When I was an adolescent, I did a lot of theater, drama club, things like that. I loved the stage. For the most part, the stage loved me, too – it was easy to be there. I didn’t realize until later what a huge inherent advantage I had as a boy in that space.
If you look at any group of 13-year-old budding thespians, you’re looking at probably 90% girls or more. A handful of boys, tops. This meant, among other things, that it was really easy to audition and get great parts. I’m not a phenomenal actor and can’t sing at all, but I was a rare commodity.
I didn’t realize this was a viable, repeatable tactic at the time, but the lesson is clear now. Go where you’re the rare commodity.
No matter what you want to do, there is some space where that thing is in short supply. And if there isn’t, you can learn what is. Look around for weaknesses, gaps, shortages – and become the thing they need.
There are lots of unemployed people in the US, but there are also lots of open jobs. Why is that? Because some people will always try to sell into a crowded market. It’s human nature. You learned to make gadgets but everyone needs gizmos, but you like making gadgets. Your choice is to either learn to love making gizmos instead, or to keep making gadgets and complaining about the tough gadget market.
Survival is about shifting with the tide. The world is rarely shaped around your specific needs and wants, but you can learn to love lots of things. And few things feel as good as being needed.
The Opportunity Machine 