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Most people spend their lives chasing the powerful.

They try to get internships at big tech companies, land that coveted corporate salary, or “network” with someone who looks like they already have it all. And sure, there’s some perks in proximity to power.

But here’s the truth: the value you can add to someone already powerful is limited. Their resources, networks, and influence are mostly locked in—they don’t need you.

Meanwhile, the real opportunities—the ones that can change your life and the lives of others—are often where most people aren’t looking: the marginalized, the overlooked, the underserved.

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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:

Think about Muhammad Yunus. Before Grameen Bank, rural Bangladesh had almost no access to banking.

Yunus wasn’t helping the wealthy or powerful—he was lending tiny amounts to people who had been ignored by every bank in the country.

The result? Millions of people started businesses, escaped poverty, and improved their communities. Yunus’ contribution wasn’t small; it was transformative. And in doing so, he created outsized value and won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Or take Airbnb. Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia weren’t competing with Marriott or Hilton—they were creating a platform for people who needed affordable, flexible short-term housing. They served an underserved market, scaled it, and built a multi-billion-dollar business.

Contrast that with someone who spends years trying to “get close” to a powerful CEO or a big tech star. You might get a seat at the table, a title on LinkedIn, or a slightly better salary. But the leverage is low. The risk of being replaced, ignored, or exploited is high.

And your freedom? Limited—you’re playing by their rules.

The Leverage Rule:

• Adding value to the powerful → low leverage, low agency, high replaceability. You’re dependent on someone else’s priorities. Perceived stability, but fragile.
• Adding value to the underserved → high leverage, high agency, hard to replace. Your contribution can transform lives—and yours. True upside, freedom, and impact scale with your effort.

Here’s the mindset shift for teens who want to build impact (and yes, wealth) early: stop obsessing over “proximity to power” and start asking: who am I uniquely positioned to help that no one else is helping?

It could be creating a platform for youth whose voices get ignored, building tools for mom pop shops, or helping resource strapped founders in emerging markets. Your early contribution is enormous. Your agency is high. And if you execute, the payoff isn’t just money alone—it’s also influence, freedom, and impact.

Remember: Bezos didn’t build Amazon by adding marginal value to a hedge fund. Yunus didn’t create Grameen Bank by serving rich bankers.

The people who tilt the odds in their favor—find opportunities where others aren’t looking. They solve problems the powerful aren’t incentivized to fix.

So next time you’re thinking about who to impress, ask yourself: where can I add real, irreplaceable value? Chances are, it’s not at the top—it’s where everyone else isn’t looking.

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Like what you read? Share with friends!

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Lena

​https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/​

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