Staying Relevant in a Changing World Part 2: The Million Naira Mirage.

In the last article, we discussed the ever-changing nature of the work landscape and the fear of becoming obsolete in the face of AI and automation.

But remember, fear is a terrible motivator. Let's turn this anxiety into a positive force for growth! Today, I want to pick up where we left off, using my career journey to illustrate the power of embracing lifelong learning.?

The allure of the "Calabar Champion."

I shared with you how even early in my career, an uneasy feeling crept in after achieving early business success in Calabar – the fear of becoming a "Calabar champion" whose skills might not translate beyond that local context. This discomfort sparked a turning point in my career journey.

Rather than resting on my laurels, I took a bold leap. Even though my business with a friend was generating 200,000 Naira per week from training and IT work, I decided to relocate from Calabar to Abuja. There, I accepted a job at an IT consulting firm for just 50,000 Naira per month - a massive pay cut. My take-home pay after accommodation deductions amounted to 30,000 Naira per month.?

It was a significant drop in income, and I know you might be wondering, "Why would someone willingly take a pay cut after tasting entrepreneurial success?"

I saw this role as a gateway to mastering the intricacies of the IT consulting world - skills that would be transferable across industries and geographies. I was playing the long game, sacrificing short-term gains for immense growth opportunities and investing in my future relevance.

During my year at the consulting firm, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to upskilling.

My monthly income gradually increased to 150,000 Naira as I honed my expertise. It was during this time that a friend approached me and questioned why I was settling for less when others in the same field were earning up to 1 million Naira monthly with similar skill sets. This challenge prompted me to reevaluate my career choices.

Not long after, an opportunity presented itself – a role offering a monthly salary of 1 million Naira. While this figure seemed astronomical at the time, I recognized it as a stepping stone rather than a destination. After just three months, an international company approached me with an offer of 400,000 Naira per month, 40% of my current earnings. Without hesitation, I accepted the new role, despite leaving behind that coveted 1 million Naira monthly income.?

Why? This opportunity aligned perfectly with my commitment to continuous learning and upskilling – the very principles that had propelled my journey thus far.

This wasn't just about acquiring new technical skills, although that was certainly part of it.? I was exposed to different work cultures, communication styles, and industry best practices.? This broadened my perspective and made me a more well-rounded professional.

Think about it – in today's world, where remote work is becoming increasingly common, the ability to collaborate effectively in a global environment is a major asset. Just like the fear of AI replacing jobs, there's a misconception that automation will eliminate the need for "soft skills" like communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.? On the contrary, these human-centric skills are becoming even more crucial in the age of intelligent machines. For five years, I immersed myself in this international environment, expanding my horizons and gaining invaluable experience that would eventually pave the way for my next bold move.?

The moral of the story? I could have remained the big fish in the small Calabar pond, but I wanted more. By constantly challenging my comfort zone through bold career moves, I actively invested in my own relevance. My story underscores a fundamental truth: the path to sustained relevance isn't linear; it's a series of calculated leaps that require courage, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to growth.

In today's age of AI and automation, the only constant is change. Skills become obsolete rapidly. The safe path leads to stagnation. Stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing new opportunities (even if they appear financially lean at first), and adopting a lifelong learning mindset - these are the ways to stay relevant and irreplaceable.

Just look at how AI itself is evolving. The same models disrupting industries today will be rendered outdated by smarter, more capable AI in the near future. Complacency isn't an option - for humans or machines.

So ask yourself: Which growth opportunities are you willing to seize, even if they don't appear immediately lucrative? Because the truth is, continuously upskilling is the only way to future-proof your career.

In the next part of this series, I'll share more insights from my journey of going from a local consultant to working with multinational teams across continents. We'll also explore specific strategies for identifying your growth stepping stones.

Until then, I encourage you to reflect on your journey:

Have you ever found yourself facing a crossroads similar to mine??

What motivated you to leap??

Share your experiences and insights – your stories could inspire someone else to embrace the courage required for sustainable career growth.

#EazzyTech #CareerGrowth #Upskilling #ContinuousLearning #EntrepreneurshipJourney #GrowthMindset #Adaptability #AI #Automation #FutureOfWork

Dr. Olumide Adeniran

Thought Leader | Venture Capital | Tech Entrepreneur