Hello
You don’t get rich renting out your time.
Over the past few months, I’ve been having conversations with founders, graduates, and even seasoned execs about one thing:
“Where’s all the opportunity gone?”
It’s a fair question. The job market’s shifted.
The traditional path - get a degree, land a solid job, climb the ladder, feels… off.
And honestly? I think it is.
In this newsletter, I’m sharing a perspective on what’s really happening and more importantly, a framework for how we can adapt, build, and stay ahead in the age of AI.
Whether you’re early in your career or leading a team, this shift affects all of us.
When I first started out, like most people, I was told degrees were everything. Good grades, a solid university, a polished CV, that was the formula. And for a while, it worked. It got your foot in the door, bought you time to learn on the job, and helped build a career.
But the truth is, that model is starting to break down.
I speak to entrepreneurs and ambitious professionals every day, and the patterns are unmistakable. The ones making real moves right now? They aren’t necessarily the best educated on paper. They’re the ones who’ve learned how to build leverage, through systems, smart workflows, automation, and increasingly, AI.
That doesn’t mean degrees are worthless. But they’re no longer a guarantee of opportunity. The rules have changed, and for many people, especially younger graduates and early-stage professionals, it feels like no one told them.
This is my attempt to do just that, to bring that conversation into the open, and share what we’re learning from the coalface of business building in 2025.
Because while the world is changing fast, there’s still plenty of opportunity. You just need to know where to look and how to work with the tools of the future, not against them.
Entry-level roles are being absorbed by AI. Pitch decks, research notes, customer reports, they’re now often created faster (and cheaper) by software.
Companies that once onboarded 10 graduates now bring on 2.
The others? Displaced by tools that work 24/7 with no sick days, no salary, and no HR overhead.
At first, it feels bleak. 🔎 But zoom out, and it’s clear:
This is a shift in how value is created, not a dead end.
You just need a new playbook.
If you’re wondering how to stay relevant (or get ahead) in this new era, here’s a simple mindset I keep coming back to, L.E.A.P. It’s how I’m approaching work, learning, and building leverage right now.
Get curious about what tools are out there to know what can help you move faster or free up time.
Try things. Run mini-projects. Break workflows. Whether it’s testing a new prompt, a new tool, or a new format, speed matters more than polish.
Learn how to learn, how to ask better questions, how to think in systems. It’s about understanding how to solve new problems quickly.
Don’t just do the work, show it. Share your process. Build a portfolio, a playbook, a case study. If others can see your leverage, they’ll want to work with you.
I've started treating my workflow like a kitchen and hear me out.
I use AI to do the prep: outlines, summaries, rough drafts, research. It’s my sous-chef.
This is where I still matter. I adjust the direction, refine the strategy, add the human edge. That’s taste. That’s instinct.
Once something works, a prompt, a system, a workflow, I document it. Share it. Replicate it.
Suddenly, I’m not doing everything myself anymore.
Prep with AI → Cook with instinct → Scale with systems.
It’s the same approach I’d advise anyone to take right now.
I chose this book because it perfectly captures the mindset shift we all need right now. It’s not about grinding harder or doing everything yourself, it’s about building systems that multiply your effort. Whether that’s using AI to automate routine tasks or creating workflows that others can follow, leverage is the secret to scaling without burning out. Rob’s practical advice has been a game-changer for how I approach my work and my business.
Key Takeaway:
If you're doing everything yourself, you're doing it wrong. Success comes from systems, not sweat.
Let’s be real. Time is your most valuable asset.
That’s where AI comes in. This AI Toolstack is packed with free tools to help you:
✅ Automate boring, repetitive tasks so you can focus on what matters
✅ Create content in minutes (without staring at a blank page)
✅ Speed up research and find insights fast
✅ Streamline your workflow and boost productivity
✅ Use AI to grow your business and income, without the guesswork
We’re in a rare moment right now, where the gap between traditional and emerging skill sets is wide, and growing. But that means there’s also space to step in, rethink your approach, and build something that works today.
If you’re stuck, experiment.
If you’re early in your journey, learn the tools.
If you’re a founder, systemise and scale.
A degree used to be the passport. Now? It’s execution.
Let’s build something that lasts.
To your success,
Writer, The Success Method
P.S. How are you using AI to take your goals to the next level?
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