Letting go-embracing new narratives in an ever changing world
There is a lot of frustration in change, there is a lot of frustration in letting go and yet in a world that is continuing to change, it is those that do not continually learn, unlearn, and relearn that will eventually fall by the wayside.
The difference between the forms of communication and jobs that are created by the third industrial revolution when compared to the fourth industrial revolution is so stark that all the narratives that are told by Gen X and Baby boomers about how to be successful no longer apply. Yet many people are still caught up in this way of living and thinking because they have not questioned the narrative. They are still holding onto the old roadmap of high school, university and then getting a job. This narrative is out-dated because innovative technologies and new social media platforms create new ways of communicating and generating value, which in turn means that the assumptions held dear by previous generations about success no longer apply, and this is especially true when we think about the go-between.
The go-between can be defined as a third party that facilitates a transaction between two people. In society there are a few intermediaries that have been around for a long time which have been gatekeepers to many things, decreasing the power of the individual within society and making them reliant on the state or private companies.
Key examples include banks, which for a long time have helped people save money and facilitated transactions between two parties. In the information sector we have schools and universities which have been the go-between between the public and valuable information. In media we have had cable television or state-run television. Finally in terms of products we have had stores and malls. However, each of these long-standing intermediaries within society is crumbling due to disruptive technology and the power is being put in the hands of the consumer.
In terms of banks, we now have blockchain and cryptocurrencies which allow for decentralised exchanges of money that cannot be tracked in many cases and happens between two parties without the intermediary of the bank. The internet has made high quality audio, written and visual information on a myriad of topics available to anyone with the internet and good questions. Furthermore, we also have A.I programmes able to answer our questions exactly and specifically on any topic. Moreover, in media we have social media which means that production means previously only available to private companies are now available to the public, along with powerful hardware and software to create many forms of content. Lastly, when we think about retail store to doorstep delivery, along with online shopping has put a huge dent in the traditional retail industry.
In all these cases longstanding institutions are eroding in the face of recent technologies.
The question then becomes why more people are not taking advantage of these modern technologies?
The answer is simple.
They have not let go of the old narrative.
The prefer conventional wisdom, because accepting the pace of change is too hard.
They prefer to see innovative technologies as a threat, as something too hard or beyond them, regardless of their age people continue to believe the narrative that has been passed on to them.
However, when stepping into the unknown, there is no road map.
There is only experience.
Knowledge is moving too quickly to put into a textbook for 4 years, thus it becomes a conversation. Participation in community becomes more important than academic accomplishment.
This is the reality, that the narrative only changes when you participate in the new social economy enabled by the internet and now blockchain.
In a world where the floor has become the ceiling and the ceiling the floor, we need to learn to let go.
To freefall into opportunities enabled by innovative technology or become an observer as others change and embrace before our eyes.
