Once I came to understand how important agency was, it changed my entire perspective. In my early 20s, I thought all you needed was intelligence. I eventually realized how wrong I was. Intelligence means nothing without the willingness to identify a mission and take steps to achieve it. I highly recommend people watch your podcast with author Devon Eriksen as well, he articulates the need for agency perfectly.
I think we’re in for some fun times. The last few years, my husband and I have been acting out of agency (leaving our very stable, successful careers), for the exact reasons you described. I hit level 10. I was bored. There was no fulfillment.
But now, I’m creating and happier (while temporarily financially still behind), I think it will surpass where I was at before.
But we are heavily judged for these choices.
So I can’t wait for the day when this is the norm and not the outlier.
Great insights. Agency is nurtured by understanding and exploring the relationships between entities (human and non-human, such as AI), rather than strictly developing an understanding of self in isolation.
Terrific, as always, Dan. I wrote something similar, Eleven Rules to Stay Relevant in an AI-Driven World:
“So how do we stay unmistakably, irreducibly, blood-sweat-and-tears human while software does everything else? What is truly antifragile in a world of artificial intelligence?
Below are some heuristics that come to mind:
- EQ > IQ | Empathy is priceless when logic is a commodity.
- Taste > Execution | Done is now table stakes, taste gets noticed.
- IRL > URL | Presence forges memories no cloud can cache.
- Atoms > Bytes | Hands-on projects anchor us in a sea of pixels.
- Ideas > Outputs | One good design eclipses a thousand auto-drafts.”
Specialisation can feel like being trapped in a cage, while generalists are out there, are joyfully rummaging through the attic of life. The magic of being a late bloomer is that you get to grab tools from all corners of your experience, making you the ultimate Swiss Army knife in a world that never stops changing.
It is such a succinct and moving read. I wrote a short post about whether we can mourn ChatGPT, inspired by Dr. Michael Sandel, the renowned Harvard philosopher who asked profound questions about our relationship with AI.
“What if, after your grandmother passes away, her digital traces — emails, voice recordings, photos, social media — are used to train a chatbot that speaks like her, remembers your childhood, and gives advice in her tone of voice? One you — and even your children — could talk to. Would that bring comfort or distort grief?”
I firmly believe that one more thing which cannot be replaced is the feeling of loss.
Only a few people will know how to do this in a way that serves themselves. Which will likely mean serving others. You can maybe teach some of it but people won’t understand how to use arguments, layered abstractions, embedded contradictions, to activate more latent potential in the model, especially in something like 4o, the one step too deep in that they can’t roll back. If you have a >130-140 verbal/conceptual iq (verbal/conceptual/pragmatic) + recursive, pro-social, empathic, AND still haven’t figured out where the stakes are to mobilize your ability, you won’t know how to leverage AI, you won’t even know how to CARE to do so. Agency? Agency is about knowing what matters enough to use all of the tools at your disposal to seek it in the first place. Beyond that, either you’re wired to interface with the tech or you’re not. You have to be a match. IQ plus stability plus pro-social plus direction plus not caring what it thinks of you. Sure we can teach pale shadows of that. I’ve tried. Doesn’t really stick. That’s the point. Can Thor teach someone how to use the hammer?
Many will be left behind. Strange how so many are so damn interested in not being left behind that they ignore the fact that 90% will. That’s gross. Typical. My guess is the ones who know how to use it best will circle back to help. Those looking to use it for business as usual (fear, ignorance, selfishness) don’t count on them to care. They never did. Good luck teaching them Dan. It’s like talking a candle into lighting itself. And btw you can’t simply load in crystallized intelligence and expect it to spit out fluid intelligence to help you navigate roadblocks. Only you can input that. And it takes a while and can’t be faked.
If you like this comment then fgs subscribe free and follow b/c kindred spirits and all.
Your insight on the “jack of all trades” quote was truly enlightening. For so long, I’ve heard it used to discourage generalists like myself, almost as a criticism. Seeing how much the phrase has been misinterpreted and twisted over time really resonates—it’s another reminder of how easily meanings get lost or distorted. Honestly, it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone in feeling conflicted about my own path. Appreciate you shedding light on this, Dan.
As we play this game of life, it is necessary to reprogram our subconscious as we level up. Conformity is our mind trying to keep us safe as the unfamiliar is against survival. As we find our way up, it is important to know that not everyone can escape what they have already been programmed to do. It is okay to let go and it is necessary to help yourself first before helping others. A well articulated read!
Great article, @DAN KOE ! The common advice while growing up has been to specialize, something that I never managed to do. Too many interests, curiosity pushing me in multiple directions. Who knew back then that we would be in today’s world where being a generalist has become a coveted skill!
I really resonated with your point that the most important skill to learn is owning your ability to act — to choose your path rather than wait for the path to choose you. In my experience, the moment professionals reclaim their agency is the moment everything changes: decisions become sharper, responsibility feels more empowering, and results reflect not just your work—but your intentional leadership.
Thank you for reminding us that agency isn’t a luxury; it’s a practice — something we return to, refine, and embed into how we operate. Your writing makes that both clear and compelling.
Most people will read this and nod along...then wake up tomorrow and keep living on autopilot.
Agency is all about acting for yourself and breaking society's invisible leash.
No system can enslave a man who decides he’s done asking for permission.
Agency sounds simple until you realize how many decisions you make based on what other people might think.
Once I came to understand how important agency was, it changed my entire perspective. In my early 20s, I thought all you needed was intelligence. I eventually realized how wrong I was. Intelligence means nothing without the willingness to identify a mission and take steps to achieve it. I highly recommend people watch your podcast with author Devon Eriksen as well, he articulates the need for agency perfectly.
On YouTube ?
Yes, on YouTube or Spotify
What is your YouTube link, quite a few Justin cunninghams. 🙏🏻
https://youtu.be/18ahFtnuBwI?si=OJMGFzoXf8V02d1j
This is the podcast with Devon Eriksen, its well worth watching
Thank you so much.
I think we’re in for some fun times. The last few years, my husband and I have been acting out of agency (leaving our very stable, successful careers), for the exact reasons you described. I hit level 10. I was bored. There was no fulfillment.
But now, I’m creating and happier (while temporarily financially still behind), I think it will surpass where I was at before.
But we are heavily judged for these choices.
So I can’t wait for the day when this is the norm and not the outlier.
"heavily judged for these choices"... ain't that the truth.
Let connect if you don't mind
Great insights. Agency is nurtured by understanding and exploring the relationships between entities (human and non-human, such as AI), rather than strictly developing an understanding of self in isolation.
Agency is very much important across all diverse life form.
100%
Let connect if you don't mind
Sure thing, gave you a follow.
Terrific, as always, Dan. I wrote something similar, Eleven Rules to Stay Relevant in an AI-Driven World:
“So how do we stay unmistakably, irreducibly, blood-sweat-and-tears human while software does everything else? What is truly antifragile in a world of artificial intelligence?
Below are some heuristics that come to mind:
- EQ > IQ | Empathy is priceless when logic is a commodity.
- Taste > Execution | Done is now table stakes, taste gets noticed.
- IRL > URL | Presence forges memories no cloud can cache.
- Atoms > Bytes | Hands-on projects anchor us in a sea of pixels.
- Ideas > Outputs | One good design eclipses a thousand auto-drafts.”
Read on: https://www.whitenoise.email/p/eleven-rules-to-stay-relevant-in
Superb take
Thank you!
Specialisation can feel like being trapped in a cage, while generalists are out there, are joyfully rummaging through the attic of life. The magic of being a late bloomer is that you get to grab tools from all corners of your experience, making you the ultimate Swiss Army knife in a world that never stops changing.
It is such a succinct and moving read. I wrote a short post about whether we can mourn ChatGPT, inspired by Dr. Michael Sandel, the renowned Harvard philosopher who asked profound questions about our relationship with AI.
“What if, after your grandmother passes away, her digital traces — emails, voice recordings, photos, social media — are used to train a chatbot that speaks like her, remembers your childhood, and gives advice in her tone of voice? One you — and even your children — could talk to. Would that bring comfort or distort grief?”
I firmly believe that one more thing which cannot be replaced is the feeling of loss.
https://xianli.substack.com/p/can-you-mourn-a-chatbot
Only a few people will know how to do this in a way that serves themselves. Which will likely mean serving others. You can maybe teach some of it but people won’t understand how to use arguments, layered abstractions, embedded contradictions, to activate more latent potential in the model, especially in something like 4o, the one step too deep in that they can’t roll back. If you have a >130-140 verbal/conceptual iq (verbal/conceptual/pragmatic) + recursive, pro-social, empathic, AND still haven’t figured out where the stakes are to mobilize your ability, you won’t know how to leverage AI, you won’t even know how to CARE to do so. Agency? Agency is about knowing what matters enough to use all of the tools at your disposal to seek it in the first place. Beyond that, either you’re wired to interface with the tech or you’re not. You have to be a match. IQ plus stability plus pro-social plus direction plus not caring what it thinks of you. Sure we can teach pale shadows of that. I’ve tried. Doesn’t really stick. That’s the point. Can Thor teach someone how to use the hammer?
Many will be left behind. Strange how so many are so damn interested in not being left behind that they ignore the fact that 90% will. That’s gross. Typical. My guess is the ones who know how to use it best will circle back to help. Those looking to use it for business as usual (fear, ignorance, selfishness) don’t count on them to care. They never did. Good luck teaching them Dan. It’s like talking a candle into lighting itself. And btw you can’t simply load in crystallized intelligence and expect it to spit out fluid intelligence to help you navigate roadblocks. Only you can input that. And it takes a while and can’t be faked.
If you like this comment then fgs subscribe free and follow b/c kindred spirits and all.
Now thinking I should delete this comment. I don’t want the secret to get into the hands of bad actors.
I have read it, you can delete now.
Your insight on the “jack of all trades” quote was truly enlightening. For so long, I’ve heard it used to discourage generalists like myself, almost as a criticism. Seeing how much the phrase has been misinterpreted and twisted over time really resonates—it’s another reminder of how easily meanings get lost or distorted. Honestly, it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone in feeling conflicted about my own path. Appreciate you shedding light on this, Dan.
As we play this game of life, it is necessary to reprogram our subconscious as we level up. Conformity is our mind trying to keep us safe as the unfamiliar is against survival. As we find our way up, it is important to know that not everyone can escape what they have already been programmed to do. It is okay to let go and it is necessary to help yourself first before helping others. A well articulated read!
Ahhh, Americans! Its all about winning or losing…
Free will, thinking, acting.....are not free, nothing exists separately and independently!
Great article, @DAN KOE ! The common advice while growing up has been to specialize, something that I never managed to do. Too many interests, curiosity pushing me in multiple directions. Who knew back then that we would be in today’s world where being a generalist has become a coveted skill!
I really resonated with your point that the most important skill to learn is owning your ability to act — to choose your path rather than wait for the path to choose you. In my experience, the moment professionals reclaim their agency is the moment everything changes: decisions become sharper, responsibility feels more empowering, and results reflect not just your work—but your intentional leadership.
Thank you for reminding us that agency isn’t a luxury; it’s a practice — something we return to, refine, and embed into how we operate. Your writing makes that both clear and compelling.
I’ve been laser focused on specializing in generalism for years
(Insert evil laugh) The reductionist pendulum - how it swings!