21st Century Success

The Evolution of Success in the Age of Technology

The start of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s was thought to be one of the greatest changes in human history, where not only did new technologies emerge, but most importantly, the extension of human capabilities became unknown. As the race for having the best and the most productive technologies began, the textile industry became what was called “the golden nugget,” or the new definition of success. That is why people who had been working as doctors, lawyers, or economists all decided to focus on the production and sale of textiles.

Fast forward to the late 1900s, where this same process repeated itself with the introduction of the internet, personal computers, and mobile phones. The race for the best and the fastest once again altered the conception of success in our society. The 2000s did not fall behind in technology. Innovations surged and continue to surge, suggesting that our technology is getting stronger at a faster pace.

From this brief timeline, what you should take away is not how repetitive history is, but the necessity of being adaptable to the constant evolution of technology, especially considering the constant growth that technologies such as Artificial Intelligence are having in short periods. In just one-year, Artificial Intelligence has advanced to the point where it can reason and process information just like humans do, and it is expected to reach, by 2040, the point of super-intelligence, where it will surpass the human brain in performing everyday tasks.

Considering this, does it mean that just like we needed the 1800s doctors who decided to start producing textiles, we need to work in the field of Artificial Intelligence to become “successful”? The answer is no, not necessarily. What makes the 21st-century race for technology different from the previous is that the success factor does not only include staying at the top of innovation, but also the ability for each of us, regardless of what we do, to adapt and have a certain level of familiarity with rising technology. Take, as an example, a lawyer. What will define if this lawyer is successful in his field is his ability to incorporate innovative tools that will make his job easier, more productive, and consequently successful.

Regardless of what your interests are, always remember that adaptability is one, if not the most important, skill that we can all develop to prepare for the future of technology and the world as a whole. In a fast-moving environment that develops as fast as time passes, success is defined by our flexibility.