Confession about Being Relevant

Yesterday at lunch a friend told me “Well if you want to be relevant, you had better start blogging?”  And again this morning, a very successful entrepreneur said the same thing to me as we were discussing how to distinguish good consulting from bad.  It got me thinking: what exactly does it take these days to be “relevant”?  My sense is they meant to get recognition or hits by writing a blog, publishing a book, posting a self-promotion video on social media, or posting photos.  And, what do they mean “be relevant.?”  Anyone of us who has observed or participated in a court room trial (as juror, lawyer, witness, judge, party, or interested member of the public) has heard the objection “Relevance!”  I got out my old Black’s Law Dictionary and read that in that context it means: evidence tending to prove or disprove an alleged fact, or at least make a disputed fact more or less probable.  See Blacks Law Dictionary, 6th Edition.  I don’t think, however, that is what people mean today when they use that word.  My sinking feeling is that what they really mean is: does anyone care about what you have done, are doing or have to say.  And the underlying assumption is that if one is “relevant” then one has value and one will be recognized and compensated.  Since when is “being relevant” the key to a valuing a person?  When I grew up, (and the fact that I just wrote those words most probably indicates I am long past being “relevant”) I don’t recall anyone saying: “Michael, you have to learn to be “relevant”.  I recall hearing things like be honest, humble, study, always do your best, be patient, respect others, work hard to master your craft or profession, and listen and learn from those who had gone before you.  In essence, put in your time, and grow up so you can be useful and a benefit to your family, community and world.  Along the way, I also spent much time figuring out my individual path of joy, satisfaction, kindness, compassion and happiness (in both my personal and professional lives).  My confession is this: I never really gave much thought at all to “being relevant”.  Perhaps I missed a meeting.  In any event, even though I like to think I have much to offer, I find myself struggling with the notion that I may not be “relevant,” largely because I never bothered much with it.  But now I’m told I had better be, and fast.

 May I suggest that the obsession with “being relevant” may not be the proper focus.  May I suggest that if your family loves you, your employees and/or colleagues respect you, your neighbors know you, and you vote, (among other things) you are, in fact, relevant.  Rather than asking “What do I have to do to be relevant?”  The better question perhaps might be “How can I be of benefit today?”