A pesky truth of the age of AI is that everyone's day job is at risk, but we all still need money. We all need to future-proof our careers and finances ASAP.
Your AI Roadmap is not just an advice book, it's a modern blueprint for your career and income. One part modern careers and one part wealth building, this book is ready to take you on an adventure!
You will never be truly free, stable, and at peace until your financial house is in order. If AI takes a huge number of jobs in the next few years, jumping from job to job won't future-proof your income and provide stability. You need to have your own money, in your own name, in your own accounts.
With humor and data-driven examples, Joan provides fresh and tactical career advice as well as ways to expand your income to get your finances in order in the era of AI. Serial entrepreneur, investor, and AI influencer, Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek is a global leader in AI. She has served as CEO, President, VP, advisor, and senior roles at AI startups and enterprises including Clarity AI, Nuance, VERSA, and Edward Lifesciences. Joan is the Founder of Women in Voice, 501(c)(3). She is the CEO of Clarity AI creating custom AI and data products. She is the host of the Your AI Roadmap Podcast where she has interviewed top executives from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and more to discuss their projects and careers: YourAIRoadmap.com
To be clear: Joan is not satisfied with knowing how to build wealth herself. Everyone deserves a financial education and to know that through the age of AI that they can take care of themselves. Let's talk about careers and money! But Joan's AI career hasn't always been smooth sailing. Joan has lost her job in two large-scale AI layoffs. That hasn't stopped her! Being entrepreneurial is key to Joan's financial resilience on her way to financial independence.
Playful, inclusive, and poignant, this book provides personal and professional guidance for people just launching their careers and for people well on their way. The book offers: - Goal Setting: Set your goals in a clinically validated way via the WOOP method - Storytelling: Owning your story and accomplishments via the STAR method to connect the dots for listeners - Personal Brand: Steps to build, grow, and optimize your professional presence online - Networking: Modern, people-first techniques to expand your network with coffee chats - Joan's 3 Step Recipe for Financial Freedom Recipe: Know, grow, and be in control of your finances - Income Streams and Diversification: Joan shares her 22 revenue streams to build her net worth - Wealth Expansion: 5 Simple Steps to launch a Basic Offer - PSS 3-Step Framework to Expand Your Income to $1M in revenue - Income Streams: 57 income stream ideas to try out from easy to advanced difficulty - Inspiration: Joy, confidence, and meaning in your next steps to craft your own AI roadmap!
Perfect for anyone dreaming about AI, careers, and future-proofed finances from the classroom to the board room, including college grads, executives, pivoters, managers, directors, investors, founders, entrepreneurs, parents, and career counselors. Your AI Roadmap is your guide through the age of AI to future-proof your career and income.
Table of Contents
Choose Your Own Adventure: How to Read This Book xiii
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Where to Find the Answers to Your Questions in This Book xiii
Introduction: Why I Wrote This Book xvii
Goal of the Book xix
You and Me xx
My Story xxi
Scope of the Book xxv
Part 1 So You Want a Job in AI? Let’s Accelerate Your Career 1
1 Let’s Future-Proof Your Career and Income: Volatility and Opportunity in the Age of AI 3
Future-Proofing Your Career Steps Overview 5
Resilience and Mindset 6
The Inner Saboteur and Thought Work 7
Imposter Syndrome 10
Questions for Reflection 13
2 Goals, Dreams, and Purpose: Craft Your Goals with the WOOP Method 15
Blue Zones: 9 Lifestyle Habits for Living Long 16
Ikigai: Sense of Purpose 17
Investor Arlan Hamilton 18
5 Career Tips 20
WOOP Method: Clinically Validated Framework for Goal Setting 20
Questions for Reflection 27
3 On Lily Pads and Rainbows: Job vs. Career, Paychecks vs. Income 28
Why I Focus on Careers and Income 30
Questions for Reflection 30
4 People, People, People: Weak Ties Will Help Me Rise, 80% of Effort on Your Network 32
My 80% Networking Rule for Career Building 33
People-First Career Building: The 80% People, 15% Projects, and 5% Skills Recipe 33
Strength of Weak Ties and LinkedIn Research 35
Taylor’s Dad 37
My Biggest Professional Opportunities and the Person Who Helped Me Get Them 38
Avoid Networking List: 11 Common Reasons and Excuses People Tell Me About Why They Hate Networking 41
Effective Networking List: 10 Ways to Prepare for Effective Networking Questions for You 46
Set Your Goals: What Is Your “Why”? 46
Do Your Research: Identify Key People and Companies 47
Choose Your Outfit 47
Figure Out Logistics and Transportation 48
Post on Social Media Before, During, and After 48
Have Your Elevator Pitch Ready 48
Have Your Call to Action and Follow-Up Materials Ready 48
Be Gentle with Yourself 49
Follow Up! 49
Rest and Get Support 50
The Power of a Cup of Coffee: Informational Interviews and Coffee Intros 50
Marion’s Story: From Amazon Layoff to 55 Coffee Chats to Job Offer 52
Mentorship and Connectors 54
Questions for Reflection 55
5 Personal Brand: Get Credit for Your Work and Hone Your Brand 56
Personal Brand 57
My Personal Brand 58
Personal Brand via LinkedIn Profile 60
Email Inboxes 63
Questions for Reflection 64
6 Left, Right, and Center: Pivots, Resilience, and Connect the Dots via Storytelling 65
Own Your Story 67
Questions for Reflection 73
7 Chasing the AI Rocketship: Your Next Steps for a Fleeting Job Market 74
AI Job Salaries 77
Projecting from Jobs Today to the Future 80
Questions for Reflection 81
8 Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Degrees, Portfolios, and Getting Credit 83
Your Portfolio: Get Credit for the Work You’ve Already Done 85
Get Organized and Intentional 87
The STAR Method: Project Storytelling 88
Get Credit, Get Proof 90
Take the Next (Small) Steps: Prototyping 91
The Stories We Tell: The STAR and WOOP Methods 94
Your Personal Brand 101 Course 97
Recap of Future-Proofing Your Career Steps 98
Ready to Talk Money? 98
Questions for Reflection 99
Part 2 Beyond the Day Job: Future-Proofing Your Income and Entrepreneurship 101
9 B*tch Better Have My Money: Beyond the 9 to 5, Finances, and My 22 Income Streams 103
Groceries and Trader Joe’s Cheese 104
Income Expansion and Revenue Streams 105
My 3-Part Financial Freedom Recipe: Know, Grow, and Be in Control 108
My 22 Income Streams 111
A Note on Net Worth 115
The “Taboo” of Talking About Money and Who It Serves 117
U.S. Census Salary Data by Race, Gender, and Sexuality 119
Wealth and the City: 4 Fabulous Pals 122
A Note for My Beloved Older Readers 122
Hail Mary: Universal Basic Income 123
Questions for Reflection 124
10 You Want to Be a Millionaire: Money in and Money Out 125
Shoot for Seven Figures 126
You Can Only Save as Much as You Earn, So Let’s Earn More 127
A Note on Taxes 130
Debt: Credit Card, Medical, Student, and Auto Loans 131
Lifestyle Creep: When Living Expenses Balloon 133
My Beat-Up Car 134
Your Yearly Finances: Fill Out Your Current Financial Picture for One Year 134
Questions for Reflection 136
11 Your Money’s Making Money: Saving vs. Investing 137
Investing Is Better Than Saving 137
A Note on Inflation 140
Stocks and the Stock Market 140
Only One Stock Is Risky 141
Diversification: Complex Word, Easy Concept 142
Historical Stock Market Performance of 150 Years 144
Questions for Reflection 148
12 How Much Money Do You Want? Goals, Retirement, and Financial Independence 149
Goal Setting and Financial Timelines 150
Retirement, Care, and Aging 152
What Is Financial Independence? How Much Money Do I
Need to Retire? 153
What Is Your Financial Independence Number? 154
Wants vs. Needs 160
Questions for Reflection 161
13 Are You Ready for It? Wealth Expansion, 41 Ideas to Grow Your Income Streams 162
5 Common Paths to Becoming a Millionaire 164
Start Simple 167
5 Simple Steps to Make a Side Income 167
Thought Work Revisited 169
16 Fancy Obstacles to Avoid: List of Things You do NOT Need to Start: 170
Pineconing: Label and Address Fears 171
41 Income Stream Ideas, Easy to Medium Difficulty 172
Operational Costs 174
Quick Cash 175
Revenue Is NOT Profit: Important Pitfalls to Avoid 178
Questions for Reflection 180
14 You Better Werk: Get Organized, Find Time, and Make Money 181
Founding UW French Club 182
Founding Women in Voice 183
Just Start: Online Businesses 185
Scaling to $1 Million in Revenue: The 3 Step PSS Framework 186
Five Secret Sauce Tips of Entrepreneurship 192
A Note on Time 196
A Note on AI for Business 197
The Goal of $1 Million in Revenue 198
Advanced Revenue Options 199
Questions for Reflection 202
15 How Financial Freedom Feels: Fire Me, I Don’t Care, My Income Is Future-Proofed! 203
Future-Proofing Your Income: On Wealth, Goals, and Values 204
Side Effects of Income Expansion: Warning! Results May Include Happiness 206
Future-Proofing Your Career 207
WOOP Method Goal for Your Financial Independence 208
Financial Freedom Power Hour: Make the Time 209
From Food Stamps to Multimillionaire 210
Your AI Roadmap: Future-Proofed Career and Income Framework 212
Questions for Reflection 212
16 Haters Gonna Hate: Let’s Say I’m Wrong 214
Results of Inaction: Unaware of Your Goals 217
Results of Inaction: Don’t Take the Next Small Steps 217
Results of Inaction: No Network, Not Landing a Job, Not Bringing in Income 218
Results of Inaction: No Research on Compensation or Negotiation, Being Underpaid 218
Results of Inaction: Living in Fear and Financial Insecurity 219
Questions for Reflection 219
17 Beyond AI’s Horizon: Mindset and an Irresistible Revolution 220
Growth Mindset 221
Democratization of Wealth and Power 222
The Power of Yet 225
Joy and Meaning 226
Conclusions and Opportunities for Change 227
An Irresistible Revolution 229
Book Reflections of the Entire Book 232
Epilogue 234
Acknowledgments 235
About the Author 237
Index 238
