Intelligence isn't measured by your degree. It's measured by your outcome. I used to think the smartest people were the ones who went to Ivy League schools or had fancy titles. Then I noticed something: Many of them were miserable. Working 70-hour weeks. Missing their kids' games. Building someone else's dream. At the same time, I kept meeting these "underdogs" who had figured something out. No fancy degrees. No venture funding. No permission from anyone. And they were making $30K, $50K, even $100K per month. Working 4 or 5-hour days. Actually present for their families. What did they know that the "smart" people didn't? They understood that in the digital age, you don't climb ladders anymore. You build your own. They weren't chasing a job. They were building audiences. They weren't perfecting resumes. They were perfecting systems. They weren't waiting for opportunities. They were manufacturing them. Every post. Every connection. It all compounded into leverage that nobody could take away. I studied their playbook. Systematized it. Refined it. And then executed on it to 805,000+ followers and a $11.7M+ business. That system? It's now called The Creator MBA. 111 lessons on audience building, content creation, and turning expertise into income. The exact blueprint 8,000+ students used to build their own audiences and businesses. And for Black Friday only, it's 75% off. Grab it here before the sale ends: https://buff.ly/elfDofH (it ends in 2 days...) Because getting what you want from life isn't luck. It's knowing which game to play.
BUILD YOUR OWN LEVERAGE I really love this focus on building systems. It must feel great to truly own your work. AI is like a super smart assistant for that. It helps you make great content faster. You can focus on the best big ideas. This makes your leverage much stronger.
chasing freedom? it comes with a hell of doubtful moments, countless failures, sleepless nights and no fixed working hours. But once you have gone through all of it courageously, it'll be worth it!
Well the message is strong, but I wouldn’t dismiss degrees completely. They’re still valuable for structure, networks n credibility in certain fields. What’s changed is that they no longer guarantee success. The real edge comes from applying your skills to build systems n opportunities not from choosing one path over another.
This is so true Justin, outcomes and systems matter more than degrees or titles in building real success.
Powerful perspective. Traditional success metrics haven’t kept up with the digital world. Today, the people who create content, build trust, and develop repeatable systems quietly outperform those chasing titles. Leverage has replaced pedigree.
Intelligence without agency is useless (well not for your employer, for them it’s pretty useful). You’ll always be limited by someone else’s script.
I agree: your intelligence is measured by the outcomes you produce, not how much you've studied in college.
Justin this hits because it reminds people that real progress isn’t about titles or diplomas but about actually building a life that feels aligned. And for anyone stuck in the job search trying to create better outcomes, my friends at Offered.ai have been helping people get directly in front of recruiters and land offers they wouldn’t reach alone, and you only pay if you get the job so there’s no upfront pressure. If you’re in that season, sending you some encouragement today, good luck you got this.
Absolutely! I’ve seen so many people with fancy degrees get stuck while others without any formal credentials build strong, real-world skills and impact. Education is important, but hustle and self-learning often tell a deeper story.
Bonus tip: Most people are still optimizing their resume while others are optimizing their reach. Your LinkedIn profile can generate more income than any job you'll find on LinkedIn. Build the asset first, then decide what to do with it. That's when the real opportunities show up.