Curve Benders

Chapter 3Accelerated Relevancy

You cannot change your future. But you can change your habits. And surely your habits will change your future.

– A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, aerospace scientist and 11th president of India

So far, we've covered your personal market value, the growth grid, and the 15 forces that will dramatically impact your future. We know that Curve Benders will prevent you from becoming obsolete. We haven't yet discussed, however, how to best prepare to make the most out of potential Curve Benders in your life.

I'm going to break this chapter into two key sections:

1. The path to your Curve Benders
2. How to remain continuously relevant

Keep in mind that Curve Benders are more than just great bosses, mentors, or partners who help you elevate your performance and accomplish more. Curve Benders profoundly shape our future direction. What evolves is the person we become through a highly immersive learning and growth process. A Curve Bender isn't necessarily a high-profile author or content creator. Curve Benders may begin as people whose relationships we proactively seek and invest energy in. We give them a chance to get to know, trust, and buy in to our challenges and opportunities. Their knowledge, wisdom, and guidance are what shapes us into the contributors, managers, or leaders we aspire to become.

You must be humble enough to seek these people out. They often possess deep geographic, subject-matter, or domain expertise, which makes relationships with them incredibly ...