You need to be a careerist.

Not in a negative way, but in a survivalist way.

That was the unspoken theme at the recent Digital Summit Series Philly conference.

Traditionally, a careerist is defined as “someone who thinks their career is more important than anything else, and who will do anything to be successful in it.”

That used to sound selfish. Now, it sounds like someone simply trying to stay relevant, and to keep up with the constant evolution of MarTech, AI and platforms.

The importance of maintaining your career edge today comes from the sheer volume of technology we’re expected to understand and use. It’s not just learning, it’s endurance.

The conference offered great takeaways, inspiring stories, and plenty of memorable Instagrammable quotes. But underneath it all, there was a noticeable pressure, a fog of “how do we keep up?”

It’s not entirely new. When I started as a web designer, I spent hours at the University of Barnes & Noble, studying CSS3, HTML5, and Flash ActionScript 2.0.

The tools have changed, but the grind to stay current has intensified.

If you work 50 hours a week, how much time is left to truly research and test new AI tools and marketing technologies? Even a focused hour on a Friday afternoon feels like a drop in the ocean.

And so, you spend less time with family, friends, hobbies. Your identity morphs.

So, what’s the most effective way to nurture your growth? Following thought leaders who share their experiments and results seems the obvious best option.

But it also raises a question: are marketing degrees or certifications keeping pace? I’m in the middle of one right now, and much of what I’m learning I’ve already read casually in blogs.

Being a “careerist” today isn’t about ambition at all. It’s about survival: staying curious, adaptable, and resilient enough to keep learning, no matter how fast the landscape forms mountains.

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