how to AI-proof your future

There are a lot of disruptions happening in the tech industry. Some of them are cyclical - offshoring, investment cycles, 🌈 recessions ✨.

But AI is not cyclical. It’s here. It will only get better. And us expensive, ornery developers are first in line to get cut.

The principles I hold for building a better career remain true. You have to network. You have to make yourself visible and memorable. You have to become adaptable, diverse, and innovative.

These areas of personal growth will only become more important. They are our human leverage. And they don’t just apply to devs.

I want you to get a job or a consulting client as soon as possible, yeah, but I also don’t want to send you down a path that ends in a cliff. The software industry is constricting. You have a runway now to set yourself up for a future that no one can really predict.

So yeah, get that job. Find those clients. But don’t put all your eggs in that particular basket. Don’t double down on code. Double down on people. Optimize for long-term opportunity.

If you know someone worried about their future, forward this to them. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m on a mission to find them and I want to bring you along with me.

Otherwise, see you Wednesday!

— Clark

ps - I’m switching to a M/W/F newsletter schedule. I don’t want to burn out and I don’t want to burn you out. I might switch back to daily or I might try longer weekly deep-dives… still figuring this out! If you have suggestions or a preference, I’d love to hear it.