After Stanford, I initially had some regrets about studying Economics.
Not because I didn’t enjoy Economics. But because it seemed like Computer Science majors had so much more opportunity post-graduation.
If you studied CS and wanted a “normal” job in 2019 (when I graduated), Big Tech was offering attractive salaries with cushy perks. If you wanted to be daring and start your own startup, the fundraising environment was highly accommodative. If you wanted to go rogue and work as an independent developer, you had options there too.
Computer nerds were in high demand.
Meanwhile, the viable career paths for econ majors were investment banking, consulting, and corporate finance. Not bad options by any means but in terms of financial starting point and work-life balance, the options paled in comparison.
More recently, my thinking on “the most valuable skill to acquire” has evolved.
While I still think developing software (an asset that can scale at zero marginal cost) unlocks incredible optionality, I don’t view it as the “golden ticket” I once did. These days I’m more convinced that exceptional communication is the scarce skill to optimize for.
To write well. To speak clearly. To be convincing and captivating. If anything, my professional experiences have taught me that (1) very few people can communicate well and (2) those that are able to wield an immense power.
The scarcity part is surprising to me. Because unlike technical skills where real “barriers to entry” exist (like level of intelligence, or access to formal training, or an analytical mind), there really are no barriers to becoming a great communicator. Everyone speaks. Everyone writes. Everyone engages in interpersonal dialogue. But few do these things well.
I learned this at Stanford when I realized that a lot of the “accomplished” professors often made for terrible teachers. This ran counter to the whole, “If you can’t explain it, you don’t understand it,” mantra. Because while I have no doubt that those brilliant professors understood their subject matter deeply, most of them struggled to make their ideas comprehensible.
In 2021, I became a bit more sympathetic to their position. I started a new job at a social networking company and was given the opportunity to host a podcast where I’d interview professional investors. The experience was humbling.
Listening to all your flaws as a speaker (the filler words, the awkward pauses, the stutters and mental lapses, etc.) makes you realize that the voice that you hear in your head as you speak is a very different one from the voice others hear.
Ever since that experience, I always knew that podcasting was something I wanted to revisit. Because despite all the pain that came with exposing my flaws as a communicator, it also provided incredible clarity on how to improve.
Today, I’m excited to be doing just that. I’ve launched my own podcast called, The Idea Exchange. And while part of my motivation is to learn from people I find interesting, another huge factor is the forcing function it provides in honing my skills as a communicator.
I released my first episode earlier this month and am excited to release many more in the months to come. If you’re interested in following along - and hopefully watching me grow as a communicator - you can subscribe on your favorite pod-catcher.
I look forward to sharing.
