Upskilling
by Michael Feeley
I love a word that makes perfect sense the moment you meet it. Upskilling is one of those — the practice of learning new or more advanced skills to do your work better. Some call it leveling up. I call it staying alive to your own potential.
As a career coach, I spend my days with Sagers. Mature, still-working people who aren’t finished yet and have no interest in fading quietly into retirement. We often talk about skills: learning AI tools, practicing interviews on Zoom, recording a short video on your phone to send to a company you admire. This is essential, exciting work. It’s also, frankly, a bit frustrating when you’re in thick learning mode. Nobody loves feeling like a beginner again.
But you’re never doing it alone. There are generous people willing to help, and an entire library of YouTube tutorials waiting for anyone ready to look. The alternative? Staying still, letting your skills go quiet. It doesn’t serve you. Call it “stillskilling.” It’s not neutral; it’s not moving; it’s holding still, decline dressed up as comfort or complacency.
The real opportunity right now is AI. You can let it push you around, or you can learn to work alongside it. That second choice is upskilling in its purest form — not fear of the machine, but partnership with it. It will also teach you if you ask.
Don’t stay still. Up your skills. You’re not declining. You’re deepening.
Thanks – Michael (he, him)
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This is also something to think about – Skills Identify You.
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