A lot of people ask me for career advice. My latest advice is learn the fundamentals, build useful things that interest you, and stop outsourcing your direction to everyone around you.
But originality doesn’t automatically pay the bills, copying is part of learning, and “do what AI cannot” is lazy advice.
In this episode, I unpack the advice, its limits, and how to find your own way without betting your livelihood on it.
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Join us at Practical Data Summit — January 28–29, 2027, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We're bringing together around 300 of the brightest minds in data and AI for two days of candid conversations, practical talks, hands-on sessions, and meaningful connections.
This isn't another massive vendor conference filled with sales pitches. We're building the kind of event we'd actually want to attend: a smaller, more intimate gathering of practitioners, builders, and leaders sharing what they've built, what worked, what didn't, and where the industry is heading.
We'll have some incredible speakers, plenty of opportunities to meet people who are shaping the industry, and of course, the beautiful Wasatch Mountains right outside our door. Stick around for skiing, snowboarding, and après-ski fun over the weekend.
Early bird tickets are $1,000 (regularly $1,300), and space is limited.
Learn more and grab your spot at practicaldatasummit.com.