Sanil Sonalkar on LinkedIn: Retirement Planning (2024)

Mr. Ashish Naik,An interesting headline which forces the reader to dig deeper into the nuances of your article.Whether you love it or hate it, undoubtedly, no one can ignore the potential implications and far-reaching consequences of "Generative AI" and "ChatGPT" across industries. The jury is still out on whether the mainstream adoption of these technologies will be an inevitable reality in the foreseeable future or not. There is a famous saying by Victor Hugo, which reads as "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come". Are ChatGPT and AI the ideas of the current century whose time has indeed come? - Ironically, only time will tell.I have recently observed AI-generated avatar images/videos which are virtual replicas or clones of the actual persons - unbelievable, but true; there is obviously a lot of chatter all around, mostly filled with trepidation, apprehension, and fears whether these new disruptive technologies are indeed coming for our jobs. It is not just entry-level and mid-level jobs, but also leadership roles which may potentially be at stake as the AI pie increases. As far as my own field of content writing is concerned, it should be understood that content creation, on the face of it, appears glamorous, but is indeed a laborious and painstaking activity, requiring hours, days, and even years of dedicated efforts, research, and due diligence. It requires the human and personal element to make a message that much more appealing to the target audience. Will Generative AI completely replace a content writer in the Marketing team and produce content with the same flair, panache, and human touch? - Only time will tell. Notwithstanding the same, we must be ready to embrace new technologies which can help us sharpen our craft or hone our skills further - better use technology rather than the technology conquering us. I feel that job roles which require the basic inherent human element or deep inward/visceral feelings and emotions (which include the recounting of personal experiences and anecdotes), especially content writing and copywriting, may be able to withstand the Generative AI onslaught. What can we, as writers, do❓ 💎 Sharpen the saw ⛏ (Ref : Habit 7 - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, authored by Stephen Covey) 💎 Focus on what you can control instead of running after the things which are not in your control 💎 Remain updated on the latest trends and how it affects your work 💎 Learn new and relevant skills to remain at the top of your game 💎 Embrace "Intellectual Humility" - remember, someone out there is better than you at your craft 💎 Worrying and speculating about new and emerging technologies serves no purpose 💎 Remain teachable and coachable 💎 Be ahead of the learning curve to remain competitive 💎 Embrace change instead of resisting change

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Ms. Pragya Singh,The need for an appropriate balance between work commitments and non-work leisure, recreation, and rejuvenation, is an universal one. At the end of the day, we are, first and foremost, all human beings and not robots or superheroes with supernatural abilities, and have a natural need and aspiration to seek a harmonious balance between work, rest, and recreation. I have seen several posts (through the use of representational infographics) which show the dilemma of overburdened hapless employees struggling with multiple tasks at the same time. Unfortunately, it is also a glaring reminder of the zeitgeist or the defining spirit of today's corporate work culture. Long working hours, multitasking, and working at odd hours could actually be counterproductive and detrimental to our cognitive performance; so, it is a double-edged sword - it can lead to cognitive overload and hamper productivity, ultimately leading to stress, exhaustion, and even burnout. A focus on MEANING AND PURPOSE at work is largely getting supplanted by metrics like late working hours, presence in office, perceived urgency of tasks at all times, and 24/7 availability; therein lies the real problem. Without a conscious intent and effort on the part of senior management to understand and respect work boundaries, the status quo will remain. What can organizations do? ✅ Ensure adherence to punctuality. If all employees report on time, there will be no need to work late. ✅ Setting of strict work boundaries, and a zero-tolerance policy towards errant managers who violate these guidelines. ✅ Ensuring adequate staffing as per departmental needs to ensure that employees are not overburdened. ✅ Encouraging employees to take regular short breaks. ✅ Focusing on meaning and purpose at work, instead of consistently subjecting employees to pressure-induced situations.Here is what we can do: 💎 The concept of "slow and minimalistic living” presents a meaningful alternative to the busy life which surrounds us. 💎 Digital detoxification liberates us from the constant barrage of work emails, notifications, reminders, et al. 💎 Simple activities, like listening to our favourite music, attending to gardening, or simply a brisk walk, can be rewarding for the mind, body, and soul. 💎 Connecting with nature on a daily basis. 💎 Cultivating and nurturing meaningful relationships which will provide us with a sense of happiness and well-being. 💎 Focusing on what really matters. 💎 Advocating self-care, not as some sort of indulgence, but a pillar or cornerstone of a healthy life.

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Mr. Gary Travis,An insightful post indeed.Motivation makes you reach the door, discipline helps you persist. Never ever stop dreaming and trying unless and until your goals, dreams, and ambitions reach fruition. All it takes is motivation, coupled with discipline, to see you through. In life, it is the "small things which become the big things". ONE STEP AT A TIME helps, instead of trying to make an unrealistic giant leap. What is needed is self-belief, motivation, consistency, patience, and discipline. An easy and simple approach to ensure that you do not give up on your goals is to break your overall goal into several smaller sub-goals. By adopting this approach, you are indirectly motivating yourself to remain consistent, disciplined and staying the course. I like to give the following example to illustrate the point. For instance, if you want to go from 0 to 50, break down the target into smaller and achievable targets as follows: 💎 0 to 10💎 10 to 20💎 20 to 30💎 30 to 50 (by this time, you have overcome the initial self-doubt and resistance, and can go for the final frontier, by pushing yourself just a bit harder, hence the extra 10 yards) A pleasant surprise may be just round the corner. Keep going.

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Mr. Adam Morris,Consistency is the key in life, whether it is in investing, managing personal finances and money matters, playing on the cricket field, or building a career with a proper vision. It is these very "consistent behaviours", which transform managers into exemplary leaders in the professional arena. I am summarizing a few thoughts of my own on the subject of "Leadership", based on my learnings and experiences over the past two decades through the rough and grind of professional life. It would be interesting to hear from an eminent C-suite professional like yourself, if you are in concurrence. Great leaders are not superheroes, but instead common people like you and me, who do extraordinary things, who do things differently, who think out of the box, and who positively impact the lives of those working with them. I am personally of the view that Leadership by Example is the supreme form of leadership in any context. I feel that a true exemplary leader possesses a diverse mix of the following leadership traits: 💎 Intellectual humility💎 Intellectual Quotient, Emotional Quotient & Spiritual Quotient💎 Decisiveness, accountability, and adaptability💎 Integrity💎 Uncompromising set of good values and business ethics💎 Positive attitude💎 Empathy💎 Effective communication💎 Self-awareness 💎 Lifelong learning competency 💎 Calculated risk-taking abilities A true exemplary leader also has the following innate characteristics: 💎 Espouses the cause of Leadership by Example - the supreme form of leadership💎 Brings out the hidden leaders within the team💎 Inspires the team members to take on the leadership mantle💎 Is not afraid to step aside and pass on the baton when the time is ripe💎 Creates the next generation of leaders💎 Inspires the team to do great deeds💎 Leads by example and serves the people under him/her💎 Leaves behind a rich legacy for others to emulate and achieve

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Whenever I see anything to do with "Change", it always brings back fond memories of the bestselling seminal work - Who Moved My Cheese? 🧀 🍕 An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, authored by Spencer Johnson. In an increasingly VUCA business environment, continuous and lifelong learning has become the need of the hour, not just to survive, but to remain competitive, succeed, flourish, and thrive. Fostering meaningful professional partnerships, collaborative efforts, and networking have all become the tricks of the trade to increase one's sphere of influence. Change will persist as long as there is life, and this change will not remain constant or linear in nature. Whenever we face the inevitable emotional or visceral conflicts in life, let the words of Spencer Johnson remain our guiding light. If we do not change and adapt to the changing circ*mstances, we run the risk of being rendered obsolete - a frightening dystopian scenario. Let us participate in change, enjoy the change, learn from the change, and be ready to change again in some sort of a virtuous cycle.Following are the principal learnings from Who Moved My Cheese? 🧀 🍕:💡 Change happens💡 Anticipate change💡 Monitor change💡 Adapt to change quickly💡 Change💡 Enjoy change💡 Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again(Photo credits: Getty Images)LinkedInLinkedIn Guide to CreatingLinkedIn Learning