Surviving Accelerated Change

My daughter (Julia Hatmaker) launched her podcast, Today in PA, for PennLive last week. Ironically, Julia uses a manual typewriter as her podcast’s signature sound.

PennLive.com is the electronic media arm of the traditional print media: Patriot News. I'm sure everyone knows the turmoil print media has experienced as we all transition (or have transitioned) to e-media. I assume Julia got the nod to head this initiative because of her e-media skills first demonstrated when she founded Richmond University's (London, UK, not Virginia) on-line video production: RTV. The university's printed newsletter gave way to the immediacy of on-line video.

Within a decade, centuries old print media has largely been replaced by e-media. Film is being replaced by digital videography and radio by streaming stations and podcasts. Mastering change is a survival skill.

"Adapt or die" is paraphrased from "Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature's inexorable imperative." penned by H.G. Wells about a century ago. The famous science fiction writer may not have envisioned just how critical that is today and especially to all readers on LinkedIn who are impacted by technology’s accelerating change. Our careers are, in one way or another, tied to it.

Surviving accelerated change requires two things: keeping updated on emerging technology in our industries and constantly learning about those technologies before college graduates do and replace us. Today’s graduates may have no idea what a manual typewriter sounds like, looks like, or even is. It’s not important. It has faded into history along with those who held on to it.

I hope you will strive to be a lifelong learner, stay abreast of the technology in your industry, and thrive in the coming change. And if you would like to stay updated on what is happening today in PA, subscribe to Julia's free podcast Today in PA, please :).