“In a rapidly changing world, change or die. Reinvent or die. The emerging trends tend to disqualify people who are not ready to reinvent themselves. If you are not moving in tandem with the world, then you will be totally extinct.”

These were the words of Reverend Albert Ocran on Your Virtual University last Sunday on the Springboard radio programme on Joy last Sunday. He spoke on the topic: “How to seize initiative in an increasingly digitalised world.”

Rev. Ocran said: “If you are disconnected from where the world is going, you are physically alive but in the terms of relevance, you are dead. The lesson is simple, reinvent or die.”

“Let me give you an idea about 10 everyday things that we see and use in our homes or work that did not exist 10 years ago to give you an idea about the fact that you can be fine today and by 2029, you will be totally extinct.

He said 10 years ago, iPad, uber, Instagram, snapchat, apple watch, smart speakers, interactive speakers, unmanned vehicles, bitcoins, air fryers and pressure cookers did not exist.

“Is it possible that what work you will be doing in the next 10 years does not even exist now?

He mentioned some jobs that didn’t exist in 2009 but were currently very major as social media manager; growth hacker; telemedicine physician; app developer; uber driver; driverless car engineer; podcast producer; Zumba instructor; director of analytics; and sustainability director.

“Don’t ask about the jobs that are going into extinction, but rather position yourself to take advantage. When one door is closed another is opened, as sung by Bob Marley.

“So for every door that closes as a result of digitisation, three other doors are opened so do not be scared. Do not feel, reinvent yourself so that you can fit in into the new door that is opened.

Three areas that one can relate to on daily basis.

Communication

“There is a massive change in the way we communicate as a result of the digital revolution. So let me start with Facebook live. Last year at the Springboard road show, a programme we had started in Accra that has grown from one city to all 10 regional capitals and then gone to 15 cities in Ghana then eventually gone to three countries; Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia.

“I said let us reinvent this thing because every town says come here. Even if we went to one town a week we still would not be able to finish.

“Starting last year, we compressed springboard into a three city event and gathered one million digital viewers virtual participants and so physical attendees did not exceed 10, 000 but digital attendees one million.

“This also means that education has changed because a university in the United States (US), a second university in Australia and a university here in Ghana can have a collaboration and share lecturers and resources without moving,” he said.

Payment systems

Regarding payment systems, he said: “Technology allows us to do whatever payment we need to do including bill payment and mobile money has broken all the records that we can think about because it provides exactly what people need in terms of solutions.”

Rev. Ocran noted that by leveraging technology, shopping experience had been made so easy by technology. “Today, whether it is a passport you are renewing or applying for, a travel visa you are applying for, you still have to pay online before you get it.”

Consumer behaviour

He enumerated the third area of change as consumer behaviour, adding that consumers today were knowledgeable, assertive, demanding, innovative and expectant.

“Assertive because they know what they want, knowledgeable because they have the fact and they can check it themselves. They also demand higher service and have crazy innovative ideas about what they want and expect what they want to be delivered. In every area people now demand self service solution.

Drivers of change

Rev. Ocran explained that the key driver of change was how fast a service provider could deliver a product or service to a client. He said speed was a critical factor driving change.

He mentioned convenience as another driver. “People want it delivered to their phone, doorstep. If you want to make money the solutions that you provide you must make it convenient for the people. People don't need to drive all the way to your place. Convenience is one thing that will ensure that you make money.

Another driver of change is reach. He explained that now technology had made it possible for businesses to compete for the same product or service irrespective of the countries the businesses were located.

Rev. Ocran also said that cost was a change driver too. “People are doing what you're doing and they are doing it cheaper than you with the same specifications.”

On value added service, he explained that entrepreneurs must think about giving the customer extra value.

“Diverse options; diversity, the person says 'can I have it this way?' you say 'oh sure' . Give them options. Gold options, silver options, whatever that you do think about giving people variety in giving them options.”

“The final driver is culture of continuous improvement. Let me speak to my talent friends, your act maybe primary it may be the beginnings of a great skill and a great business, beyond some point there will be nobody competing with you. You must compete with yourself and compete with your vision. Have a culture of continuous improvement.

Think strategically, spot environmental changes or demands and respond accordingly.

Continously reinvent yourself. Find new ways to express your mission. The mission will be the same but the vehicle must always change. Just think outside the box, think about a different way about what everyone is doing.

“Monetise your services. Don't stop at developing the service. Ask yourself: How do I position this service, this solution, this talent to generate income, return or reward?”

Be agile and flexible. He explained: “Agility is being able to tell yourself that mentally I am flexible educationally I'm flexible, don’t worry about what I did in school just give me the job I will do it.”

“Enhance your personal value through command of language, technological appreciation, reading and self-education, and cultivation of powerful networks,” he said.