We’ve made it a quarter of the way into this century! It might feel like Y2K was just yesterday, but it was 25 years ago. With today’s average life expectancy, for many of us, this is a third of our lifetime. As we face the new year, year 2025, I am giving my take on the last 25 years and the next 25. When we look in both directions, what have we seen? What should we expect? And what can we do to maximize the next “third” of our lifetime to get the most out of it?
For many of us, the first thing that comes to mind and the biggest changes we have witnessed from 2000 to 2025 is a myriad of technological advancements. This century has brought about huge developments that have shaped our daily lives. 25 years ago, many of us weren’t walking around with cell phones in our pockets and the internet at our fingertips. We didn’t talk to Siri or push a button to have Amazon deliver anything we could imagine to our doorsteps. But with these changes, our daily lives have gotten more efficient and many ways easier. [Note: easier does not always equal better…]
For the good, technology has become a personal assistant that makes our personal lives run smoother and our professional output quicker. Every industry has been impacted by technology, from digital banking, to supply chains, to market trends, and everything in between. We work differently, we purchase differently, we think differently and it’s all thanks to digital transformation.
Further, our daily interactions have expanded. We connect on a whim. From text messages to social media, our worlds have expanded to allow us to share our thoughts instantaneously. For the most part, I think it’s a good thing. On the other hand, the ubiquitous nature of connection has led to more shallow communication in many cases. Of course, there are always tradeoffs with any major change, and embracing the ‘new’ is part of living.
Culturally, we have become more aware of environmental consequences and are more conscious because of these impacts. Our society has brought mental health to everyday conversations and DE&I discussions to the forefront of business mindfulness. More than ever before, generally speaking, we have become more accepting, more thoughtful, and more inclusive over the last 25 years! Cheers to us! On the other hand, there is a contingent of humans who are threatened by a more expansive world. I anticipate we will continue to see resistance to change (including the maladaptive behaviors that go along with resistance) in the near-term. However, I do believe most people are excited about moving forward, so the tell will be if those people are awake and willing to act vs passively let the frightened minority take over. We shall see.
Of course, I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t tell the future of the next 25 years or what will happen tomorrow, or even 30 minutes from now with any degree of certainty. However, according to experts, we should anticipate AI playing a leading role in our day-to-day lives. Decisions will be made through technological developments, and our human brains will need to adapt to these AI powers accordingly. I will discuss this further in my next article. Stay tuned.
In the next 25 years, I hope our connectedness leads to more harmony as a culture and less division. Technology allows us to reach each other more easily, so how do we work on what we say to each other alongside how quickly we can do it?
Science will continue to develop, and hopefully, we will eradicate some illnesses and diseases. Advancements in biotechnology should help prevent and lessen pain and suffering. I predict that we will also develop our lifestyles in every aspect from consuming entertainment, to having a work-life balance, to wellness routines to extend our lifespans! I would imagine the more that our society learns about health, the more we are willing and able to do to live better lives.
Here are some things I plan to do to maximize my next 25 years:
- Continue to be a lifelong learner.
This is something I have always focused on. As many of you know, I am an avid reader. I try to learn something new every day and apply it to my life to better myself. Over the next quarter century, that is something that will be crucial for everyone. As technology evolves, we need to evolve as well…if nothing else, just to keep up personally and professionally. -
Improve my digital literacy.
This goes hand-in-hand with #1. Specifically, when it comes to digital proficiency and literacy, we need to keep up. I’m not saying you have to code robots, but you need to keep up with the times. Every generation has seen this issue, if they stay stuck in their ways, technology and younger professionals can pass them by. To stay strong, and frankly relevant, in our craft, we need to understand and learn emerging technology. -
Focus on my network.
AI will never beat us at personal interactions. When we work together and develop ourselves as people, we will always have a place in the world. I will share more thoughts on networking in 2025, so be on the lookout! -
Set goals but keep them flexible.
It’s always good to have short- and long-term goals. I’ve talked about it a lot in previous articles. We want to know what our targets are and how we plan to get from Point A to Point B. Keep that up! But also, allow us to have some flexibility in these aspirations, especially the long-term ones. This flexibility in our outlook will allow us to keep up with the times and alter our thinking as the world changes.
We are trained to look both ways when we cross the street. I think this is a great time for us to look both ways and reflect on the last 25 years as we continue to look to the next 25 of our lives. What have you accomplished? Where have you grown? What are you hoping for in the next quarter of a century? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
