Become Irreplaceable with Your Social Media Brand | Ishan Sharma | TEDxPlaksha University

Summary

The speaker reflects on the uncertainty of career paths and the impact of AI on job security, urging individuals to build a 'wealth creation engine' through content creation. He shares personal experiences and success stories of friends who have leveraged their expertise in various fields to create valuable online content, emphasizing the importance of becoming indispensable by mastering a niche and building a personal brand. The talk concludes with actionable steps for individuals to start creating content, build their reputation, and ultimately monetize their skills effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker faced uncertainty about career choices growing up but found a passion for building and coding.
• 🔄 The speaker's career path changed from being an electrical engineer to a content creator, emphasizing the unpredictability of career trajectories.
• 📈 Over 64% of people are in industries they don't like, and many believe their dream careers are unattainable, highlighting the need for career reevaluation.
• 🚀 The rise of AI tools like Devon, Sora, and Adobe Firefly is causing fear of job displacement, similar to the historical transition from horse-drawn carriages to cars.
• 📚 The traditional 40-year career model is becoming obsolete, and the speaker advocates for building a 'wealth creation engine' instead.
• 💡 Content creation has been a significant wealth creation engine for the speaker, unlocking opportunities beyond traditional career paths.
• 🌟 Combining traditional careers with content creation can make individuals indispensable and open doors to new opportunities.
• 🔑 Becoming 'one of zero'—unique and irreplaceable in one's field—is a key to success, as emphasized by the speaker.
• 📈 The benefits of content creation include accountability, ownership, and the compounding effect of personal brand growth.
• 🛠 To get started in content creation, one must identify their 'one thing' or unique selling proposition to establish a strong personal brand.
• 🎓 Earning credibility through experience, such as working at top companies or building something significant, is crucial before launching a content career.

Q & A

What was the recurring question the speaker's father used to ask him during his childhood?

The recurring question was about what the speaker wanted to do with his life and where he saw himself in the future.

Why did the speaker feel haunted by his father's question about his future?

The speaker felt haunted because he was unsure about his career aspirations and had not yet discovered his interest in coding and computer science.

What career did the speaker initially pursue in engineering?

The speaker initially pursued an engineering program in electrical engineering.

How did the speaker's interest in coding and computer science eventually lead to a different career path?

The speaker's interest in coding led him to create content online, which eventually became a successful career in content creation, different from the software developer role he initially imagined.

What percentage of people are said to be in industries they don't like according to the speaker's statistics?

According to the speaker, over 64% of people are in industries they don't like.

What fear do new AI tools like Devon and Sora instill in people regarding their careers?

New AI tools instill the fear that they might replace human workers, as they are capable of performing tasks traditionally done by developers and designers.

What historical example did the speaker use to illustrate the impact of technological advancements on jobs?

The speaker used the example of the automobile replacing horse-drawn carriages and creating new opportunities and careers.

What is the 'wealth creation engine' the speaker refers to, and how has it benefited him?

The 'wealth creation engine' refers to creating content that works for the individual even when they are not actively working. It has benefited the speaker by unlocking doors to opportunities and success he had not imagined.

What advice does the speaker give for building a unique personal brand in one's career?

The speaker advises focusing on becoming 'one of zero,' meaning no one else can do what you do with the same identity and approach, making you indispensable and highly valuable.

What is the importance of being 'relatable' when creating content according to the speaker?

Being 'relatable' is important because it helps build a strong relationship with the audience, leading to better loyal distribution of the content.

What is the final piece of advice the speaker gives regarding the value of one's skills in the job market?

The speaker advises that one's value in the job market is not determined by the skills they possess, but by how difficult it is to replace them.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Quest for Purpose Amidst AI Advancements

The speaker reflects on their childhood and the recurring question from their parents about their future aspirations, especially during the rise of data science. They recount their journey from an interest in building and coding to an unexpected career in content creation, despite initially pursuing electrical engineering. The fear of AI replacing jobs is discussed, drawing parallels to historical technological shifts, such as the automobile replacing horse-drawn carriages. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adapting to a new world order where traditional career paths are less secure, and the necessity to embrace change and innovation.

05:03

🚀 Leveraging Content Creation for Career Success

The speaker discusses the concept of a 'wealth creation engine' and how content creation has opened doors for them beyond their initial aspirations in software development. They highlight the benefits of combining traditional careers with content creation, such as increased opportunities and becoming indispensable in one's field. Examples of individuals who have successfully integrated content creation into their professional lives are provided, illustrating the potential for personal branding and leveraging one's unique identity to achieve success.

10:04

🛠 Building a Personal Brand Through Content Distribution

The speaker outlines the steps to building a personal brand through content distribution, starting with identifying one's unique 'one thing' and establishing expertise in that area. They emphasize the importance of earning credibility through achievements and documenting one's journey to build a relatable connection with the audience. The speaker also stresses the need to scale content across multiple platforms and the various ways content creators can monetize their work, such as through courses, ebooks, and consulting.

15:06

💼 The Value of Being Irreplaceable in the Digital Age

In the final paragraph, the speaker concludes with the idea that in the digital age, one's value is determined not by the skills they possess but by how difficult it is to replace them. They encourage the audience to differentiate themselves and utilize content creation to build a personal brand that is both discoverable and lucrative. The speaker shares their own experiences of being approached for consulting and the abundance of opportunities available to content creators, reinforcing the message that anyone can build a successful brand by standing out from the crowd.

Keywords

💡Career Path

The term 'career path' refers to the progression and milestones within an individual's professional life. In the video, the speaker reflects on how traditional career paths, such as becoming a doctor or developer, no longer align with the evolving job market. The narrative highlights the shift from conventional career trajectories to more dynamic, multifaceted roles that incorporate personal branding and content creation.

💡Content Creation

Content creation is the process of producing and sharing information, ideas, or entertainment across various media platforms. The speaker emphasizes the importance of content creation as a modern-day 'wealth creation engine,' enabling individuals to establish a personal brand, reach a wide audience, and create new opportunities outside of traditional job roles. Examples include professionals who combine their expertise with content, such as a doctor creating health-related videos.

💡Wealth Creation Engine

A 'wealth creation engine' is a system or method that generates income and financial stability over time. In the video, the speaker discusses how content creation has become their personal wealth creation engine, replacing the traditional 40-year career model. By building a brand and leveraging content, individuals can create sustainable income streams that work for them even when they're not actively engaged.

💡Automation and AI Tools

Automation and AI tools refer to technologies that perform tasks traditionally done by humans, often more efficiently. The speaker addresses the fear that such tools could replace jobs, drawing parallels to historical shifts like the replacement of horse-drawn carriages by cars. The video suggests that while automation may threaten some roles, it also opens up new possibilities, particularly for those who leverage their unique human qualities.

💡Indispensability

Indispensability is the quality of being essential and irreplaceable in a particular role or context. The speaker argues that in today's rapidly changing job market, becoming indispensable is key to career success. This can be achieved by developing a unique personal brand, combining traditional skills with content creation, and differentiating oneself from others in the field.

💡Personal Branding

Personal branding is the practice of marketing oneself and one's career as a brand. The video highlights how building a personal brand can make an individual more recognizable and valuable in the job market. The speaker provides examples of professionals who have successfully combined their careers with content creation to enhance their personal brand, such as a developer who shares coding tutorials online.

💡Traditional vs. Modern Careers

This concept contrasts the conventional approach to careers, which often involves climbing a corporate ladder in a single field, with modern careers that are more fluid and multifaceted. The speaker suggests that traditional careers are becoming obsolete, and encourages viewers to consider new models that integrate content creation and personal branding to remain relevant in the evolving job market.

💡Fear of Replacement

The 'fear of replacement' refers to the anxiety that workers feel about being replaced by automation and AI tools. The video addresses this fear by comparing it to past technological advancements, such as the introduction of the automobile. The speaker reassures viewers that while some jobs may be automated, those who adapt by building a strong personal brand and leveraging new technologies will find new opportunities.

💡Distribution Leverage

Distribution leverage is the ability to reach and influence a large audience through various channels. The speaker discusses how professionals can use content creation to gain distribution leverage, making their work and brand more visible and valuable. This concept is crucial for achieving success in the modern job market, where visibility and influence can significantly impact career opportunities.

💡Skill Monetization

Skill monetization refers to the process of turning one's skills and expertise into income-generating opportunities. In the video, the speaker explains how content creators can monetize their skills by offering courses, consulting, or creating digital products. This shift from traditional employment to monetizing skills through content allows individuals to diversify their income streams and achieve financial independence.

Highlights

The fear of AI tools like Devon, Sora, and Adobe Firefly potentially replacing human developers.

Comparison to the historical impact of the automobile replacing horse-drawn carriages, creating new opportunities.

The common concern of people being hooked on social media while machines are learning.

The realization that the traditional 40-year career path is no longer viable.

The concept of building a 'wealth creation engine' as a new career strategy.

Content creation as a means to unlock opportunities and build a personal brand.

Examples of professionals like Manan V, Saptarshi, Nishan Chatterjee, Kosala, and Alak Pandey leveraging content creation.

Becoming indispensable by combining traditional careers with content creation.

The importance of becoming 'one of zero' in your field to stand out and command higher pay.

The benefits of content creation: accountability, ownership, and the compounding effect.

The idea that personal branding cannot be automated, unlike tasks in traditional jobs.

Steps to get started with content creation: identifying your 'one thing', earning your stripes, documenting your life, scaling across platforms, and monetizing.

The necessity of building expertise and mastery in one area rather than spreading oneself too thin.

The strategy of repurposing content across different platforms to reach a wider audience.

Monetization strategies for content creators, such as courses, ebooks, consulting, and freelance work.

The unlimited potential for individuals to build their own brand if they can differentiate themselves.

The key takeaway that you get paid not by the skills you have but by how hard it is to replace you.

Transcripts

[Music]

so you know while I was growing up I am

22 right now for context but when I was

growing up there was this one question

which my parents used to ask me every

single weekend back in the 2014 and the

15s when the data science job was the

new hot thing my father would look at

the newspapers about how the latest IIT

graduate is getting this 2or offer at

Uber going abroad he used to look at

that news and he used to look at me and

he used to ask me what do you want to do

where do you see yourself and that's a

question that used to haunt me almost

every single time that he asked me that

do I want to go into civil services do I

want to become a doctor do I want to

become a developer do I want to be a

designer I had no clue to my 14-year-old

innocent

self I had recently watched Iron Man and

that's all I could imagine myself to be

seriously I just loved building cool

stuff I would literally beg my father to

buy me that remote control car which I

used to break apart and build something

from that so that was who I was with

time I realized my interest lied more

into coding into computer science into

writing code but as fate would have it I

got my engineering program in electrical

engineering which did not really work

out and I dropped out later on it's been

two years from that time but this

question used to you know haunt my mind

all the time like who do I want to be I

looked at the stats at that time and as

we speak today over

64% people are in industries that they

don't

like there are seven out of 10 people

right now who are not in their dream

role and over 46% people think that

their dream career isn't even achievable

it's not even realistic and so while I

was looking at all of these numbers it

made me think about my own self I

started recording videos in my own room

in Mumbai in 2020 and I had no idea I

would be standing here today with over

200 million views and 3 million

following online but that's a completely

different career than what I had

imagined I wanted to write code I want

to be a software developer and I am none

of that today I am someone who's

completely different from what I imagin

myself to be what happened what changed

let's find out so you know with all of

these new AI tools like Devon there is

Sora there is Adobe Firefly there is

countless other tools mid Journey For

example right they're all creating this

fear in minds of people and I'm sure you

will relate with this

you are afraid of these tools and what

they can do of course they are in very

nent stages right now but not too long

from today there might be a tool which

could do everything that developer does

we are not at that stage right now but

we might get there somehow right with

all the growth and development that

we've seen in the last few years you

never know where we go so all of these

tools create this fear in minds of

people that will I get replaced and this

reminds me of that time when Henry FD

you know came up with the new car and

back then the horse riders and the buggy

was the whole thing they got replaced

with a car but it also created tons of

new opportunities and carers but you

know let's talk about today there are

these memes going around that you know

talk about how humans are hooked to

scrolling to social media to all the

fear mongering while the machines are

learning right you might have seen this

and it recalls makes me to recall this

funny New Yorker magazine cover which

looks like

this and you

know this all made me realize in 2020

that the typical 40-year career is

doomed in which you would do your

bachelor's you do your Masters you would

then get into a career you would climb

that ladder and then You' retire and you

would live off of your savings that

career does not exist at at all right

now so what do we have what now isan

what do we do well there is a new world

order that I want you all to have

awareness about because that's the first

step to getting to someplace better

right and red Al wrote this book called

as the changing world order and it talks

about the same thing in economics I'm

talking about it in the case of career

he talks about how you know working in a

well-paying job is not your level

average is not going to set you free you

might get a three CR package at Jane

Street but you might also get replaced

or laid off from what we've seen the

last couple of years so that is not an

identifier of success as of now right so

what is there well it's all about

building a wealth creation engine it's

all about building an asset that works

for you even when you're are not and

that is what I want to talk about and

the wealth creation engine that I have

unlocked in the last few years for me is

content content has unlocked doors for

me that I had never imagined I would be

reaching at this age in this short span

of time let's try to understand this

deeper right so instead of having that

typical career of a doctor of a designer

of a developer think about a career of a

doctor who creates content

a career of a you know designer who

creates content a developer who creates

content right a CA who creates content

you might have know you might actually

know people in your own field who are

doing this right now and this opens

doors to immense infinite

opportunities and I'm not just talking

about this for you to imagine I actually

have friends this is Manan v he's a

friend of mine he creates reals on

Instagram around how can you be more fit

he's an orthopedic surgeon

and he recently launched his company

which offers nutrition advice and

training and that is amazing another one

that is sapta he's a designer he's the

head of design at swiggy he's a good

friend of mine and he has been working

with companies around the

world what else we have Nishan chaher

he's a friend of mine you might have

seen him on YouTube he is a developer

who works at Microsoft and just launched

his course in which he teaches people

about DSA and helps them get

jobs we then also have kosala who's a

friend of mine who used to work in

private Equity at ad baa and he's now

launched his own company called a

skigger in which he is helping people

get jobs in financial

roles well and then the last one I think

you all can identify this is alak Pand

sir a mentor and friend of mine who you

all know has built physics Pala

so what this does when you combine your

traditional old career with content is

that it makes you indispensable there's

a book that Seth Gordon wrote called as

the Kingpin which is all about how do

you become indispensable in this world

and that's an amazing book but the point

I'm making here is you have to become

one of

zero this is a quote by Alex mozi and he

says that the best thing you can do in

your career is to become one of zero

there is no one that can do what you do

with your identity with the way you do

it and so you get paid

disproportionately higher than what

anyone else can get paid you know the

these are all distribution Le carers so

you had distribution which you optimize

and you make something out of that let's

get some more examples right so what

this basically does is it gives you

accountability so now whatever you say

matters and it gives you the ownership

of what you put out while you might be

working at the top companies of this

world right now what you are doing

you're not exactly accountable for that

right if something happens with Gemini

or something that Google releases the

headline is Google eved up they never

say this engineer in the Google

Department messed up right so now you

have full accountability and as a result

of that the good part is that you also

unlock the compounding effect of that as

I've just shown you with all the

examples prior so these are the three

biggest benefits that you get when you

combine content distribution with your

own carer all

right again I want to rephrase this

everything that you are doing can be

automated right all the tools that are

out there they can automate what you are

writing what you're designing what

you're building but what cannot be

automated is yourself is you the

brand and this a very important concept

for you to understand if you want to

thrive in the next few years let's

understand this deeper right how can you

get started it's all fun and games to

look at case studies of people but how

do you get started in this field let's T

talk about that you first need to figure

out what is your one thing what is one

thing that people can pay you for and a

very easy exercise is to think about the

dictionary of people who will be

watching your content and thinking

what's one word that you want them to

replace your name with for example if I

say the word Ali abdal you all will have

the word productivity right you might

have seen his videos in which he talks

about productivity becoming more

productive and that is excellent

branding so always think about what that

one thing could be and it could be

anything right you can be anything that

you want but you cannot be every thing

it's a very famous quote which says that

you can be anything that you want but

not every thing and I'm saying this

twice because I have made this mistake

of trying to do everything of trying to

be everyone right but the realization

that you will have when you try to do

everything is that you don't have

expertise or Mastery over one thing and

that is all that you need to do all

right an example is Miss cat Norton she

is also known as Miss Excel what she did

beautifully was make these short Tik

toks in the last two years around how

can people use Excel shortcuts tips and

tricks things like that and then she

launched her course and as a result of

that she made $100,000 on just the first

day just the first day she makes a

$100,000 versus someone who works at a

dead end job using Excel to complete

some task that the company has given to

him or her and so I wanted to think

about this much more deeply when you go

back like you need to the second step is

to start earning your stripes why should

people trust you what do you have that

stands you from everyone else right an

example could be someone getting a job

at top tech companies so now you have

that badge oh I am from Google I am from

Microsoft I am from Facebook or someone

who's built something like for example I

built an agency of 25 people and now I'm

talking about how I did that on social

Med media that is your proof so the

point is to earn your stripes because

without that you would just be that 18

year old kid who's talking about hustle

and Entrepreneurship and all the things

that you do not trust him for because he

is not done it I'm sure you all have

seen such people know nothing wrong in

that but it's just that they have not

earned their stripes all right the job

or the experience you need to get that

first and when you are doing that you

need to document your life and document

your life you you might have already

seen those Day in the Life videos in

which people show their life what are

they doing where are they going the free

lunches they're having at Google but

honestly it's just about being relatable

with your audience I once met s Joi and

I asked him this simple question that

bro why do people watch you I just don't

get it why do people watch you and the

first question the first answer that he

had was you know because I'm relatable

my blogs are very relatable to people

who are consuming my content and that is

excellent so you have to Showcase your

life and what are you doing and that is

the fastest way to build that

relationship with the audience and have

better loyal

distribution okay that is the day in the

life the fourth step is that you need to

scale it's okay for you to have this one

YouTube channel in which you're talking

about your daily routine of being a

software developer but if you really

want to get in front of the masses if

you want to get out there you need to be

on all the platforms for example you

might have seen NJ who is easy snippet

on Instagram right and what he does

amazingly well is that he uses the most

trendy hot piece of content and then

puts across his tutorials and that is

beautiful because he is unlogged away to

gain virality and now everyone knows him

even though you might not have seen his

day in the life or you might not have

consumed his content but you know who he

is and so that is what I mean when I say

scale multiple platforms it is all about

repurposing I'm sure you all have seen

arpit balar that's an excellent case

study of repurposing content and being

in front of the masses right I I

searched his Instagram I could not find

his Instagram account and I was like

they're all meme accounts and that's

crazy that's a strategy but the last

step which is the most important is to

monetize and all the people I've just

showed you they've all monetized in one

way or the other right they monetized

through courses they monetized through

launching their own ebooks they

monetized by helping Brands and helping

their own Audience by Consulting I get

these messages from companies saying

that isan you've grown your channel to

over 1 million subscribers and 200

million views use we want you to help us

get there and so we want you to consult

us and I get these emails almost every

single week I get that because I'm out

there I'm discoverable and because I've

built my brand on that one thing which

is online business and the next thing is

freelance of course there are designers

out there who are helping Brands build

their own design assets their own

branding packages and that is really

lucrative and obviously there there is

projects that you can get access to now

people who create content get these in

abundance the only people complaining

are the ones who are not taking help of

content the only people who are you know

writing those LinkedIn posts oh I just

got laid off nothing wrong but you need

to realize that you can do much more if

you take the advantage of content and

you might

say how many of people can create their

own brand and the answer is as many as

there are

as many as you want right there is no

limit to how many people can build their

brand as long as you can differentiate

yourself from everyone else so that's

how this works I want to leave you with

this one last quote which I learned the

hard way and it is the fact that in this

world you do not get paid by the skills

that you have but by how hard it is to

replace

you in this world you do not get you get

paid not by the skills you have but by

how hard it is to replace you and that's

all thank you so much

[Applause]