The good old days of “Ignorance is bliss” are gone for good.

We now live in a world where ignorance could be your biggest mistake, especially when it comes to succeeding professionally.

We have unlimited opportunities. But also unlimited competition. We can access the entire world at our fingertips, and so can everyone else.

And although I would have loved to tell you that you can take your time, just try things out for a decade, and then decide what’s meant for you, the truth is that those times are behind us.

Speed is the name of the game now. The new success equation is simple: try more in less time.

There’s no way you can do that without solid preparation.

And today, you’ll understand exactly what you need at the foundation so that regardless of where you come from or what your goals are, you can succeed and grow. And I can promise you, by just adopting the two simple rules I’m about to outline, you will feel more prepared, clear, and confident to chase your goals.

Ready?

Rule #1: Learning Never Stops

In 2020, we all thought COVID-19 would be the highlight of this new decade.

But when you look at the changes that have happened globally over the last five years, COVID has turned more into a footnote than the main chapter in the history of our current decade.

And we still have five more years to go…

So, you can imagine, the world’s only going to keep changing faster, faster, and faster. What’s conventional today could become obsolete just a few years down the line.

Successful people understand this truth all too well.

And that’s why they never stop learning. Whether it’s new technology, new concepts, new techniques, or new ideas, those who happily stay at the top keep learning, keep improving, and keep growing.

If they’re humble enough to do that, what’s stopping us? Truly, nothing.

If AI is a new thing for you, don’t dismiss it as a fad. Learn it instead.

If you’re an athlete and you don’t understand the theories, rules, and operations of how leagues in your sport are played, you would benefit from learning that stuff, so when you’re signing a deal, you know exactly what you’re getting into.

If you’re a salesperson and you haven’t figured out how automated sales calls work, you could be missing out on a tool that could 10X your output, performance, and results. But you must learn it first.

You see, I can give you endless examples from endless professions, but that’s not our purpose here. What you need to take away from this rule is simple: “Always keep learning. Things change. So, change with them. Grow with them. Learn with them. And you’ll never feel ‘behind’ in life.”

Rule #2: The More You Try; The Luckier You Are.

Imagine two people, John and Mike, are graduating as MBAs in today’s job market. Both have similar skill sets, and both have read the reports highlighting how grim the job market situation really is.

After seeing that only a few people are getting jobs, Mike feels dejected. He applies for 10 to 15 roles, goes to about 3 interviews, and gets selected for none. 

He feels hopeless, and as he’s scrolling on his phone to escape his thoughts, a new report rubs salt in his wound: “Here’s how AI is replacing most traditional job roles.”

Now he’s certain he’s never going to get a job and resorts to complaining about the sorry state of the world on a job-hunting subreddit.

But John does something different. When he finds out that people aren’t getting jobs, he asks, “What can I do to ensure I get one?”

He starts applying for many roles confidently, even some that promise less salary than what he expected. At the same time as Mike, John applies to 150 to 200 jobs. He gets rejected from ALL of them.

He feels a bit dejected but keeps applying. That’s when he also reads the same report as Mike: “Here’s how AI is replacing most traditional job roles.”

As he decodes the insights there, he understands why his applications aren’t getting him jobs. “Companies no longer want a regular MBA like me,” he thinks to himself, “so I’ll learn a bit about AI and add that as a skill set.”

Now, every single day, John stays focused. He applies for 10 to 15 new roles, mentions that he can use AI to do his work better, and learns those new skills for at least six hours each day.

He applies to over 200 jobs once again (with this new skillset), gets rejected by more than 150, does 50 interviews, clears just 5, and now he has 5 incredible offers to choose from!

On the same day as Mike, John posts on the job hunting subreddit, “HELP! I have five offers. Which one do I choose?!”

And half the comments are calling him “Lucky.”

Same people. Same background. Same skills. Same expertise. Just different levels of commitment, persistence, and efforts.

The lesson here is simple. Be like John. Try more. Prepare more. Aim to be the best at what you do. And you’ll have abundance of opportunities you could once only dream of.

No matter what the reports say about your industry, or job, or career of choice, you can become the one who beats the odds. 

Because the truth is, even in the worst job market, are some people getting the jobs they want? Yes.

Even in the worst recession, are some businesses still turning a profit? Yes.

Even from the worst conditions, are some athletes shining bright? Yes.

Even in the most competitive world, are some singers and artists achieving success previously unheard of? Yes.

So, the question is no longer, “Is it possible?” We’ve already established that it is.

The question is, “Are you doing enough to shine in this new world to ensure that you make it possible for yourself?”

And I’ve just given you two simple rules that will help you answer that question with a confident, “YES!”