The People Getting Promoted All Have This One Thing in Common (AI Is Supercharging this Mindset)

Entry-Level Hiring Crisis in Tech

Decline in Entry-Level Job Opportunities

• Entry-level hiring at major tech companies has decreased by over 50% since 2019, indicating a significant shift in the job market.

• Job postings for entry-level positions across the US economy have dropped by 29 percentage points between January 2024 and January 2026.

• The unemployment rate for recent college graduates now surpasses that of the general population, highlighting a growing concern.

Disruption of Traditional Career Paths

• The conventional career ladder—progressing from individual contributor to management roles—is being dismantled while individuals are still navigating it.

• This situation is not merely a temporary hiring freeze but represents a fundamental restructuring of career trajectories.

Impact of Generative AI on Entry-Level Roles

• Routine tasks traditionally assigned to newcomers, such as summarizing meetings and processing information, are increasingly handled by generative AI.

• As AI takes over these low-risk jobs, entry-level positions now demand experience that they no longer provide.

The Concept of High Agency

Redefining High Agency

• In response to the disappearing career ladder, individuals must adopt "high agency," which goes beyond traditional notions of empowerment or confidence.

• High agency is better understood through psychologist Julian Roder's concept of locus of control; it reflects how much control one perceives over their life circumstances.

Self-Evaluation Exercise

• A practical exercise involves drawing a circle and listing significant life elements inside (what you control) versus outside (what you don't).

• Individuals with lower agency often find more critical aspects outside their circle, whereas those with high agency include everything within it.

Mindset Shift Towards Control

Characteristics of High Agency Individuals

• People with high agency believe they can learn and adapt to overcome obstacles; they view challenges as skill issues rather than insurmountable barriers.

Addressing Common Objections

• Critics may argue this perspective promotes bootstrap ideology; however, it's essential to recognize that AI enhances opportunities for those with high agency during economic disruptions.

Navigating Systemic Challenges

Realism in Career Management

• While external factors like layoffs exist beyond personal control, maintaining a mindset focused on what can be controlled correlates with better outcomes in life and careers.

Importance Across Backgrounds

• Historically disadvantaged individuals often exhibit higher levels of agency due to necessity; this trait becomes crucial when resources are limited.

Cautions Regarding Internal Locus of Control

Risks Associated with Excessive Internality

• An overly strong internal locus can lead to self-blame and anxiety; thus, it's vital not to equate every setback with personal inadequacy.

AI as the Greatest Equalizer

The Transformative Power of AI

• AI is described as the greatest equalizer for agency, enabling individuals to overcome barriers that previously required extensive education or networking.

• People have transitioned from low points in their lives to running successful businesses by adopting a high agency mindset and leveraging AI for learning and execution.

Shifting Career Dynamics

• AI democratizes access to capabilities, allowing anyone with determination and basic technology to achieve what was once unattainable.

• The speed at which career trajectories change has accelerated; high agency individuals can now achieve significantly more in a fraction of the time compared to previous decades.

New Expectations in Leadership

• Senior leadership roles are increasingly filled by those who possess both experience and an understanding of AI-native thinking.

• Traditional metrics for promotions are evolving; past accomplishments alone may no longer suffice without demonstrating proficiency in AI-related skills.

Organizational Changes Driven by AI

• Organizations must adapt rapidly due to advancements in intelligence, leading to changes in structure and expectations around responsibility.

• Job titles are becoming less meaningful; high agency individuals focus on outcomes rather than status symbols like titles.

Embracing High Agency Mindset

• In a rapidly changing environment, maintaining a passive approach is ineffective. A proactive, high agency mindset is essential for career advancement.

• Individuals with low agency often cling to traditional markers of success while those with high agency prioritize generating results over titles.

Developing an Internal Locus of Control

Importance of Internal Locus of Control

• An internal locus of control correlates with greater persistence, academic achievement, professional success, effective leadership, and entrepreneurial activity.

• Research indicates that students with this mindset outperform peers who attribute outcomes to external factors by 20% to 30%.

Overcoming Obstacles with Confidence

• High agency individuals acknowledge obstacles but maintain confidence that they can be overcome through personal resources and effort.

• Kobe Bryant's perspective exemplifies this mindset: preparation mitigates nervousness before challenges.

Kobe Bryant's Approach to Agency and AI

Understanding Nervousness as Information

• Kobe Bryant viewed nervousness not as a weakness but as valuable information indicating areas for improvement in his preparation.

• He had a strong locus of control, dedicating his life to becoming the best basketball player, which drove him to prepare more rigorously.

The Say-Do Ratio

• A critical aspect of high agency is the "say-do ratio," emphasizing the importance of taking immediate action on intentions rather than delaying.

• Many people procrastinate by over-researching or planning instead of executing their goals, leading to significant delays in progress.

• High agency individuals start tasks even when they feel unprepared, focusing on shipping work rather than waiting for perfection.

Leveraging AI for Action

• AI can accelerate efforts by helping individuals take actionable steps towards their goals, transforming ideas into concrete actions.

• Engaging with AI actively enhances outcomes; passive use leads to negative consequences like diminished critical thinking skills.

Active Engagement with AI

• A high-agency mindset allows users to leverage AI as an extension of their capabilities, enabling deeper exploration and faster learning.

• This proactive approach contrasts with passive usage where individuals merely accept outputs without further inquiry or application.

The Rise of Solo Founders

• There has been a notable increase in solo founders creating successful startups without venture capital, rising from 22% in 2015 to 38% in 2024.

• These founders are leveraging AI effectively, achieving significant business outcomes that were previously only possible with larger teams.

Transformative Impact of High Agency and AI

• Companies are evolving into leaner structures; billion-dollar valuations are now achievable with significantly fewer employees compared to past standards.

• Examples like Base 44 illustrate how one individual can utilize AI to achieve substantial success rapidly without traditional resources.

Conclusion: Redefining Skills through AI

• High agency combined with AI enables individuals to overcome skill barriers and deliver value at unprecedented scales across various fields.

Value Creation and High Agency

The Role of AI in Value Creation

• AI empowers individuals to research and organize complex topics quickly, enhancing productivity for writers and consultants.

• Individuals with high agency focus on generating value, believing that their contributions will ultimately return benefits to them.

Mindset of High Agency Individuals

• High agency people prioritize contribution over extraction, viewing the world as malleable based on their efforts.

• This mindset is supported by psychological research and is amplified by AI tools, allowing for rapid learning through project execution.

Embracing Opportunities with AI

• Rather than a checklist for self-improvement, this approach presents an opportunity for a generation to adopt high agency.

• AI reduces barriers that previously hindered solo founders or those lacking technical skills, enabling faster prototyping and learning.

Expanding Control Through AI

• Individuals should leverage AI as a powerful tool to expand their locus of control towards achieving specific goals.

• Identifying traditionally uncontrollable goals allows individuals to use AI to map paths toward ownership and success.

Thriving in a Changing Landscape

• Success in the coming decade will favor those who internalize the belief in controlling outcomes using available tools like AI.

• Passive approaches are becoming obsolete; only active engagement remains relevant as traditional career paths are automated.

The New Career Paradigm

• The emergence of direct links between effort and outcome replaces traditional career ladders, offering new opportunities for growth.

• While the gap between active and passive individuals widens, there’s an accelerated path available for those willing to embrace AI as an extension of their capabilities.