Remember Kodak? Back in 1997, Kodak employed around 160,000 people, and 85% of the world’s photos were taken on Kodak cameras. But as mobile cameras gained popularity, Kodak slowly disappeared from the market. Eventually, the company went bankrupt, and all those employees lost their jobs.
And Kodak wasn’t alone. Think of brands like HMT (watches), BAJAJ (scooters), DYANORA (TVs), MURPHY (radios), NOKIA (phones), RAJDOOT (bikes), and even the iconic Ambassador car. These weren’t bad products, and quality wasn’t the issue. So, why are they gone? The answer is simple: they didn’t adapt to the changing times.
As we stand in the present, it’s hard to fully grasp how much the world will change over the next 10 years. But make no mistake—70% to 90% of today’s jobs could disappear by then. We’re entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and it’s transforming everything.
Look at some of today’s most successful companies. UBER, for example, doesn’t own a single car, yet it’s the world’s largest ride-hailing company. Airbnb is the biggest name in the hotel industry, but they don’t own any hotels. And we can add Paytm, Ola, and Oyo Rooms to the list. These companies have built billion-dollar businesses without traditional assets.
In the legal world, new lawyers are finding it tough to get a start because IBM’s Watson software can handle legal tasks more efficiently than they can. Experts predict that almost 90% of Americans will be out of jobs within a decade, leaving only a small group of highly skilled professionals to thrive.
The medical field is no different. Watson can detect cancer and other diseases four times more accurately than doctors. By 2030, artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence in many fields.
Transportation is set for a major shift as well. In the next 20 years, 90% of cars as we know them will vanish. The ones left will be electric or hybrid, leading to fewer vehicles on the road, lower fuel demand, and economic consequences for oil-producing countries. Ride-hailing apps like Uber will dominate, with driverless cars showing up at your door when you need a ride. The cost? Less than owning a bike. Fewer accidents will make car insurance obsolete, putting insurers out of business.
With fewer cars, traffic cops and parking attendants will become unnecessary. Think about it—just 10 years ago, STD booths were on every street corner, and now they’re gone, wiped out by the mobile revolution. Those who adapted turned them into mobile recharge shops, but even those are becoming irrelevant as people recharge their phones online. Soon, even physical stores for phones might become obsolete as people order directly from Amazon and Flipkart.
Money itself is evolving too. Cash was once king, but today, it’s all about “plastic money” in the form of credit and debit cards. But that’s also changing with the rise of mobile wallets like Paytm. Just one click, and money moves with the tap of a finger.
The lesson here? Those who can’t keep up with the times get left behind. So, keep evolving, keep learning, and embrace the changes ahead. That’s the key to staying relevant in a rapidly changing world.
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