Happy new year! And, a happy new decade!

This decade is going to be a significant one for humanity as I see much disruption planted on the way.

Last week, the first week of the new year was crowded with wishing messages and memes, gifs, greetings, and some other things. Many people have asked me about my goals for this year and if I have made any resolutions. This year, not! I think resolutions and goals are overrated these days.

Typically, most of us would have made resolutions or goals for this year. And, as usual, some will follow through, and some will fall through.

What if, instead of making any resolutions, we come up with the purpose or agenda for the year? I reckon that would be easier, wouldn’t it?

What if, instead of making any resolutions, we come up with the purpose or agenda for the year?

With this approach, we can adjust and adapt our actions throughout the year and still stay on course. Let me share my three-point manifesto with you.

ONE

Firstly, I want to help people in dealing with the disruptive economy by embracing proactive strategies, rather than being defensive. I will be running several projects around self-sufficiency. But most importantly, I want to help people to remain in control, enable them to lead and succeed, effectively.

I reckon one of the critical components of happiness is having a sense of control over your life. If you perceive yourself to be more in control, you will feel better. A sense of control means having a feeling of autonomy of choosing how you spend your time, of doing your work in your way. The discomfort becomes easier to deal with when you know that you can end it when you choose.

The discomfort becomes easier to deal with when you know that you can end it when you choose.

TWO

My next agenda for the year is to ramp up my work and help leadership folks in making decisions related to tech adoption. Any technology-related decision in the past would not have been so impactful to the workforce directly and massively. However, now it does. Being pragmatic, careful, and independently seeking information is going to be the key to stay in control. I keep saying, “Many people would leverage your ignorance to sell you something.”

Any technology choice that leaders would make this year onwards will have a direct bearing on the future of work and the workforce. I want to help them do it effectively.

THREE

And thirdly, while I continue working in the emerging tech field, I want to focus on educating people on the capabilities and limitations of technology. Most of you’ll agree that there is a significant gap in this area. Almost always, the narrative is all about — what technology can do for you; it is about tech capability. Only in a few cases, people would talk about limitations. And, almost rarely, people talk about what tech can do but shouldn’t do. I see that the right balance on these three aspects is missing, and I will be working towards promoting this more.

Technology not only brings us the promise, but it also has consequences.

Technology not only brings us the promise, but it also has consequences. I want to help people in maintaining that balance. And I guess some part of that will eventually involve technology ethics, from both technical and non-technical perspectives.

Well, this is my three-point agenda for 2020, and if this resonates with you in some way, and if you would like to work with me on this together, I would love to hear from you. Additionally, if there is anything I can help you with to achieve your 2020 goals and resolutions (or agenda), feel free to ask.

So, what’s your manifesto for this year?