Changing the Question: A Relevant Call to Action in Today’s Digital Revolution

In 2021, I stood on the TEDx stage and asked a simple but powerful question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I urged the audience to reconsider this question, proposing a new narrative that focuses on aligning passion, values, and vocation for a more fulfilling career. As we stand in 2024, on the brink of a digital revolution driven by the rapid progression of artificial intelligence (AI) and technological innovation, this message is more relevant than ever.

The Old Question vs. The New Reality

For generations, we were asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This question implies that what you do is an intrinsic part of who you are. It subtly suggests that a career path should define our identities. However, as AI technology continues to evolve, we now know that many of the jobs of tomorrow don't yet exist. According to Dell Technologies, up to 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t even been created yet. This statistic underscores the need to rethink our approach to careers, not as fixed identities but as evolving journeys.

In today’s fast-paced world, driven by automation, AI, and digital transformation, focusing on a single "what" is not enough. Instead, we should be asking ourselves deeper questions: What impact do I want to have? What values do I want to live by? What problems do I want to solve?

The Growing Disconnect: Why This Message Matters More Now

Despite technological progress, workforce dissatisfaction remains a global issue. Gallup’s findings that 70% of employees are disengaged in their work hasn't changed much since 2021. The reality is, even in a world of boundless technological advancements, the quality of people’s work lives still impacts their overall well-being. As industries rapidly adopt AI to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and even augment creativity, the fundamental question of personal fulfillment remains unanswered for many.

I, too, once felt trapped in a job that didn’t align with my passions or values. I remember that crushing feeling of dread driving out of the office parking lot on a Friday, knowing I'd have to return on Monday. That feeling is all too common—and technology alone can’t solve it. This disconnect between career and personal fulfillment is why shifting the narrative around work is so critical.

A New Career Narrative for the Digital Age

When I shifted my own narrative, I stopped asking, What do I want to be? Instead, I focused on What do I value? What impact do I want to have? These questions allowed me to design a career aligned with my strengths and passions, a path that led me to become an executive coach and professor. As the digital revolution continues, this approach is essential for navigating the uncertainty of the future job market.

The acceleration of AI and automation doesn't just require us to learn new skills. It demands a broader mindset shift—an openness to lifelong learning and an iterative approach to building a meaningful career. In this ever-changing environment, success will depend on how well we adapt, reskill, and pivot. This applies not only to the technical aspects of work but also to aligning one's personal values with their profession.

The Importance of Lifelong Learning and Flexibility

As AI reshapes industries and automates many traditional roles, the concept of a "fixed career" becomes obsolete. Workers need to adopt a growth mindset, embracing lifelong learning as a fundamental career strategy. Reskilling and upskilling aren’t just about mastering the latest technology—they're about becoming versatile, multi-faceted individuals who are capable of adapting to different roles across multiple industries.

In 2021, I spoke about the need for continuous self-reflection, assessing how your values align with your work. In the AI-driven workplace of today, this concept is even more critical. Rather than locking ourselves into a single job title or career path, we should embrace the fact that our roles will likely shift throughout our lives. AI will automate tasks, but creativity, leadership, collaboration, and emotional intelligence will be more valuable than ever.

The Role of AI in the New Narrative

As the digital revolution unfolds, AI has become a powerful tool, capable of augmenting human potential. However, AI can’t help you discover your purpose or values—that’s an internal process. This is where the work of aligning one’s passions, values, and career becomes paramount. AI can handle tasks and data analysis, but it’s up to us to design careers that align with who we are, enabling us to engage deeply with our work.

In my coaching, I guide people toward designing careers that fit their values rather than making themselves fit a job description. This approach is increasingly necessary as AI reshapes industries and job roles. Our career paths should not only evolve to meet technological advancements but should also reflect our core strengths and passions.

Embracing the Messiness of Career Development

In this digital age, we must acknowledge that our career narratives are not linear. They are messy, iterative, and constantly evolving. Just like AI algorithms learn and improve over time, so must we continuously iterate on our career paths. The beauty lies in that messiness—it's where true growth happens.

As we grapple with the realities of automation and AI taking over more routine tasks, human creativity and purpose-driven work will set us apart. Owning our narrative means being adaptable, questioning the traditional steps of career progression, and prioritizing personal fulfillment alongside professional success.

Crafting a Vocation That Aligns with Your Values

The heart of this message from 2021 remains timeless: Instead of asking what we want to be, we should ask how we want to live our values through our vocation. Vocation is a call to use our gifts and strengths to make the world a better place through service, creativity, and leadership. In a world where technology evolves rapidly, the importance of designing work that aligns with our inner purpose cannot be overstated.

Values serve as the foundation for this alignment. As the workplace transforms, staying true to our core values ensures that we remain engaged and fulfilled, even as industries and job titles change. By designing work that reflects what we find intrinsically valuable, we maintain a sense of meaning, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Looking to the Future

The future of work is uncertain, but one thing is clear: We must stop asking, What do you want to be when you grow up? and instead ask, What impact do you want to make? By focusing on lifelong learning, embracing change, and aligning our values with our work, we can thrive in the AI-driven future.

Rather than fear the changes brought on by AI, we should see them as opportunities to design careers that are deeply aligned with who we are. Whether you’re entering the workforce, transitioning roles, or reskilling, the question of how you want to live your values through your work will guide you in this fast-paced, ever-changing world.

So, let’s change the narrative: What mark do you want to leave? What challenges do you want to solve? How do you want to live your values through your vocation? This is the question that will guide us through the digital revolution and beyond.