The ‘lean in’ mentality.
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that our world is drastically changing at an incredibly (somewhat frightening) rate. It’s not slowing down, it’s simply speeding up. To quote Michael Simmons words: ‘If someone is 40 years old today, the rate of change they experience in 2040, when they’re 60, will be four times what it is today.’ So basically, the change we currently experience within one year, will soon be experienced in just 3 months…
Being someone who naturally walks in the opposite direction of a trend or overpopulated opinion, (and no I’m not trying to be ‘alternative’, I simply despise anything over-hyped or saturated), this very topic is one I find incredibly challenging to overcome. It needs me to drop my sword and walk in the direction of our next technological revolution. Oop, I said it. Yet, there’s an out:
Lean in and level up. As fast as you possibly can.
Important that I preface… I’m not entirely interested in spending my Saturday evening diving into the depths of this very topic. Yet I am eager to express my current thoughts and movements on the matter. Why? Simple, I need to pivot and I need to do it now.
In recent weeks I’ve found myself frustrated and it’s predominantly stemmed from my complacency. What was once new to me only a few months ago, is now normal, explored, retained and therefore boring. This means I’m not challenged in my daily environment anymore, which for some they love, yet for me… No thank you. I'm far too curious to simply coast. Yes, there is a time and place I enjoy the odd moment of bliss yet as an overarching tree, I’m more than likely climbing the damn thing.
“My need to constantly excel is the very wheels to my fortune, as it is equally the cliff I one day drive off”
A catch 22, as staying the same, confined within an outdated routine and paths I’ve already paved, truly is the death of me. Thankfully, I’ve stared my depression in the face enough times now to recognise this pattern and know at this point and time, I’m completely free to pivot. A luxury I’ve not had in my past.
Yes, pivot.
So where does pivoting collaborate with the technological revolution? Great question. It’s clear that the main road to gaining access to my own ultimate freedom (looks different for everyone) is to learn the roadmaps of our worlds change by fostering the ‘lean in mentality.’ I desire to get ahead and I needed to start yesterday, as the walls I’m currently staring at are far too white for me to feel fulfilled and I know for a fact (I’ve done a lot of research to back that statement) that painting these walls a different colour now might seem crazy, yet will pay off exponentially in my future.
Leaning in is a method discussed by the worlds leading entrepreneurs. I’m talking the likes of Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Not your everyday Joe bloke. It’s been proven time and time again that the main reason for their personal success came down to one singular action:
Leaning into bizarre behaviour built off predictions for the future
The lean in mentality encompasses everything predicted within the realm of any bizarre world revolution (specifically the technological revolution) and learning how to grasp it enough, to make it work for you, not against you. It’s crucial you learn how to lean in, not out… To prove it, here is a list of people who leaned out:
In 1992 the CEO of Intel, Andy Grove, made a statement saying ‘The idea of a personal communicator in every pocket is a pipe dream driven by greed.’ In 2024, Intel’s stock had dropped over 50% as the company continues to miss pivotal opportunities to invest in technological development
A guy called Steve Ballmer was the former CEO of Microsoft. Former, because he got caught literally laughing at Steve Jobs and Apple, claiming ‘There’s no chance that the iphone will ever get any significant market share.’ In 2025, iphone holds a market share value of roughly 56.60%… He’s not laughing now, I can promise you that
February 1995, Newsweek wrote an article: ‘Visionaries see a future of telecommunicating workers, interactive libraries and multimedia classrooms. They speak of electronic town meetings and virtual communities. Commerce and business will shift from offices and malls to networks and modems… Baloney! The truth is, no online database will replace your daily newspaper. Newsweek was forced to discontinue their print magazine in 2012 due to financial strife
Point made.
Ignoring what sit’s ahead, is leaning out. Holding such a narrow view, is leaning out. ‘Leaning out will leave you behind’ - As quoted by Steven Bartlett. Everything from the realms of Crypto and social media/content creation, to the far greater realms such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and genomics, even quantum computing. These realms are taking over and your fear (even though I validate that reaction) stems from your lack of understanding.
When you don’t understand, when it challenges your intelligence, when it makes you feel stupid, lean in more.
We have no reason to be complacent, bored, nor trapped in one story line. Our world is changing and we can either change with it, or stay in the same outdated oxygen until someone rips away the lifeline. I crave change, therefore I will learn, I will evolve, I will grasp what I need, to get ahead and run my own timeline. Take control of your future, the sooner you start the easier it will be. Lean in and level the fuck up!
Note: It is not necessary for everyone to go as far as understanding every aspect of the technological revolution in order to ‘level up’. It’s simply the example that holds enough weight within my own desires, to display quality proof for the speed in which we can choose to learn and grow. It’s a big world, and I’m not saying everyone needs to move at this rate, yet the world will continue to move without you regardless. The choice is yours and I’m not here to judge or comment on your own beliefs or ultimate desires in this lifetime. Just do what is best for you and know there is never no option…