Chapter 44: Why the Safe Path Isn’t Safe Anymore

For decades, you’ve been told the same story:

Go to school.

Get a stable job.

Buy a house.

Save and invest.

Retire comfortably.

In the 1970s, that story was real.

Today? It’s a fallacy.

The “safe path” is crumbling before our eyes.

Look at the numbers:

• In 1950, more than half of 30-year-olds were married homeowners. Today, barely 1 in 10 can say the same.

• For 40 years, home prices have exploded 5x faster than wages. That gap isn’t closing.

• And by 2030, nearly half of entry-level white-collar jobs are predicted to vanish to AI and automation.

The old system is collapsing.

The Paradox

The riskiest thing you can do today… is play it safe.

Because while you cling to the illusion of stability, entire industries are being turn upside down.

This is where the “safe path” is leading:

A job you don’t love.
A house you can’t afford.
& A retirement that never comes.

It’s not fun to write about, but it is our current reality.

So what’s the alternative?

I call it The 12-Month Experiment.

Instead of walking blindly into a future that doesn’t excite you, dedicate a year to:

• Learning a new money-making skill (either a trade or an online skill — AI automation, ads, design, sales, etc).

• Documenting your journey online (audience building is also a high-income skill — it gives you leverage and distribution).

• Building something of your own.

The downside?

You “fail” at everything for a year.

But even if you do… you’d re-enter the job market with new skills, a compelling story, and most likely even a small audience. I’d argue that beats another year stuck in the same loop, hoping things change.

But where this gets fun is in the upside….

Because if you actually go all in on this experiment…

You can walk away with a new business, new expertise, and freedom most people will never touch.

I’m telling you this for 2 reasons.

1. Because I care.

2. Because it’s already happening…

• A 25-year-old renovated an abandoned bowling alley into a thriving business.

• A pair of grads skipped their entry-level jobs and built the #1 luxury health & wellness Airbnb in Virginia.

• Young creator-entrepreneurs are stacking skills in public and opening doors older generations don’t even know exist.

Yes — the internet is full of young people building.

But if you’re already in your 30s or 40s, don’t think it’s too late.

Because it’s a blue ocean for those with real-world experience.

You already have skills and life experience.

So all you need is:

A) the courage to share your story

and/or

B) a project worth telling a story about

I won’t lie to you.

This path isn’t easy.

You’ll have to learn new things, risk looking stupid publicly, and there’s no guarantee it works out.

But here’s the truth: the path you’re on isn’t guaranteed either.

So you can keep doing what you’re doing…

Or you can take a year to reinvent yourself, build leverage, and take a calculated risk.

The future is uncertain either way.

The only question is — what are you going to do about it?

P.S. If you want to join my next cohort of founders and brand builders learning how to grow their audience and business with short-form video — you can join the waitlist here.

P.P.S if you have thoughts on this — hit reply and drop me a note. I read all responses and I appreciate good dialogue.

Rooting for ya.
—Dodds