The Uncomfortable Truth About Staying Relevant

I've been thinking a lot lately about something that’s hitting my mind over and again: How to avoid becoming irrelevant.

And no, this isn't about your LinkedIn profile or keeping up with the latest tech trends (though that matters too).

This is about something way more fundamental.

Did you know the average American consumes 74 gigabytes of information daily? That's like watching 16 full-length movies. Every. Single. Day.

We wake up, grab our phones, and scroll. We get 30 seconds of idle time, and what do we do? Reach for our phones and consume more.

I used to be that person too.

About a year ago, I started doing something that felt completely wrong:

I began going for runs without my headphones.

The first few months were torture. I felt like I was missing a limb. Five minutes in, I'd be bored out of my mind. Then it got worse - the mental chatter was deafening. All those thoughts I hadn't given space to process throughout the week came flooding in.

But then something amazing happened.

Calmness. Steadiness. And with it, clarity.

I was on one of these quiet runs when I came up with an entire leadership off-site agenda.

I mixed business strategy with unconventional elements that shouldn't have worked. But it did.

That team still texts me saying it was the best leadership event they've ever attended.

I don't think that idea would have ever come to me if I hadn't given myself that idle time.

The five practices that changed everything about staying relevant

After 25 years of pivoting (from professional rugby player to Fortune 100 C-suite executive to patent holder), I've learned that staying relevant isn't about consuming more, it's about creating space to think differently.

Here's what actually works:

1. Say yes (but be maniacally focused)

Pick one thing at a time. Go slow, go deep. Don't half-bake nine interests. Lean into your genuine interests, one by one. The depth is where the magic happens.

2. Get bored

Next time you're waiting for coffee, don't reach for your phone. It sounds easy. It's not.

It took me three months to break that habit. But in month four? That's when I came up with my 11th patent.

3. Be a student (for real)

Not watching short videos. Real learning. The shelf life of any skill today is five years. Dive in and slow down. Give yourself time to receive, retain, and reflect.

4. Use technology, don't let it use you

Those headless runs taught me this. I still use headphones when lifting weights, but I'm intentional about when I unplug.

Technology should amplify your thinking, not replace it. Make conscious choices about when you engage and when you disconnect.

5. Prioritize connections over contacts

That promotion you got? That was your reputation.

That deal you closed? That was trust.

That big break? Someone believed in you.

Technology scales efficiency, but relationships scale opportunity. Take time to build those relationships.

What I'm really asking you to do

Practice deliberate rest.

In a world where self-care is revered, the greatest self-care you can give yourself is self-steadiness through rest. Be intentional about being idle.

If you're receiving information (which we all are, constantly), create space and time to retain and reflect.

It's uncomfortable. It feels wrong at first. But it's where the magic happens. That’s what helps us to stay actually relevant.

So when's the last time you gave yourself permission to be truly bored?

Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.

Sol