But they’d probably just call themselves a bunch of smart, fed-up 18-year-olds.
Because gone are the days of the traditional linear career path.
Practically anywhere you look, interest in “portfolio career” with multiple income streams is rising among the youth.
Spurring it, in part? These trends:
Today, more than half of LinkedIn members hold jobs that stand to be disrupted by AI (FYI LinkedIn has 1billion+ users)
Which brings us this: traditional career paths may not always be secure
We’ve seen 99,000 layoffs in the tech industry in 2024 so far, before Q2 end
The average half-life of skills is now less than five years, and in some tech fields it’s as low as two and a half years.
So, quick math. The average half-life of skills is now less than five years. If a degree takes 4-6 years, and practical work experience takes another 4-6 years, well, the math ain’t mathing…
Why is school teaching us trades that will no longer exist when we graduate?
That last one is a biggie. Just think about the situation on the ground.
As a pre-college teen, you may have this train of thought…
1. You’re using ChatGPT to cheat on a homework assignment and starting to piece together how people might lose their jobs because of tools like it.
2. You’re also seeing 44% of jobseekers regret their choice of degree - because they don't feel prepared for the changes in the workforce and the skills required of them.
3. You see the rise in freelance opportunities and plethora of tools that enables you to build your own business
4. You are not anti-work, just anti-meaningless-work.
So sure, it’s not for everyone, but for you, maybe a portfolio career… might just make some sense…
But FIRST
If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:
Remember that train of thought we described above?
First of all — that’s a problem if you don’t.
Second of all — it’s a train that’s clearly making stops at more and more young minds…
Here’s the truth:
In the Industrial Economy, you won by fitting in.
In the Knowledge Economy, the more you know, the more you win.
In the Adaptive Economy, those who learn fast, have influence and can apply expertise across domains, win.
It’s not enough to fit in, or to simply know a lot.
In this new economy you win by combining: Versatile Skill Stack + Network & Distribution
we talked about Skill Stacking in an earlier newsletter. Essentially, a skill stack is a set of individual skills that when combined in the right way, add up to a super skill.
This combination of skills makes you more qualified, more hireable and more prepared for [insert any job/endeavour/challenge here] than if you had just focused on one skill alone.
With network & distribution, we’ve seen that those who build strong, deep networks will be more resilient and have access to more opportunities.
But equally important is your distribution. The people who win in this economy will be those with the widest and most trusted distribution- aka loyal followers.
This is how the Kardashians built their empire, via their established fan base. This is also why Andreessen Horowitz – a Silicon Valley VC fund launched a media company, to extend their reach and build active communities.
The question, then, is: How can you leverage these strategies to your own advantage as a teen?
Enter: Portfolio Career
Here’s a framework for youth who struggle with having too many interests, too little money and never enough time.
There are three complementary yet separate focuses to this model.
First, “the earner” takes up most time – between 20 and 50 hours a week – and generates short-term income while “teaching you the skills you need for the long term.”
In my case, I run a property management biz.
Next, “the passion” encourages people to explore their “intellectual curiosity” for up to 20 hours a week.
I actively build OCE with the mission of bridging cultures and spreading purposeful opportunities.
Finally, “the hobby” enables someone to “perform your best in the two other focuses” by providing “space to relax and recharge.”
I write to you guys weekly, simply because I love writing and sharing :)
The best part? This “mix of experiences” are going to supercharge your network & distribution.
Case in point:
One question that I often receive is that how I brought in so many incredible founders and tech leader to the OCE community
Here’s the secret: because of my unconventional mix of experiences
My experience in emerging market
My experience in tech & engineering
My experience in building community & business
This “unconventional” mix of experiences are conversation starters, serves as a common ground for deeper connection, build trust & authenticity.
“Unconventional” mix of experiences can be extremely powerful.
It kickstarts a virtuous cycle in building network as well as distribution, and I want to give this to you this summer.
And now, shout outs to the amazing OCE alums who are putting themselves out there, building, executing, creating a virtuous cycle:
Mia launched Vietbossbabes, a podcast on career, relationships, education + more
Amal is expanding Steps2Flourish, mental health platform for youth
These are the kinds of projects that showcase youth ingenuity, initiative, while developing a versatile skill stack and distribution.
If you are working on something similar, let us know — we’d love to learn about it.
Like what you read? Share with friends!
PS. This summer, we are going to tackle pressing global issues and drive innovation in regions (such as your own community) where it is needed the most. Want in?
We run a summer cohort for ambitious youth (high school and undergrads) to work directly with world-class founders while learning from Silicon Valley leaders.
So you want a mentor... someone who can open doors, give you game-changing advice, and help you level up. You fire off a DM or an email, hoping for a response. But guess what? You’re probably not gonna get one. WHY? Because everyone is sending the same boring, generic message. “Hey, can I pick your brain?” “Would love to learn from you!” Yawn. Successful people don’t need another random person asking for their time. But they do pay attention to people who bring something to the table. But...
You know the old saying — “Follow your passion to build a business.” Cute. But not super helpful. Because if passion alone paid the bills, half the world would be professional snack tasters, video gamers, or K-pop analysts. The truth? The most successful businesses aren’t built on passion alone.They’re built at the intersection of passion, skill, and who you know. That’s what we call your Zone of Genius. It’s the sweet spot where: What you’re good at Who you know What lights you up all...
Hey you. The quiet one.The brave one.The one still holding tenderness in a world that rewards the opposite— I see you. I see your effort, even when no one applauds it.I see your loyalty, even when it’s not loud or performative.I see the way you choose softness—not because you’re weak, but because you’re strong enough not to let the world harden you. I have a soft spot for you.Maybe because I’ve been you.Maybe because I still am. But FIRST If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter...
