However, throughout history we have seen the internet, social media and now AI transform everything. That’s when you think: ‘Either I ride this wave or I’m left behind’, and that’s where AI comes in. And this is where AI comes in. What does it mean to ride this wave? It means understanding it, training and moving with it, because there is no better surfboard than knowledge and training.
The importance of empowering your skills
As you begin to understand AI, you realise that it makes sense in the context of reinvention and reskilling, which is so necessary today. But the first thing AI asks you to do is to analyse yourself. How? We’re not just talking about technology, we’re talking about empowering your skills. And how do you empower them if you don’t know what they are? That’s where the process begins:
- Empower your skills
- Self-assess your strengths.
- Analyse your environment and your daily tasks, looking for what you can improve with a ‘re-engineering’, doing things more efficiently.
- Create a development plan to enhance those strengths.
In my case, seeing that AI can enhance everything I have been doing for years, I decided to apply it to my work processes, helping to improve both my day-to-day life and that of my colleagues and clients. If I can make improvements, why not do it?
The first step is training. However, training in such a new area is challenging. With the hype surrounding AI, there are many courses and sources of information, but it is key to distinguish the real from the superficial, and to build a solid foundation that allows you to discern and continue learning with judgement. This is where social media plays an important role:
- Educate yourself to build a solid foundation that will help you develop critical thinking, always applying responsibility and ethics.
- Find a community to belong to, as outlined in Maslow’s pyramid. Social media allows you to join forums, interest groups and communities that share your interest in AI and lifelong learning.
To make a long story short, I discovered the world of collaborative articles. It’s an ideal setting for creativity and innovation, similar to what we should do at work: when faced with a new situation or challenge, we seek support from more experienced colleagues, analyse the problem together and collaborate on a solution. That’s what I found in collaborative articles: a space to see what’s being done in my niche, AI, explore trends, news, use cases, and contribute on an ongoing basis. Over time, you realise that your contributions have impact and can help you achieve the Top Voice badge , giving back the value you receive in a collaborative environment.
This has been my experience, but it’s not that everyone should be a Top Voice in AI. The important thing is that you discover your strengths, train, and find your niche to create collaborative environments where everyone can advance and support each other. If you are interested in becoming a Top Voice, here are a few steps:
- Find a niche in which you are an expert or want to become one. Train, gain experience and keep growing.
- Make relevant contributions, either based on your day-to-day situations or by publishing content that can help others.
- Create a habit. We often say we don’t have time, but in reality there are small moments throughout the day that we can take advantage of. For example, early in the morning before the kids wake up, while enjoying your first coffee, or late in the evening. Even during your commute to work you can take advantage of this time. In my case, I do it while I’m on the treadmill at the gym or in the 15 minutes I walk from home to the climbing wall. There are always dead moments that we can turn into productive ones. Once you make it a habit, you will do it almost automatically, without even realising it.
Conclusions
Ultimately, it’s not just about being productive and continuing to contribute, it’s about continuing to grow and learn every step of the way. As a mountain climber, I know that reaching the top is the goal, but the most important thing is to enjoy the journey and learn from every step, because every step counts. The same applies to personal and professional growth: every step forward, no matter how small, is part of a larger process that not only brings us closer to our goals, but also enriches and teaches us along the way. Take every opportunity to improve, collaborate and contribute. Remember, just like climbing, what makes the journey special is both the destination and what you learn and enjoy along the way. Keep moving forward, enjoying the journey and learning every step of the way.
I hope this experience inspires you to foster collaborative environments and to row together towards a common goal, and if you aspire to become a Top Voice, here is my experience to guide you! Let’s go for it!
