Remember Napster?

Man, what a time that was. Downloading MP3s over dial-up internet, praying nobody would pick up the phone mid-download, and checking out all music I could think of.

Music on demand, it was awesome!

How the tables have turned.

These days, I'm watching AI writing code, creating images, and even composing music. And it took me back to the Napster days.

And then something in my brain clicked while I was watching Rick Beato's interview with Ted Gioia on YouTube. Ted's a jazz pianist turned business consultant to author slash music historian (my kind of career pivot), and he dropped some serious knowledge about where this AI train is headed.

The Big Shift

Ted talked about how we're living through something similar to the Renaissance. Not the "guys in puffy shirts" part of the Renaissance - I'm talking about the massive shift in how people worked and created.

Back then, the church and state controlled everything. Today? It's big tech and government. And just like back then, these institutions are starting to crack.

But here's where it gets good...

The Canary in the Coal Mine

Ted dropped something heavy during that interview that got me thinking. He said "musicians are like the canaries in the coal mine," referring to the danger of prioritizing profit over creative merit.

But here's where it gets interesting. He wasn't just talking about music. In his words:

"we should pay attention even if you're not a musician...you should care as a fan but even beyond that you should care because this is the same thing that's going to happen throughout culture..."

Think about it. When’s the last time you solved a problem at work? Did you follow a template, or did you have to get creative? That's what Ted's talking about - when we prioritize automation and profit over human creativity, we all lose.

To me, it's more proof that creativity isn't just for artists anymore. It's your ticket to staying relevant, no matter what occupation you're in.

Learning From Musicians

Here's what I've learned watching this play out (and trust me, after 19 different jobs and multiple career reinventions, I know something about adaptation):

1. Creativity Isn't Just for Artists

Remember when everyone said learning to code was the answer? Plot twist: AI is already writing code. But you know what AI still struggles with? Original thinking and creative problem-solving.

2. Multiple Income Streams Win

Musicians figured out they couldn't rely on just album sales anymore. They diversified - touring, merch, teaching, streaming. That's exactly what I did when I left my cubicle job. One source of income is risky; multiple streams keep you afloat.

3. Being Human Is Your Superpower

Just like how auto-tune can't replace the raw emotion in a live performance, AI can't replace genuine human connection and creativity.

The Future Is Already Here

You might be thinking, "But I'm not creative." Stop right there. I used to think the same thing when I was sitting in my cubicle, dreaming of something different.

Creativity isn't just about making art or music. It's about solving problems in new ways. It's about connecting dots others don't see. Hell, it's about surviving and thriving when the world throws you curveballs.

Look at how musicians adapted. They didn't just survive Napster - many ended up better off because they got creative about their careers.

The world's changing fast, but here's the good news: if a blue-collar foundry worker turned mechanical draftsman like me could reinvent himself multiple times, you can too.

Time to Face the Music

And speaking of reinvention and AI, here's a song that perfectly captures this moment. Check out "Why Wait" - a tune I wrote back when I was plotting my escape from the cubicle life.

I updated the lyric video using a combination of tools. One video tool called RunwayLM to turn a time clock image and a street desk worker silhouette image into short 10-second videos. Then, I used the CapCut AutoLyrics feature to transcribe the song.

Watch how it turned out…

The lyrics say it all:

Your turn. What song's playing in your head as you think about your next move?

As always, thanks for reading.

Have a good one,

Corey