Skills AI can’t replace (claim your 2026 edge!)

LIFT Newsletter 032

Skills AI can’t replace 

Let's get unstuck before January pressure. 

As we head into a new year, most people will try to “level up” by adding more tools, more plans, more pressure.

But the World Economic Forum New Skills Dec 2025 report’s message is clearer (and calmer): the advantage isn’t purely technical, it’s human.

They highlight that nearly 40% of the core skills required for jobs will be disrupted in the next five years, and that reskilling/upskilling is becoming critical for most employers’ strategy.

So if you’re feeling stuck right now, here’s the reframe: Being stuck isn’t a motivation problem. It’s usually a skill-friction problem… your work changed, expectations shifted, tools accelerated, but your human system didn’t get an upgrade.

This week, we’ll keep it practical.

The 12-minute “Human Advantage” Sprint (do this today)WEF’s report consistently points to human-centric skills as the differentiators, especially creative thinking, resilience, and curiosity/lifelong learning.Open your notebook, or grab a piece of paper. No apps. No templates.

Step 1: Pick ONE skill to strengthen starting today (30 seconds)

1. Creative Thinking -> make better options

2. Resilience -> stay effective under pressure

3. Curiosity / Lifelong Learning -> grow without overwhelm

Step 2: Do the matching micro-drill (8 minutes)

If you chose Creative Thinking: “3 Angles”

Pick one task you’re doing next week. Write:

1. The default approach you always use

2. A faster approach (what would “good enough” look like?)

3. A bolder approach (what would make this 2x more valuable?)

Now choose one tiny experiment you can run in 20 minutes this week.

Why this matters: creative thinking is highly valued, but often under-measured and under-signaled — meaning you can stand out faster by practicing it deliberately. 

If you chose Resilience: “Pressure → Plan”

Write one situation that’s draining you. Then fill this in:

• Trigger: When ____ happens

• My first reaction: I usually ____

• My better response: I will ____

• 1 support: I’ll ask/prepare ____

This turns resilience into a repeatable response, not “just be strong.”

(WEF notes these skills can erode without practice — so we train them like a system.) 

If you chose Curiosity/Lifelong Learning: “2 Questions + 1 Block”

WEF flags curiosity/lifelong learning as a common weak point globally — even though it’s essential for staying future-ready. 

Do this:

1. Write 2 clarifying questions you’ve been avoiding asking at work.

2. Schedule one 25-minute learning block this week (just one).

3. End the block with: “What’s one thing I can apply in the next 48 hours?”

Curiosity becomes real when it creates actionable learning, not endless content.

Step 3: Lock it in (3 minutes): The “One-Line Contract”

Finish this sentence and keep it visible:

“This week, I will strengthen ___ by doing ___ on ___ day.”

That’s it. You’re building the advantage quietly.

Let me tell you the soft truth for 2026…

AI can assist a lot. But WEF points out that skills rooted in human judgment, interaction, context, and lived experience are much harder to automate. 

So your best upskilling move isn’t just learning more.

It’s learning to think better, adapt faster, and stay steady.

If you’d like a structured way to build these human skills, without overwhelm,

LIFT from Within Mastercourse is a good place to explore further.

Our LIFT from Within Mastercourse helps you build:

1. a practical framework to see what’s essential

2. tools to stay calm under pressure

3. a rhythm to turn clarity into trackable action

LIFT YOUR 2026 here