21/21: understanding the key to relevance in this age and time.

 21/21

Understanding the key to relevance in this age and time 

Blessed be the Almighty God for granting us the privilege of being alive to see the new year, 2021. There is no doubt that the just concluded year was, on a general note, charactized by quite a lot of hitches. The debilitating effects of the pandemic cannot be overemphasized. It is indeed an act of God’s mercy that we are counted worthy to scale through into the new year. 

However, as much as we are joyfully celebrating our successful cross over into the year, 2021, it is very important for us to understand what it takes to make the most of the year. We have just entered into the 21st year of the 21st century; this, we must take cognizance of not only for its informatory relevance, but also how long it will go in helping us to make the most of it.

 A century, as we know, is a period that spans 100 years. I like us to realize that every century unfolds with certain realities in terms of development, civilization, social, technological and economic advancement. There is obviously no question about the fact that certain things which obtained in older centuries no longer hold sway in our day, not neccesarily that they have completely vanished, but that most have been improved upon. Some — if not all — of the technological, social, political and economic realities of our time (the 21st century) would have been largely unthinkable by people who lived in older centuries. 

For instance, in the medieval times also known as the Middle Ages or the dark ages, certain things were characteristic of the age and consequently the lifestyle of the people that lived in it. It was relatively a period of little or no development. People generally hold the belief that it was a time of social, schorlalry and economic backwardness. According to the societal stratification of the age, only the nobles (the kings, the knights and the clergy) had access to a luxurious life. Wars were, to them, a normal reality. Also, older centuries (the ancient world) had their own peculiar characteristics in terms of development, lifestyle, prevailing ideologies, beliefs, social and economic realities. And of course, the modern age (our own age) has its peculiar characteristics. 

 Your relevance in whatever age or period in which you live is tied to your understanding of the current realities of the age, and how much you take responsibility to avail yourself of the opportunities that lie therein. When you are disconnected from the social realities of the age in which you live, you have set yourself up, permit me to say, for perpetual failure. 

The shift from analogue electronics to digital electronics, which begins with the adoption and proliferation of the digital computers, marked the dawning of a new era known as the information/digital/computer age in our planet. The invention of the computer system in the mid 20th century began to shift us into a new social reality, and at the turn of the 21st century, we were plunged deeper into the ocean of this new civilization. The whole of our institutional systems and structures are now built on information technology — the core of the 21st century civilization. Virtually every thing has gone digital; all kinds of events namely, meetings (religious and secular), conferences, programs, aevents, etc, are now being held online. One who is disconnected or is yet to come to terms with the reality of this age has no business with relevance. 

As the century progresses, it continues to unfold new and newer dimensions of its digital reality. The earlier you come to terms with the reality of the fact that we are in the information age, the greater your chances of relevance. While some are merely passing away with time, others are taking advantage of the digital/computer/information reality to build monuments in time by impacting people’s lives, contributing to the growth and development of the society, thereby proffering solutions to human problems. It is high time we woke up and take responsibility for our lives and our territories. Understanding the realities of the age you are in and projecting your life in its light is the fundamental key to becoming relevant in this age and time. Many, there are, that still build their lives on the analogue civilization or even worse older civilization. That will, to a large extent, limit their chances of relevance in this age. 

This year is another layer of the 21st century. More and more layers of the digital civilization will continue to unfold, as everything is getting digitalized. The reality of the internet of things and 5G network is enough to reveal to us how deep our world has gone into digitalization. These new technological achievements, I believe, are not to be fought; rather, they are to be understood and maximized profitably to bring about the growth, development and betterment of humanity. As the 21st year of the 21st century dawns on us, it is important and very needful for you to wake up to the fact that we are in a new age; else, your life will be a testimony, God forbid, of one who only passes away with time without ever making any meaningful impacts. 

It becomes very neccesary for us to develop ourselves in line with what predominantly obtains in the 21st century. What I meant is this: we must develop skills that are digitally inclined. The key to maximizing the digital civilization is to understand it first, and then to learn its skills. I am saying that just in case you do not have any digital skill, in this age and time, you are wrong. How much you can effectively build your life on this new civilization is what will establish your relevance in this age. Below are the digital skills that one can learn and develop: 

 Learning skills

1. Critical thinking

2. Creativity

3. Communication

4.  Collaboration

  Literacy skills

5. Media skill

A.  Writing: copy writing, content writing (articles, resumes, cover letters, etc), ghost writing, Book writing, creative writing (fiction, short story and poetry), content creation and development, proof reading, editing, freelancing, paraphrasing, transcription, etc. 

B.  graphic design: Corel draw, Photpshop, Excel, Microsoft word, Computer-Aided Manufacturing and Design (CAM & CAD),and many other graphic design application)

6. Information Technology: artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, software engineering, website design, Javascript Development, Web Design, HTML Development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Online Collaboration and Remote Working, Blockchain (Bitcoin, etc), Cloud Computing, Android App Development, jQuery Development, iOS App Development, etc. 

Life skills

8. flexibility

9. Leadership

10. Initiative

11. Productivity

12. Social 

13. Academic.

Planning is a fundamental requirement for success. He that has no plan has no life. As you begin this year, 2021, take time to sit down, and draw an effective plan as to how you intend to live the year. Do not be part of the 3RD category of the 3 categories of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who are not even aware of what is happening.

Study yourself very well to have a good understanding of your potentials; then, learn the skill(s) that is(are) line with your discovered potentials. Set your goals and make a plan. Avail yourself of every available opportunity. Get connected, network with people and, above all, build an effective relationship with God. Dear reader, it is my joy to see you grow and become relevant. 

Yours in Destiny.