My favorite thing about this idea is its durability across decades. Similar ideas can be found in the book “Think and Grow Rich”, which dates back to the Great Depression.
Ultimately people buy from other people, or rarely in high-trust societies, from brands. We in the West recently became used to having the trust it takes to buy from a brand, but this is a rare, modern, exception. It’s sensible to buy from a person you trust - if there’s a problem with the thing you bought, the interpersonal relationship between you and the (human) seller provides assurance you’ll be made whole or at least helped. Whereas buying from a brand requires such assurances be provided by the society in the form of consumer protection laws, courts et al.
Cultivate a brand and an identity, and whatever you make, you can sell - provided it’s relevant and useful to your constituents.
It’s not an easy transition from having a job, but it sidesteps the age discrimination in the job market - and you might even get paid to do what you love.
Ultimately people buy from other people, or rarely in high-trust societies, from brands. We in the West recently became used to having the trust it takes to buy from a brand, but this is a rare, modern, exception. It’s sensible to buy from a person you trust - if there’s a problem with the thing you bought, the interpersonal relationship between you and the (human) seller provides assurance you’ll be made whole or at least helped. Whereas buying from a brand requires such assurances be provided by the society in the form of consumer protection laws, courts et al.
Cultivate a brand and an identity, and whatever you make, you can sell - provided it’s relevant and useful to your constituents.
It’s not an easy transition from having a job, but it sidesteps the age discrimination in the job market - and you might even get paid to do what you love.