Adaptability - the Real Job Description
Time is flying and we're now on the 8th edition of Power in Change.
The week's highlight, definitely one for the books.
I'm still in Melbourne and the highlight of my week was getting a local library card, ha!
Although, undecided, where I'll land for the next season, at least I know, I can borrow books and make use of resources while I'm here.
The excitement of a brand-new library card takes me back to when I was six years old. It wasn't just about borrowing books - it represented the beginning of my independence.
One day, on the way to primary school, my dad shared a quote that sparked something in me, not realising it would go on to shape the way I view life into adulthood.
He said.
"Learn the rules and play the game better"
In all honesty, I didn't entirely understand what he meant, but strangely, I did. Maybe I didn’t grasp the concept but it was powerful and it stuck.
At that age, on the way to school, my mind wasn't thinking about life lessons or the future but whether I'd remembered to pack my lunch.
With so many ways to interpret that quote, I believe it was his way of saying 'keep trying and not to give up'.
So, this week, I've been thinking a lot about my dad's quote in relation to adaptability and how I've applied it to my life. It's the inspiration behind this blog and what my coaching practice is anchored in, a strengths-based, culturally aware approach.
For me, adaptability is self-empowerment. It's the opportunity to create a life by design - with the freedom to move when and where I choose. Freedom is one of my core values and adaptability is what allows me to honour it. It isn't just physical; it's a mindset that helps to navigate change and, when something no longer feels right - a job, a career, or a place - to be brave enough to choose a different path.
It brings me to the - summer of 98, fresh out of high school, my weekly thing was a 20-minute stroll to the local petrol station to collect a newspaper for job listings that were only published on Wednesdays. By doing this, it achieved two things – firstly got me out of the house and secondly, I started to build skills of patience (still a work in progress lol), determination and seeing rejection as redirection. Strengthening a resilience that would serve me for a lifetime.
After collecting the paper, I’d circle jobs I liked the look or sound of, even with little to no experience (fresh out of high school). With a can-do attitude there was a week where I applied for at least 30 jobs. I don’t think I necessarily planned it that way, I just remember saying, okay ‘it's GO time'!
Success was a lucky dip of hearing back from some and being ghosted (no responses) by most. What I do remember from that season was a pile of rejection letters that I could've easily shaped into a door stop. Remaining in my bedroom, repeating the job search cycle, week after week for a solid 3 months.
So, when I think about re-entering the workforce today. I’m reminded that according to the World Economic Forum, almost 40% of job skills are projected to change by 2030 and zooming in to my current situation, it hammers home, that adaptability is not a soft skill, its career survival - an opportunity to do something completely different.
Adaptability is not:
Being passive
Saying yes to everything
Losing yourself and sense of direction
It is intentional adjustment.
Adaptability is:
Adjusting thinking
Adjusting behavior
Embracing new skills
It's a willingness to learn and to continuously challenge yourself. Not ‘go with the flow' or a 'nice to have' personality trait. A strength and essential mindset, if we're going to have any chance at successfully navigating the future of work and unavoidable change ahead.
At the tail end of 2025, I popped along to the Pacific (AI) Advisory Group Talanoa in Auckland and at the table someone said;
"Your skills either evolve or dissolve"
This struck a chord, taking me back to my primary school commute with my Dad. Another powerful statement that I was meant to hear. A reminder to never stop learning, asking questions and exploring options, because I believe, now more than ever, we have to be quicker to process, respond and accept change – especially in the AI era.
Research from The University of Queensland says the average person spends around 45yrs in the workforce, changing jobs every 2-3 years, accumulating up to 16 roles and making multiple career pivots along the way.
Highlighting that roles evolve, industries shift, organisations change and planet earth continues to rotate.
The future won’t belong to the most experienced. It will belong to the most adaptable. Because time doesn't stand still, so why stop now.
Now, in 2026, as I begin my job search, I'm ready for the rejection, the ghosting and the silence – and weirdly, I look forward to the growing collection of digital letters and emails that one day, may be transformed into AI-generated art - proof to myself that I kept trying.
Observations I'd like to offer from my week;
You can figure things out along the way (aka my no plan, plan).
Past experiences are today's gifts, leading us to where we're meant to be.
People won't always understand your journey, they're not meant to.
Being adaptable and moving with confidence is not about the ability to always be ready or confident in times of uncertainty but it is having courage to keep pedaling forward.
Career journey's and not getting stuck in a cycle.
So, I'm choosing to stay positive and back myself - my future job and I are simply waiting to meet.
Until next time.
Speak soon.
Zee
Move with Change | Move with Confidence
