These days, it’s believed that the youth have all the advantages when it comes to technology. They start companies like facebook in their 20’s, run television shows and represent true progress. Companies I work with talk about “aging down” their workforce, so they can stay nimble.
The reality is that youth is a state of mind, not a counting of years. In my experience, the secret to eternal youth is lifelong learning…the constant expansion of one’s resume of experiences and insights. Henry Ford once quipped, “Anyone who stops learning becomes old, whether at twenty or at eighty. Anyone that keeps learning stays young.”
His point has to do with the constant stimulation of our brain, which in turn drives our creativity and agility. And these days, to be successful in business, you must possess both of those qualities in spades.
Here’s the point: If you aren’t expanding your resume every year, you are likely being getting lapped in the sport of business by those that do. You can improve a resume without changing jobs. You can add areas of expertise or new areas of project work. You can add volunteer work, hobbies or interests. You can add professional associations you’ve joined and contributed to. All of these additions give your career a sense of momentum, which gives you the confidence to embrace change.
My point is more salient for those reading this post born in my generations (Boomer and Echo Boomer). We become very comfortable with our titles, our financial stability and our status. We study on a need-to-learn basis, gathering expertise just-in-time. To take on electives at this stage in life seems a waste … and could cut into our fun time watching sports, buying stuff or talking about people.
That’s why we are so threatened by the youth. They come out of college or self-study, read voraciously and knowledge network with others that have the mutual thirst for knowledge. They have better instincts. They pivot without fear until they get their experiments right. They look at us with disdain, wondering why we don’t ‘get it’.
Meanwhile, we browse trade journals and newspapers, the career development equivalent of doing crossword puzzles. And we wait for retirement and beyond. And we get lapped with every revolution of the business cycle.
Here’s my prescription: Read at least six books a year that bolster your domain expertise and add one new area of insight to your arsenal. Join a relevant trade association and pursue certifications, especially those that require intense study and networking. Raise your hand for a project at work that will stretch you out of your intellectual comfort zone.
Because if your resume isn’t getting richer each year, you mind is getting poorer. The image below represents one of my favorite quotes on lifelong learning. Take it to heart.
