow a bunch of folks whom you can follow to get help.

Sahil Bloom - Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his social insights and bi-weekly newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle.

James Clear - He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits , which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.

Shane Parrish - Shane Parrish is an entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and investor.

Jay Shetty - He is a global bestselling author, award-winning podcast host of On Purpose.

Vishen Lakhiani - Founder of Mindvalley, an award-winning education movement with over 10 million students worldwide.

Know more folks to follow? Tag them in the comment below for everyone's help.

Books to make you better in 2024

Five books across various genres that can enrich your life in 2024:

1. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear - A practical guide to understanding habits and how to effectively change them for personal improvement.

2. Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein - Explores the benefits of having diverse experiences and skill sets in a rapidly changing world.

3. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth - Investigates the role of grit, or perseverance and passion, in achieving long-term success.

4. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson - Offers unconventional wisdom on how to prioritize what truly matters and let go of unimportant things.

5. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck - Examines the importance of having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset and how it influences our success and personal development.

Suggest other books in the comment below.

Software is eating the world and AI is eating software for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The image that you see at the top of the newsletter is created by AI. LinkedIn has collaborated with Microsoft Designer to create images via Generative AI. It took me 30 seconds to create this image via AI with a simple prompt. Amazing it is.

As we conclude this edition, take a moment to reflect on the insights shared and identify one actionable step you can take to nurture your personal growth. It can be as simple as identifying the skill gaps and creating an action plan to bridge that gap.

Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey of personal growth. Together, let's embrace the possibilities, challenge ourselves to grow, and support each other in becoming the best versions of ourselves. Until next time, keep elevating yourself!

Connect with Us: Follow Lokesh Gupta and ProductHood School to get more useful resources.

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