ReadyforWork Webinar Series Ep 1 is Here🎉
How to get ahead in Ghana (or anywhere) in the New Year as a career professional and more insights.
Every New Year presents distinct challenges.
But introducing a new government into the mix adds an extra layer of drama. That’s why I think 2025 will be quite the year.
Almost half the world’s population held (or is holding) elections in 2024, a remarkable event unlike any year in human history!
This is not an isolated fact, at all. If history teaches anything, it’s the fact there are parallels in every aspect of human existence. Understanding these patterns helps you make smart choices. It guides you in growing your career. You proactively withstand impending shocks that most aimlessly walk into and suffer harm.
Pattern Recognition
Patterns exist in everything. No event occurs in isolation. Every incident is interconnected. This is the truth, regardless of where you choose to focus.
And so, in my opinion, the first 2025 parallel to consider, especially for those of us living in Ghana, is the aftermath of the US Presidential election.
In 2020, President Biden secured a dramatic election victory over President Trump, much like President Akufo-Addo's intense contest against President Mahama in Ghana to retain his seat.
Both leaders faced turbulent tenures characterized by economic challenges and mounting social pressures.
Over in America, President Trump's recent sweeping victory at the polls was no surprise to many in touch with everyday folks. Election observers, political analysts, commentators, and even comedians had predicted the outcome long before the results were announced.
Here in Ghana, we’re exactly five days away from the polls.
Economic hardship, galamsey (or illegal mining), etc., are on the ballot. What does this mean for voter decisions? We’ll soon find out!
But, if we’re talking pattern recognition, the common trend in 2024 for nonauthoritarian countries is unfavorable results for incumbent parties. Indonesia, Pakistan, the UK, and the U.S. have new leaders. Analysts have also pointed out that ruling parties in the EU, France, India, Japan, and South Africa underperformed. Mexico is the only major economy where the incumbent party improved on its previous result.
That’s where you come in, as a career professional!
How to Get Ahead in Ghana (or anywhere) in the New Year as a Career Professional
There’s no controversy about this: 2025 will be a year of transformational change. It’ll be a year filled with tremendous opportunities —and, quite frankly, challenges too.
Across every corner of the industry, there is a palpable sense of urgency, anticipation, tension, and even anxiety.
Bitcoin reached the all-time milestone of $100k this year. And many believe digital currencies will reshape the financial industry in the coming year.
According to Open AI founders, progress in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will peak in 2025. Machines, they say, will think and reason like humans.
A potential WW3 could be averted if Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Hamas wars are resolved quickly.
The Trump administration's efforts to preserve the US dollar's dominance in global trade, such as imposing a 100% tariff on BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), could lead to significant geopolitical shifts, where nations choose sides.
The list goes on!
All these developments have significant implications for workers worldwide. And as a smart career professional, you know that no administration or government can resolve your personal career challenges.
Planning for your career (and New Year goals) has always been the smart thing to do.
How to Get Ahead 🚀as a Career Professional
The good news is that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
For instance, the early 1950s and 1960s were considered the golden age of copywriting. During that period, businesses around the world fiercely competed for space in newspapers and on billboards, aiming to capture the attention of a wide audience and persuade them to purchase their products.
This marked a pivotal moment in the history of advertising. Companies sought innovative ways to leverage these platforms to boost sales and establish brand dominance.
This glorious timeline of using persuasive and innovative writing skills to induce purchases and reduce advertising budget extended to the late 2000s.
Fast forward to today. Copywriting has gradually morphed into GenAI prompting.
Mastering the art of crafting precise prompts has become a valuable and lucrative skill. It has created a niche market where those with expertise in AI interaction are highly sought after.
As I said earlier, patterns exist in everything.
That’s why we’ve created the Get Ahead ReadyforWork webinar series to guide you through the New Year. Consider it your compass to navigate 2025 with ease!
In this December 9 first installment, you'll learn:
How to align your goals with evolving dynamics.
Key trends to watch in the first 12 months of a new administration.
Strategies for turning uncertainty into career growth opportunities.
Personal development strategies for remaining relevant in your job.
Don't miss this chance to gain clarity, confidence, and a competitive edge in a transformative year. Register now to secure your spot!
The rate is free. Learn more and register here; it's free.
In Other News
We’ve released the highlights video of the epoch-making Global Student Entrepreneurship Week 2024. Missed it? Here it is:
ReadyforWork Cohort Six Applications Open Next Monday
Our dynamic learning ecosystem, ReadyforWork, will start accepting applications for select courses from next Monday, December 9.
Join the waitlist and get notified immediately applications open at https://university.readyforwork.africa/auth/register.
We are also calling content owners, subject-matter experts, and companies to bring their courses and training programs to ReadyforWork. Reach out to us to learn more about the process.
If you want to provide tuition scholarships during this global giving period, please send us an email via info@sfanonline.org.
Share this far and wide!
That’s all I have for you today.
Best regards,
Tom-Chris.
(Let’s connect on LinkedIn)