The Oxford English Dictionary defines “relevance” as “the state of being closely connected or appropriate to the matter in hand.” To be relevant is thus to be important, but the term implies more than that. Trivial things—appointments, events, e-mails – that intrude themselves into life can easily become “important,” at least for a time. To be relevant, something must be connected to a larger scheme, a grander plan—the ultimate “matter in hand.”
To be relevant means being an integral part of the new society, of the economy, of the future. It means being the kind of person on whom others depend, whether for leadership, expertise, acumen, or emotional support.
In this video, Philip Styrlund (Augsburg Class of 1979) will briefly discuss the four keys areas of lifetime relevance.
Phil Styrlund is CEO of The Summit Group and a recognized thought leader on strategic selling and business value transformation. His go-to-market strategies have been implemented by some of the world’s premiere organizations, including Cisco Systems, HP, Siemens, Marriott, Xerox, Lockheed, Tetra Pak, Proctor & Gamble, SC Johnson, Kellogg, and the U.S. Federal Government. In addition to his keynote presentations and engaging programs, Styrlund serves as coach, mentor, consultant and advisor to top leaders across a range of industries. He is currently initiating a doctorate program at Middlesex University in London. He is also authoring a new book, Relevance: The Art of Meaning slated for release mid-2013.