Most young people step into adulthood with a blindfold on. They chase degrees, job titles, or paths that sound respectable without ever asking the most important question: Who am I, and how do I actually learn best? That single question can save you years of wasted effort, frustration, and missed opportunities.
In the new AI economy, where skills—not credentials—drive income, understanding yourself is the foundation for earning real money faster.
Because here’s the truth: not everyone learns the same way, and not everyone thrives in the same environment. Some people love diving into technical subjects, while others feel drained just looking at a math textbook. That difference matters.
If you know your strengths and limitations, you can choose the right path to build skills that fit you—and those skills can help real businesses grow, which is the fastest way to start earning.
This is where Studying Levels (SLs) come in. Your SL shows how much you enjoy and can handle learning technical or complex subjects. It’s not about intelligence—it’s about preference, energy, and fit. Once you know your SL, you can stop guessing and start building a track record of results in the right lane.
SL 0–3: Low Studying Level
If you’re in this range, technical studying feels like climbing a mountain with no oxygen. Programming, engineering, accounting, robotics—these subjects drain you. You only study them when forced, and even then, it feels like torture. That doesn’t mean you’re doomed. In fact, it means you should stop wasting time pretending you’ll thrive in technical fields and instead lean into what you’re naturally good at: practical, hands-on work.
Your best path is to focus on simple, high-impact customer-growth skills. These are skills that help businesses get more customers and grow their revenue—fast. Think of things like:
- Learning how to run local ads for a small business and showing them results.
- Helping a restaurant improve its online reviews and attract more foot traffic.
- Managing social media for a local gym and proving you can bring in new sign-ups.
These are not technical subjects. They’re practical, and they give you immediate wins. Businesses don’t care if you can code—they care if you can help them grow. If you can show demonstrated results, you’ll earn income faster than someone stuck in a classroom trying to force themselves through a subject they hate.
For example, imagine you help a local bakery set up a simple Instagram campaign. Within two weeks, they see 30 new customers walk in. That’s evidence of results. That’s income. And you didn’t need to study robotics or accounting to make it happen.
Action step: If you’re SL 0–3, pick one simple customer-growth skill today—like running ads, managing reviews, or improving social media—and practice it on a real business. Don’t wait for permission. The faster you show results, the faster you earn.
SL 4–8: Medium Studying Level
This is the middle ground. You don’t love technical studying, but you can push through if you see a clear benefit. You’re capable of learning, but it’s not your passion. That’s actually a powerful position to be in, because it means you can mix practical experience with some learning.
Your best path is to focus on customer-growth work for at least the next two years. Why? Because customer-growth skills are the fastest way to earn income and build a track record. At the same time, you can sprinkle in technical learning when it makes sense. You don’t need to master coding or engineering right away—you just need enough technical knowledge to complement your practical skills.
For example, you might learn the basics of analytics so you can measure the impact of your marketing campaigns. Or you might study enough about AI tools to use them in your customer-growth work. You don’t need to become an expert—you just need to know enough to add value.
Think of it like this: you’re building a bridge between practical skills and technical knowledge. The practical side earns you money now. The technical side keeps doors open for later. If after two years you want to go deeper—maybe even pursue college—you’ll have a track record of results and income to back you up.
Imagine you help a local clothing store run ads and track the results with basic analytics. You show them that for every $100 spent, they earn $400 in sales. That’s not just theory—that’s demonstrated results. And you learned just enough technical content to make your practical work more powerful.
Action step: If you’re SL 4–8, commit to two years of customer-growth work. Along the way, pick one technical skill that complements your practical work—like analytics, AI tools, or basic coding—and learn it just enough to apply it.
SL 9–10: High Studying Level
This is where curiosity drives you. You enjoy learning technical subjects on your own—math, coding, engineering, technical AI. You pick up complex ideas quickly, not because of grades or rewards, but because you genuinely want to understand. That’s a gift, and it can set you apart in the AI economy.
Your best path is twofold: first, learn customer-growth work so you can earn income and prove you can help businesses grow. Second, start studying further and publishing content around the technical subject you enjoy. This combination is powerful because it gives you both immediate income and long-term authority.
For example, if you love coding, you might help a local business automate part of their workflow. That’s customer-growth work. At the same time, you publish tutorials or insights about coding online. Over time, you build a personal brand around your technical expertise. That brand attracts opportunities, clients, and income.
The key here is balance. Don’t get lost in technical studying without proving you can deliver results. Businesses care about demonstrated results, not just knowledge. If you can show both—technical skill and customer-growth impact—you’ll be unstoppable.
Imagine you help a small logistics company streamline their operations with a simple AI tool. They save 20 hours a week. That’s income for you, and it’s evidence of results for them. At the same time, you publish a case study about how you did it. That builds your brand and attracts more opportunities.
Action step: If you’re SL 9–10, pick one technical subject you enjoy and start publishing content about it today. At the same time, apply your skills to real businesses to show results.
The Core Foundation: Self-Awareness
No matter your SL, the foundation is the same: self-awareness. Before you pick a career, pick yourself. Know your strengths, your limitations, and your preferences. Stop chasing paths that don’t fit you. The AI economy rewards those who can deliver results, not those who collect degrees without direction.
If you’re SL 0–3, lean into practical customer-growth skills. If you’re SL 4–8, mix practical work with some technical learning. If you’re SL 9–10, combine customer-growth work with technical studying and publishing. Each path leads to income, but the right path for you depends on who you are.
The mistake most young people make is ignoring themselves. They chase careers because someone told them it was respectable, or because it sounded impressive. Years later, they realize they wasted time. You don’t have to make that mistake. If you pick yourself first, you’ll save years and earn faster.
A Simple Framework to Apply Today
- Identify your SL. Be honest. Do you enjoy technical studying, or does it drain you?
- Choose the best path based on your SL. Practical skills for SL 0–3, a mix for SL 4–8, and technical plus publishing for SL 9–10.
- Pick one customer-growth skill and apply it to a real business. Don’t wait for permission.
- Track your results. Businesses care about demonstrated results, not effort.
- Adjust as you go. Self-awareness isn’t static—it grows as you grow.
Your Next Step:
Pick one small business near you—a café, a gym, a shop—and ask yourself: How can I help them get more customers this week? Then do it. Run a simple ad, improve their reviews, or manage their social media. Track the results. That single step will give you evidence of results, income, and confidence. And it will prove that before you pick a career, you picked yourself.