Could the saying "If you're not at the table, you'll probably be on the menu,” be very relative to success in the 21st century? One can relate to a forest story of predator and prey to illustrate this point, but the reality of the 21st century is far more complex. It is about how to win in job searching, entrepreneurship, and leadership in today’s fast-growing world.

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and shifting societal norms, the saying emphasizes the importance of active involvement and mindfulness.

Today's youth undeniably aspire to high-paying jobs, good governance, successful businesses, and rationally "a soft life”. However, only a few have identified what it takes. In this article, we highlight hacks to winning and staying relevant in the 21st century.

Staying relevant in today’s dynamic world.

The 21st century demands more than traditional education and work experiences. It calls for global citizens who are dynamic, creative, innovative, effective at communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and lifelong learning.

These individuals potentially navigate the complex and ever-changing technological, transactional, and social media world. As a result, staying relevant comes with constant learning, skills improvement, and adapting to change.

The hack of self discovery and career realization.

Self-awareness is the first step to tapping into one’s self space, opportunities, and career realization.

It is important to discover one’s true self and the cause of living in line with what the world needs.

There’s no definite formula to self discovery. Utmostly, the secret is reflecting and taking action. While some discover their path early in life through inborn talents, others require trying different activities, school subjects, or work experiences.

One or more on the list of personality tests, peer reviews, career guidance, mentorship, volunteering, internships, training, apprenticeships, work and just trying things can contribute highly to self discovery and career realization.

For those struggling on this journey, keep in mind that it’s okay to not know what you want to do. Sometimes career realization and satisfaction takes multiple times of trying and quitting. Staying in action with a positive attitude is the best you can do.

Strategic preparation became a key secret to success.

The fast growing and dynamic nature of the 21st century makes success limited to the strategically prepared individuals, institutions, businesses, and organisations.

For instance, an entrepreneur who is looking for investment stands chances when they know that investors require compelling financial reports to study the business. That way, a strategic entrepreneur develops best business practices in accounting and management. The ones who fail at this eventually lose trust and opportunities. 21st century opportunities in business are for the smartest and most daring of business operators and entrepreneurs who master best practices in their daily business routine.

In leadership, leading doesn’t begin when one gets a position. Leadership is rather a lifetime journey that begins when one sees the need and feels urgency to serve and impact. Great leaders prepare by volunteering, taking initiatives, and solving problems.

These leaders are not imposed or enforced. They are rather nominated or voted for positions because they demonstrate potential and trustworthiness.

Another bell on preparation goes to those who are worried about artificial intelligence (AI) taking over their career roles. Upgrading skills or learning new skills to transition is advisable. AI will definitely not do everything. AI is majorly for avoiding unnecessary delays and boosting efficiency and productivity of humans. Human intervention will remain on demand. Prepare to get into roles that will be safe from probable competition of AI by upgrading or transitioning.

An interesting but infamous fact is that AI even forms new jobs by creating more possibilities as it drives efficiency, pushing the limits.

Wonder what to do when you’re prepared enough but you lose an opportunity?

Stay in action. Don’t accept living idle for anyday. Always be on something and find alternatives while looking out and preparing for other opportunities.

There's a new art of securing opportunities.

The saying "If you're not at the table, you'll probably be on the menu and they might have you for lunch,” is alternatively elaborated as "Ensure to sit at that table of opportunities. If the table is full, sit on the next. And if the whole room is full, don't shy away from sitting on the floor.

Staying engaged around your spaces of opportunities, being persistent enough, and constant learning is the mastery of the greatest of opportunity winners. Opportunities find them prepared.

Finding good mentors and a network of influence is also invaluable for creating better guidance, advice, and connections. Great mentors play a significant part of the story.

Lastly, it is pretty wise to unlearn being driven solely by money. Particularly, while still on the journey of learning and self realization. You may be in need of money but what will serve you most is taking projects and challenges to seek experience even at no cost as long as you see value in the foreseeable future. Do away from the traditional way of counting experience in terms of years and seek experience with smart and strategic approaches.

No one cares about how many years of experience you say, but your demonstrated skills, contribution, reputation earned at that particular volunteering, internship, work, or other experiences.

In conclusion, winning in the 21st century is for individuals who have mastered the art of securing and sustaining opportunities by self discovery, strategic preparation, and dynamism. It is crucial to embrace constant learning and adaptability to change.

The author is a Usability Specialist & Technical writer at KudiBooks, a cloud-based accounting software and payment solution.