Man, I used to geek out hard.
When the internet showed up into our lives back in the late '90s, it felt like magic.
I’d sit at my desk for hours after work, staring at a glowing screen, diving into guitar tabs or niche blogs, and the world suddenly felt a whole lot bigger.
Fast-forward to today, and we're standing on the edge of another seismic shift: AI.
And if you're Gen X like me, you might be wondering: “Great, another tech hurdle.”
But here’s the thing: just like we leveraged the internet to open doors back then, we can use AI now to unlock even bigger opportunities.
Why Gen X Actually Has the Advantage
Here’s some good news:
You and I have spent decades mastering valuable, hard-earned skills. We didn't grow up with tech, we adapted to it. We’ve learned the nuances of connecting authentically, managing teams, and navigating complex career landscapes—face to face, all analog-style.
That makes us powerful.
AI is a creativity tool, not just a replacement. And it needs skilled users who can ask smart questions, interpret answers, and leverage insights.
And guess who’s really good at that?
Real-Life Example: Making AI Work for Me
Here's how I'm making AI work for me right now on Redefining Retirement.
First, I brain dump my experiences and everything else I know about a topic into a writing app. Then dump it into ChatGPT to cut the content creation time WAY down.
And sometimes, instead of having to always guess what my readers care about, I let AI help me zero in on what Gen Xers are struggling with.
AI sifts through data, feedback, and interactions in seconds, spotlighting topics I know my audience genuinely wants and needs.
Back in 2007 when I first started blogging this research and drafting used to stretch across days. now just a few hours. That means more time for me to focus on the strategy, creativity, and relationship-building parts of the job—the stuff I love most.
It's this mix of AI-driven speed and my real-world experience and gut instincts that’s helping me grow faster, stay relevant, and provide value to Gen Xers who, like me, are ready to redefine what’s next.
3 Practical Steps for Gen X to Combine Their Skills with AI
1. Identify Your 'Superpower' Skills
Before you dive into AI, get clear on your strengths. Maybe it’s storytelling, managing people, or strategic thinking. Identify what you're truly great at and what you love doing.
2. Pair Your Skills with AI Tools
If you're a great writer, AI tools like ChatGPT can help you research and draft content faster. If you’re great at strategy, AI analytics can quickly test your theories or identify market gaps.
Don't chase shiny tech; instead, pick tools that amplify your existing skills.
3. Leverage Your Insights
The value you bring is interpreting and acting on the insights AI provides. Remember, it's about combining AI's speed and efficiency with your experience and intuition.
Your Turn to Dive In
Ready to get practical?
Copy and paste the following into ChatGPT (or any AI tool you're using):
"I am a [YOUR AGE] individual with [YOUR EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE ARE and/or PASSION FOR X HOBBY]. I want to start a blog and newsletter business that aligns with my life experiences, passions, and what the world needs while being financially sustainable. Please suggest 5 in-demand topics that:
1. Leverage my unique skills, knowledge, or life experiences.
2. Address intrinsic, extrinsic, and systemic values to ensure relevance, fulfillment, and impact.
3. Fall into the monetizable categories of health, wealth, relationships, or hobbies.
4. Meet the principles of Ikigai, ensuring they align with what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs, and what I can be paid for.
5. Appeal to a defined target audience that I can connect with easily, fostering community and engagement.
6. Allow for scalability into additional revenue streams like courses, books, or consulting.
7. Include a unique angle or differentiation to stand out in the market.
8. Suggest ways to use AI tools for content creation, audience analysis, or automation.
9. Are practical to implement considering my level of technical expertise, time, and budget.
10. Address emerging trends to ensure the topics remain relevant in the next 5–10 years.
11. Have potential for cross-platform expansion into podcasts, video content, or social media."
Additionally, for each topic, include specific monetization strategies and examples of successful blogs or newsletters in that area as inspiration.Swap out [WHATEVER IS IN THESE BRACKETS] with your info and see what you get.
Now that you have an idea or two of what you can do, here’s how you can start.
I created the "Story To Startup"—a step-by-step framework to help Gen Xers use their knowledge and life experiences to create content, build an email list, and eventually turn their knowledge into income.
It's a great way to develop new skills along the way, like writing (without needing to be Shakespeare), marketing your ideas effectively, and leveraging continuous learning (especially with the help of AI). Plus, you're building an asset that will be there for you whether you decide to retire or not.
Music of the Week
JA few months before MTV Unplugged was even a thing, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora stepped onto the 1989 VMAs stage with just two acoustic guitars and delivered pretty badass versions of “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
No pyro. No band. Just raw talent and goosebumps (damn, those harmonies - and forgot how good Jon’s voice was).
Their stripped-down performance turned familiar songs into something entirely new, much like how we’re now using AI to transform our established skills into fresh, impactful experiences. Sometimes, the best way to stand out is simply by embracing authenticity and innovation.
Watch this:
Good shit Maynard!
The Future Looks Brighter Than Ever
Remember, AI is like the internet back in '97—full of possibilities we can barely imagine yet.
The key is to embrace it, combine it with our skills, and keep moving forward. We’ve done it before, and we'll do it again.
It’s your experience plus AI. That’s the real revolution.
Let’s do this,
Corey
What'd you think of today's email?
No rush, but when you're ready to start telling your story, here are a couple ways I can help you…
1. Start Your Future-Proof Blogletter: Discover how a "blogletter" lets you turn decades of experience into income streams. Perfect for Gen Xers who want to create their own job security. Check out my complete guide on building a long-term asset that pays you while working on your own terms.
2. Grab Your Gen eXit Playbook: Discover my offensive approach to retirement—no more waiting until 65 to do what you love. You'll learn how I went from a $40K/year cubicle guy to a six-figure solopreneur and how to stay relevant doing work you actually enjoy.
3. Join The Newsletter: If you liked this post, introduce yourself and join our community of Gen Xers going from employment to self-deployment. Get weekly insights on staying relevant, building multiple income streams, and creating lifestyle-focused work. It's free, and you'll get The Gen eXit Playbook.
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