For the 21st Century, We need intuition

In the aftermath of September 11th, many people claim we face a new world. Yet what I see is not a new world, but a need to become aware of what the world has become. The nineteenth century brought the Industrial Revolution, which changed the way we did things. The twentieth century introduced not just change in how we do things, but change in the rate of change.

In the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, you could plan a career and hope for security. People were advised, "If you choose Profession X, or learn Skill Y, you'll always have a job." As a high school student, advisors said, "If you can type, you can always work. We will always need secretaries." I remembered this advice when, a few years ago, a CPA told me the partners of his Big Six firm are typing their own letters and memos. Three partners share a single assistant.

Some people remain in the time zone that ended more than two decades ago. A former academic colleague shared conce
s about his children: "I want them to major in a technical field so they can always get a job." His oldest child is fourteen. By the time she enters the work force, technical skills may be taken for granted, and universities may no longer offer the tenure that constitutes his own security blanket.

So what's left? Flexiblity and intuition. Flexibility means being a free spirit, being willing to take risks and make moves because they feel right, not waiting until we are forced by circumstances. We need skills to roll with the punches, not skills that can be used only when the ground beneath us is firm and solid.

Intuition means sensing that, "This move isn't right for me," or, "I will need a job change soon." We need to rely less on rules and exte
al process and more on, "The emperor has no clothes. I don't care what everyone else says. I know…"

The airline world is beginning to realize that their procedures were based on assumptions that were turned upside down. They taught their employees to follow the rules. In the aftermath, people began questioning: "The rules won't work here." Well, I think the rulers aren't working in a lot of life domains that rely on procedures: health care, justice, education and more. Those sectors ultimately will be transformed, not just revised with a new layer of rules and assessments.

My own writing and coaching are based on those twin principles of freedom and intuition. I'm working on a book about intuition and invite you to share previews in my classes, coach and forthcoming ebook. I believe in celebrating freedom and recognizing intuition as the number on power tool to tunnel under career walls. "Let every day be Independence Day." nnn