Issue #8: How to Stay Relevant in a World You Can't Predict

I had a conversation last week with someone who's been a graphic designer for 12 years.

Good career. Steady clients. Comfortable income.

Then ChatGPT happened. Then Midjourney. Then DALL-E. Then a dozen other AI tools that can generate designs in seconds.

"I don't know if I'll have a career in five years," he told me. "Maybe even two years. I don't know what to learn next. I don't know if what I learn will even matter by the time I get good at it."

This isn't just a designer problem. It's everyone's problem right now.

The pace of change in the post-ChatGPT era is making everyone question their lives and careers. And the one question I keep hearing, in different forms, from different people, is this:

"How do I ensure I stay relevant enough in this new world to still be worth being paid for my skills?"

Whether through employment, entrepreneurship, or any other way people exchange value for money, the anxiety is the same.

The ground is shifting. Fast. And nobody, not even the leaders and experts, can tell you exactly what to do or how to do it.

But here's what I've realized. And this is what this issue is about.

The question isn't "How do I predict the future?" The question is "How do I build the capacity to adapt to whatever the future brings?"

And there's a system for that.

Let me take you back for a moment.

In the early 1900s, there were thousands of elevator operators in major cities. It was a real job. You'd step into an elevator, tell the operator which floor, and they'd manually control the lift.

Then automatic elevators were invented. Within a decade, the job disappeared.

The elevator operators who survived weren't the ones who fought against the automation. They were the ones who learned new skills. Some became building managers. Some became electricians. Some started their own businesses.

The ones who stayed stuck were the ones who kept waiting for someone to tell them what to do next.

Fast forward to the 1980s and 90s. Personal computers started entering offices. Secretaries and typists who only knew how to use typewriters panicked.

Some of them adapted. They learned word processing, spreadsheets, email management. They became administrative assistants, office managers, executive coordinators. The role evolved, but they survived.

The ones who resisted, who said "I'm a typist, not a computer person," they didn't make it.

Here's the pattern history shows us:

Humans are adaptable by nature. The fittest survive by evolving.

But here's the part most people miss. Evolution isn't random. It's not just luck. There's a process.

The people who survive major shifts aren't necessarily smarter or more talented. They have one specific capacity:

They know how to learn fast, apply what they learn, and generate proof that they can deliver value in the new environment.

That's not magic. That's a system.

And that's what the Identity Multiplier Engine is.

Here's why the AI era feels different from previous technological shifts.

In the past, you could kind of see what was coming. Computers were getting more powerful, so maybe learn computer skills. The internet was growing, so maybe learn web development.

But with AI, the pace is so fast that by the time you finish learning something, the landscape has shifted again.

You spend six months learning prompt engineering. Then someone builds a tool that makes that skill obsolete.

You invest in learning to code. Then AI assistants start writing better code than junior developers.

You build expertise in a specific niche. Then AI can generate expert-level content in that niche in seconds.

So what do you do?

You can't predict which specific skills will be valuable in five years. But you can build the meta-skill that makes you adaptable to whatever comes.

That meta-skill is this:

The ability to pick up new capabilities fast, package them in a way that creates value for others, and build public proof that you can deliver.

This isn't about being a "lifelong learner" in the vague, motivational sense.

This is about having a systematic engine that lets you:

That engine is what I call the Identity Multiplier Engine.

Here's the core formula:

Identity Growth = (Knowledge + Proof) × Visibility × Action

Let me break this down piece by piece.

This is the substance. The raw material.

Knowledge is what you learn. The concepts, frameworks, skills, information you acquire.

Proof is what you build with that knowledge. The tangible artifact that shows you can apply it.

We add these together because they're both forms of value, but they're distinct.

You can have deep knowledge without having built anything. (This is the trap of perpetual learning.)

You can have built something without deep understanding of why it works. (This is the trap of tutorial hell.)

Both matter. But here's the key: Proof is more valuable than Knowledge alone.

A graphic designer who knows design theory is valuable.

A graphic designer who knows design theory AND has a portfolio of 50 real projects? That's 10x more valuable.

A software engineer who understands algorithms is valuable.

A software engineer who understands algorithms AND has deployed applications in production? That's 10x more valuable.

This is why I call Proof your "fixed assets" and Knowledge your "liquid capital." Both have value, but Proof is the thing people can actually see and evaluate.

This is where most people fail.

You can have great knowledge and impressive proof. But if nobody knows about it, your Identity Growth is zero.

Visibility is the strategic act of making your work public and auditable.

This doesn't mean becoming an influencer or building a massive audience.

It means:

Visibility creates two things:

Feedback loops. People tell you what's working and what's not.
Opportunities. People reach out with offers, collaborations, jobs.

But visibility alone isn't enough. You also need Action.

Action is your execution tempo. The daily, consistent effort you apply to keep the engine running.

This is where the Micro-Payment Method comes in. (We've talked about this in previous issues of the newsletter.)

You commit to a small daily action that generates either Knowledge or Proof:

The compound effect of daily action is what creates momentum.

Here's why these are multipliers, not additions:

If Visibility is zero (you're learning and building in private), your Identity Growth is zero. Nobody knows what you can do. If no one can identify you for something you say you are then you really are not (think about that).

You are only “something” when others can identify you as or with it. For example, I can’t say I am a pharmacist when no one recognizes me as one. But the moment, others recognize me as a software engineer then I am indeed one.

If Action is zero (you're planning but not executing), your Identity Growth is zero. Nothing is being created.

Both must be present for the engine to work.

Let me show you how I used this engine without knowing I was using it.

When I was transitioning from pharmacy to software engineering in 2022, here's what the engine looked like:

I enrolled in the ALX Africa bootcamp. I was learning:

This was my liquid capital. The raw information going into my brain.

But I wasn't just learning. I was building.

Every week, I shipped a project. A command-line tool. A web scraper. A full-stack application. A technical blog post explaining a concept.

Each project was a fixed asset. Tangible evidence I could point to.

This is the part that changed everything.

I created a new Twitter account and committed to documenting my entire journey publicly.

I wasn't trying to build an audience. I was trying to build an audit trail.

I showed up every single day for a year.

Some days I felt like it. Most days I didn't.

But I had committed to the Micro-Payment Method. 30 minutes minimum, no matter what.

That consistency compounded.

Six months into the bootcamp, I got my first paid gig as a backend developer.

Before I completed the program, ALX Africa offered me a job building curriculum.

People started reaching out in my DMs with opportunities I never applied for.

Here's what actually happened:

(Knowledge + Proof) × Visibility × Action = Identity Growth

I went from "pharmacist who codes as a hobby" to "software engineer with a track record" in 12 months.

Not because I was smarter than other people making the transition.

Because I had a system that multiplied effort into identity.

Here's why this framework is the answer to "How do I stay relevant when I can't predict the future?"

1. It's domain-agnostic

The engine works regardless of what specific skill you're building.

The principles don't change.

2. It emphasizes speed of learning, not depth of expertise

In a fast-changing world, the person who can go from zero to competent in 90 days has an advantage over the person who spent 10 years becoming an expert in something that's now obsolete.

The engine optimizes for velocity of capability acquisition.

3. It generates leverage even when you have no leverage

You don't need connections. You don't need money. You don't need a fancy degree.

You just need to build proof and make it visible.

The Proof-of-Work Portfolio we talked about last week? That's the output of this engine.

4. It compounds over time

Every cycle through the engine makes the next cycle easier.

The knowledge compounds. The proof stacks. The visibility grows. The action becomes habitual.

That's the multiplier effect.

Let me address the elephant in the room.

If AI can generate code, write articles, create designs, doesn't that make the Identity Multiplier Engine obsolete?

No. It makes it more important.

Here's why.

AI lowers the barrier to entry for everything.

Anyone can generate code now. Anyone can write a decent article. Anyone can create a design.

So the question becomes: What separates you from the AI output?

Two things:

1. Judgment

AI can generate options. You need to decide which option solves the actual problem.

AI can write code. You need to know if it's the right code for the context.

AI can create a design. You need to know if it aligns with the user's needs and business goals.

Judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from shipping real projects and learning from feedback.

That's Proof.

2. Trust

In a world where anyone can generate anything with AI, trust becomes the scarcest resource.

People want to know:

Trust is built through Visibility. Through a public track record. Through a Proof-of-Work Portfolio that shows you've shipped real things for real people.

So here's the adaptation:

Knowledge now includes "how to use AI tools effectively."

Proof now includes "projects that leverage AI but still require human judgment."

Visibility now includes "showing how you think, not just what you produce."

Action stays the same. Daily, consistent effort to build and ship.

The engine still works. You just adjust the inputs.

The base formula works even if you're starting from zero.

But if you already have some advantages, you can inject them into the engine to make it spin faster.

Use it to buy speed and quality.

Money lets you compress timelines.

Use it to buy distribution.

Ask people in your network to share your work.
Get warm introductions to people who can give you feedback.
Leverage existing relationships to get your proof in front of the right people.

Network amplifies visibility.

Use it to buy trust.

If people already know you're credible in one domain, they'll give you the benefit of the doubt in adjacent domains.

Reputation reduces the proof required to open doors.

But here's the beauty of the engine:

If you don't have these accelerants, you can still win. It just takes longer.

The engine creates its own advantages over time.

Your proof becomes your money. (People pay you for skills you've demonstrated.)

Your visibility becomes your network. (People reach out because they found your work.)

Your consistency becomes your reputation. (People trust you because you've shown up reliably.)

This is how you bootstrap your way to relevance, even when you start with nothing.

Let me make this concrete.

Here's how you use the Identity Multiplier Engine to build adaptability in an uncertain world.

Don't try to learn everything. Pick one capability that feels valuable right now.

This could be:

Using AI tools effectively in your domain
Video editing and content creation
Data analysis and visualization
Copywriting and persuasion
Product management fundamentals

The specific skill matters less than your commitment to acquire it systematically.

Commit to one focused sprint.

Week 1-2: Knowledge acquisition

Take a course, read books, watch tutorials, study examples.

Week 3-6: Build proof

Ship one real project that demonstrates the skill. Something you can point to.

Week 7-12: Make it visible + repeat

Publish the project. Write about what you learned. Share it where your target audience hangs out.

Then start cycle two with a new, harder project.

This is the Visibility multiplier.

Choose one platform and commit to showing your work:

For technical skills: GitHub + blog posts
For creative work: Behance, Dribbble, YouTube
For writing/thinking: Medium, Substack, Twitter
For business/consulting: LinkedIn + case studies

You don't need to be everywhere. Pick one and go deep.

Commit to a minimum viable action every single day.

30 minutes of learning
One feature shipped
One paragraph written
One video filmed

The goal isn't to finish fast. The goal is to never break the chain.

Consistency is the Action multiplier.

After each cycle, evaluate:

Internal Energy: Did I enjoy this work? (1-10)
External Traction: Did anyone care? Did I get feedback, opportunities, or validation? (1-10)

Then use the matrix:

High Energy + High Traction = Commit. Double down. This is working.

High Energy + Low Traction = Persevere. Keep going but change the approach. Try a different platform or format.

Low Energy + High Traction = Pivot Strategically. The market wants this but you hate it. Find an adjacent skill that energizes you.

Low Energy + Low Traction = Pivot. This isn't it. Pick a new skill and start a new cycle.

The matrix prevents you from wasting years on the wrong path.

Let me show you the three ways people break the engine before it even starts running.

They take course after course. Read book after book. Watch tutorial after tutorial.

They're learning, but they're not building.

Without Proof, the Knowledge multiplier is worthless. You're just collecting information nobody can verify.

The fix: Every week, ship something. Even if it's small. Even if it's imperfect.

They build impressive projects. But nobody knows about them.

The projects sit on their local machine or in private repos.

Without Visibility, the (Knowledge + Proof) multiplier doesn't matter. It's like lifting weights in a dark room. You're getting stronger, but nobody can see it.

The fix: Make one thing public this week. Put it online where people can find it.

They spend months designing the perfect learning plan. Mapping out the ideal project. Researching the best platforms for visibility.

But they never actually start.

Without Action, everything else is zero.

The fix: Set a timer for 30 minutes and start today. Not next week. Today.

Here's the real answer to "How do I stay relevant in an uncertain world?"

The skill you need isn't a specific technical skill. It's the ability to acquire new skills fast.

This is called meta-learning. Learning how to learn.

And the Identity Multiplier Engine is a meta-learning system.

Every time you run a cycle through the engine, you're not just learning the specific skill. You're also learning:

How you learn best (visual? hands-on? by teaching?)
How to break down complex skills into learnable chunks
How to generate proof efficiently
How to make your work visible
How to maintain consistency through motivation dips

By the time you've run three full cycles (three 90-day sprints acquiring different skills), you've built the meta-skill.

At that point, you're not worried about AI replacing your job.

Because you've proven to yourself that you can learn anything fast, build proof quickly, and generate opportunities from visibility.

That's adaptability.

That's how you survive in a world you can't predict.

Let me show you what this looks like in practice right now.

I'm in the middle of my own cycle.

Knowledge: I'm learning how to build a personal brand, create engaging video content, and systematize frameworks for teaching.

Proof: This newsletter. The Identity Audit tool. The YouTube videos I'm filming. The frameworks I'm documenting.

Visibility: Publishing The Ledger every Tuesday. Posting videos on YouTube. Sharing insights on Twitter.

Action: Daily writing. Weekly videos. Consistent showing up even when the traction is low.

I'm applying the Energy-Evidence Matrix to this experiment right now.

High internal energy (I love this work).
Low-to-emerging external traction (small audience, some engagement, no breakthrough yet).

The prescription: Persevere. Change the approach if needed. But don't abandon the domain.

So I keep running the engine. I adjust the format (more video, less text). I test different platforms (YouTube over Twitter). I refine the messaging.

But the engine keeps spinning.

And I know from experience: if I keep the engine running long enough, the compounding effect will kick in.

That's how I went from pharmacy to software engineering.

That's how I'll go from software engineer to whatever comes next.

The specific skills change. The engine stays the same.

Here's what I want you to do.

Day 1-7: Pick one high-leverage skill you want to acquire. Write it down. Make it specific.

Day 8-21: Acquire knowledge + build proof

Spend 30 minutes every day. Half learning, half building.

By day 21, you should have one small, shippable project.

Day 22-30: Make it visible + reflect

Publish the project. Write about what you learned. Share it publicly.

Then evaluate: Did I enjoy this? Did anyone care?

Use the Energy-Evidence Matrix to decide what to do next.

That's one cycle. 30 days.

If you run four cycles this year, you'll have built four pieces of proof in four different skills.

At that point, you're not worried about relevance anymore.

You've proven you can adapt.

The Identity Multiplier Engine isn't just a framework I teach. It's the system I'm actively using right now.

And you're watching it work in real-time.

— Obed

P.S. If you're already running the engine in your own life, reply and tell me: What's your Knowledge? What's your Proof? How are you building Visibility?

I want to see what you're building.

P.P.S. The Proof-of-Work Portfolio from last week and the Identity Multiplier Engine from this week are two sides of the same coin. The engine is how you build the portfolio. The portfolio is the output of the engine. If you missed last week's issue, go back and read it. They work together.

The Ledger is published every Tuesday. Each issue is proof that the engine works.