You drafted your New Year resolutions and were committed to start upskilling or developing new skills ASAP.

You were bombarded by so many ads for free and paid courses, micro-credentials and webinars that you are feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

• What is the easiest way to narrow down your choices?
• How can you start learning new skills?
• Above all, can you commit to your resolutions on your own or do you need help?

Unfortunately, you have to do to what you don't feel like doing in order to do what you enjoy doing.

Here are six simplified steps that I collected from various books and blogs to help you commit to your resolution to upskill or enhance your capabilities:

1. One skill at a time, one day at a time will add up to many skills by the end of the year: Consider focusing on one skill from your resolutions list. Choose one skill and one skill only. Visualize the reasons behind choosing this skill. For example, you chose to upskill a hobby such as drawing or coding skills. Try to remember why you made this choice. Be as specific as you can.
2. Research the skill and the best place to develop it: Conduct online research on the skill you want to learn or develop. Reach out to people who you know have developed this skill and ask questions. Understand what the skill entails, the resources available (online and in person), and the learning path you can follow.
3. Make a list of resources: Gather the necessary resources to facilitate your learning. This could include books, online courses, tutorials, workshops, mentors, or any other tools that can help you in the learning process.
4. Create a learning schedule: Allocate dedicated time in your daily or weekly schedule for learning the new skill. Remember that consistency is key to progress learning so be sure to add your study time to your calendar.
5. Practice regularly: Regular practice as in three to five days a week is essential for mastering a new skill. It’s not enough to sign up for a micro-credential or a course, you have to find ways to practice that skill beyond class time.
6. Evaluate, adapt and adjust: Be flexible when learning new skills. Some skills may come naturally to you while others will take time to develop. Be sure to adapt your schedule to your best learning time. Some people are more alert in the morning. Others prefer the afternoon or evenings. Make sure that you are open to trying different approaches to see what is your best learning medium.​

Try them out and let me know how you are doing.

It's easy to think that 2024 flew by and you did not achieve significant milestones. You will only see limited progress if you don't take time to reflect. ​

It’s so easy to say “rise and shine”, yet I know that for many of us life throws unexpected moments that this is easier said than done.

How to handle an inability to rise?
 
🌹 Have a water bottle by your bed and start drinking water as soon as you open your eyes 👀 yes, before reaching for your phone 🤓
🌹 Think about the good times 😊 the ones that happened yesterday or those from a month ago
🌹 Count three things that you are thankful for 🥲 it can be the clean water you just drank💧 the fact that you have a window in your room 🪟 or having someone who cares 😎
 
Try them and share what works for you 💪

Taking a deep breath after you take the time to rise will help you appreciate what you have and ease you into reflecting on your year and every day beyond. 

What are your thoughts on reflection?
 
Before you start pondering your New Year resolutions, which by the way research shows that most fizzle out before February ends, I encourage you to consider the high and low points of the past twelve months. I promise you that you will enjoy the process. Crucially, exploring these months will put you in a better position to draft your New Year commitments.

Wishing you health, happiness and continued success, 
Hoda

My passion to increase career literacy among young people drives to me attend and present in conferences to stay updated on the latest research and activity in the education system. I use this knowledge to supplement my services with what the education system drops and to enhance coachee experience.
 
Reading recent research on the predicament of youth today, it is clear that youth between the ages of 18 and 34 change jobs 12 times on average. What to do and how to best help them? As always, my answer is Career Literacy.

The artificial creativity of AI (artificial intelligence) will never match the innovative creativity of humans but we need to teach students the skills to be creative. While not a direct quote, this is one of the messages I heard at the Creativity in Education Summit in Paris.​ Seems that CREATIVITY is one of the new buzzwords to deal with AI concerns about jobs of the future.

In my private practice, I continue to prioritize individualized narrative and dialogical coaching. I guide youth to value what I call HARWIRED ADAPTABILITY. Roy C. Vella details it as, “learn, relearn and unlearn”. Does this skill fall under the creativity in education blanket? Yes. When you are adaptable, you are using your creative skills to embrace change and come up with innovative solutions.
 
What about AI? No, I don’t need to worry about my clients’ knowledge and use of AI innovations, they are usually way ahead of me. I learn from them. 

I do worry though...
 
Will they know to use AI responsibly?
Will they distinguish between what is virtual and what is real?
Will they use AI productively?

The skills needed to answer these questions with a yes go beyond AI navigation.   

Inspired by the book Competing in the New World of Work (a book I recommend to all my fellow book nerds), Radical Adaptability and Foresight Competency are the apparent necessary skills for my young clients. I want them to learn how to “see what is visible but not yet seen”.
 
I met Chris Mackey at a conference this past August and we started talking about skills of the future. He agrees. Chris is the co-founder of Skillsline, a company that helps people make the most of school, work and life opportunities. Skillsline is successfully partnered with schools, training providers and other employers in the U.S. helping students and employees improve these skills. Nudging my clients to develop soft skills or “human skills” as Chris and his team like to call them is crucial upskilling for AI age. These skills include communication and teamwork but more importantly for my practice is they do also include self-knowledge skills. Skills that will help clients increase their adaptability, foresight and creativity. Check out our workshop to learn more. 

Recently, Chris shared the following article, Unplanned Obsolescence by Brent Orrell a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), specializing in job training and workforce development. 

In his article, Orrell talks about the need to develop skills and knowledge that are not affected by latest trends. The following quote confirmed what Chris and I had been dicussing:

“Chief among these (necessary) skills is something called noncognitive or “soft skills” which employers already see as the biggest deficit in the American workforce. These types of skills—things like communication, team work, and interpersonal perception and response—are vital in two respects: They help workers execute specific tasks within jobs and are foundational to learning and adaptation as new technologies emerge”

​Going back to the conference and what is currently being taught in the education system.

Can we bundle all of the above under the umbrella of a career literacy curriculum?

For now, an upheaval of the education system seems unpractical and incorporating career literacy as a core curriculum topic has been an uphill battle. However, I am content to see the embrace of embedding career literacy within the curriculum precisely as Dr Kris Magnusson recommends, “guerrilla style tactics, avoiding head-on collision with the curriculum”.

Having interviewed over 100 career people, I know that embedding career literacy in the curriculum works. It’s clear to me that career literacy among young people is increasing in programs initiated by hidden gems. I am excited to see it happening at Curtin University Australia under the leadership of Dr Alan McAlpine, the work being done by Educators Cooperative under the leadership of Ed Hidalgo and Dr Steve Regur and at Bostania Global led by Nerel Winter. It also works in my practice as I see it every day in the confident faces of my young clients.

Imagine a world...

You are on the right pathway to what's next. You know who you are, what interests you and have found a connection to these interests. You are aware of what engages you to want to make a difference. And you are clear about what you want to talk about.

I can help you get there.
 
I am Hoda Kilani, Career and Academic Coach. I work with students, parents, teachers and community partners sharing the latest strategies to help you get there. Check out my Eventbrite page for the workshop that will help you get started or book an appointment to learn more.