Don’t Become Extinct
Grandpa worked in the oil industry as a driver. No, not a truck driver, a horse drawn wagon driver. My father remembers talking to grandpa about what will happen when trucks replace the horse and wagon. Grandpa proclaimed that would never happen, “The horse drawn wagon was how things were done and there was no need to change a system that was working.”
A fine example of never say never.
When assembly line automation revolutionized the automobile industry making mass production possible, cars and trucks became accessible to the masses. The horse and buggy became a memory. As the horse drawn wagon system was replaced with trucks, occupations related to horses and buggies ceased to exist. At the same time, occupations related to automobiles were created. Employment opportunities weren’t exactly eliminated but rather altered. Transportation of products was still necessary but by a different means that required a different skill set.
Tuning in to social media or the news today, your ears will likely hear mention of technological advancements eliminating employment opportunities for people. The typical drama of corporations disregarding human lives in lieu of profitability takes center stage, overshadowing the more significant point of the efficiencies of automation. A bit of rational analysis provides a more common-sense approach to this controversial topic. In the simplest of terms, history tends to repeat itself.
All things evolve.
Communication was once by telegram and pony express. Transportation was by steam engines or horse drawn wagons. The evolution from early communication and transportation methods to faster, more functional devices was likely met with criticism and suspicion much like current skepticism over artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. Whether past or present, those fearful of change are typically heard grumbling that contemporary ideas will never work well enough to replace the reliable, tried and true practices already in place.
Adhering to such a stagnant mindset is fraught with potential pitfalls. Be mindful that change is inevitable. All things evolve. Evolution of the workplace is unavoidable as technology and society changes. There was a time when the hours of the day were filled by the need for survival. Focus was on acquiring sustenance, maintaining adequate shelter and enduring harsh climate conditions. Employment was geared toward meeting these necessities for survival; providing products for hunting food, materials for sewing clothing, etc.
Fast forward a few hundred years and technological advancements allow us to experience life quite differently. Food, shelter and clothing are more easily attainable. We have more time on our hands to focus toward entertainment and excess; things we want versus things we need. Employment opportunities have shifted in accordance to changes in society. New occupations are created as other occupations become extinct. Stubbornly clinging to old habits is ill advised. Those unwilling to move forward may be left behind.
You learn, you adapt, or you are replaced. The common denominator of this equation is you. You decide to make yourself relevant or not.
History dictates that changes to society and technology will result in changes to the work environment. Jobs will be created, and jobs will be lost. It is your responsibility to maintain your relevance to the world around you. Instead of blaming other people or a corporate entity or society in general, own your destiny. Learn from the past, live in the present and plan for the future.
All things must evolve.
Originally published at Medium.com on 10-17-2018.
