5 things you must do to future-proof yourself
Read time: 5 minutes
A few months ago, Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, gave a bold prediction: He believes that by 2034, the traditional 9-5 will be extinct.
It’s a pretty daring hypothesis and caused some controversy, especially given the company he founded—but it’s not one I’d necessarily agree with.
What I do believe is that the world is evolving fast, and whilst the 9-5 will continue to exist, it will be in an entirely different format.
Companies of 2025 and beyond will be built on 3 pillars:
- Skills
- Systems
- Personal brand
These companies will become increasingly
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Hyper-agile
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Decentralised
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Community-driven
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Remote-first (mostly)
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Autonomously tracked
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Driven by personal brands
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Operating 24/7, 365 days a year
AI will disrupt the workforce in ways we can’t yet imagine, reshaping job structures as we know them. Companies will become slimmer, businesses will exist via a laptop and internet connection, and most people will have side hustles that generate additional income. The traditional career path of a single, stable job will give way to a more fluid and flexible approach.
So what does that mean for you and me?
In my view, it means re-thinking how we view work, skills and technology. It means it’s more important than ever before to actively own and navigate our own life and career.
It’s no longer enough to passively stay on one fixed path. With things changing so quickly, I believe we should all be responsible for future proofing ourselves and building our own momentum. Here's how:
1. Pick a skill you want to learn—and spend time on it daily
To keep pace with these rapid changes, our approach to education needs a significant overhaul.
For a start, we need to embrace lifelong learning and look to continuously up-skill in order to be adaptable and resilient to change.
My approach to this has been to find an evergreen skill, invest in learning it, and spend a small amount of time on it every day.
I think everyone should do this; it could be anything from copywriting, to editing, public speaking or content creation. I don’t believe AI will make these skills obsolete—the opposite, in fact. The winners will be those who can use AI to optimise or enhance their skills.
Action: Don’t get left behind; find something you want to master and commit to it. Small daily actions compound.
2. Embrace AI
AI isn’t a threat—it’s your biggest opportunity.
It may not seem it, but we’re still at the very start of the AI revolution.
I personally don’t believe AI will simply replace jobs, but it will fundamentally transform how we work. Those who can leverage AI will find themselves more competitive. As AI models become more sophisticated, it’ll become even easier and more accessible to use them to support our workflows and enhance our output.
AI has the potential to positively impact society both within the working environment and beyond. Whether we like it or not, it’s here to stay.
Action: Now is the time to get on board with the AI revolution if you’re not already—otherwise, you risk being left behind.
3. Package & monetise your skills
We can’t all master everything. As we all adjust to the new age of work and technology, we’ll all encounter problems that require specialist skills and services.
At the core of this shift is one thing: learning to solve problems for people.
Those with the most freedom, financial resilience, and agency are those who learn how to package their skills and monetise them by solving problems for people.
This applies whether you’re an employee, business owner, or freelancer.
You can still:
- Start a podcast
- Build a newsletter
- Sell digital products
- Create valuable content
- Get sponsorship or partner deals
- Host masterclasses and workshops
Action: Time and opportunity wait for nobody; increase your resilience and independence by giving value and expertise to others who need it.
4. Surround yourself with people who inspire you
Your environment shapes you, and who we have immediately around us is the most important factor in success.
There is a lot of noise and advice out there, but something I’ve learnt is to filter advice from people who haven’t done what you want to do. As with any transition period there are “early adopters” to change, and there are laggards and traditionalists—and sometimes those who are not showing up or are resistant to change are the loudest.
I believe it’s more critical than ever to be around people who inspire you, challenge you, and support you and your goals. This could be actual people, but also podcasts, books, newsletters, or other content sources.
Action: Soak up everything you can from inspiring people and resources, and cultivate a winning mindset.
5. Build your personal brand
As we move into this new era, your digital footprint and personal brand will become the most valuable asset you own.
You have the opportunity to define your brand, and decide how you want to show up and what image you want to project. I’ve learnt this is the best way to create opportunity and build true leverage for yourself and your business.
And it’s not just about posting content on social media. It’s about your values, purpose, and what you stand for, as well as your unique skills, experiences and expertise. It’s about your network and community, and the conversations and relationships you foster.
Action: Build an authentic brand and audience by creating content that educates, inspires or entertains.
In summary
The future is changing fast—and those who adapt will thrive. Reid Hoffman’s remarks are a reminder to continuously learn, embrace AI, and find diverse ways to deliver value and build something that lasts. Let me know if I can help you do this through content and personal branding.
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I hope this was helpful! Let me know your thoughts.
Speak soon,
Dupé
PS: whenever you're ready, feel free to enquire about working together: Get guidance on how to be more visible and grow your brand. Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching, or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
