Chris Cochran is co-founder and CEO of Hacker Valley Media, where he co-hosts several podcasts centered on technology and human performance. He drops by the studio to discuss what it means for a tech professional to flourish as a "creator" today. We introduce Web3, and how its features are enabling an exciting set of opportunities for individual professionals to enhance their career trajectory and overall life.
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TAKEAWAYS
A creator is anyone who can distill the ideas floating through their mind and package and deliver them to the world (mediums: sketches, words, multimedia, code, etc.).
You can separate your creative side from your corporate role...or marry the two. There are no hard rules. Do what gives you energy.
Web3 is completely upending the "known" internet — changing economics, finance, business, and so much more. (Check out a short "Ethereum 101" podcast from Alex Lieberman.)
ExIST: Explore, Immerse, Study, Translate (Transform) — a framework for pursuing excellence in the pursuit of human endeavors.
Credentials have their value, but nothing beats experience. Experience doesn’t necessarily mean working in a professional job.
Be authentic (DON'T be "normal"). Actively break out of your small comfort zone.
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TIMESTAMPS
[3:56] “Creator” defined
[5:17] How “creating” changed Chris’s life
[7:53] Balancing job & authentic self
[10:52] Intro to Web3
[14:17] How to test Web3 (ExIST framework)
[18:47] New mindset for education
[24:33] Credentialize > credential-collecting
[28:07] Why we’re still bad at cybersecurity
[31:47] Best advice Chris received
[34:15] The law we all need to follow
[36:33] Closing message: find your tribe
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RESOURCES
Hacker Valley site (including the Web3-focused show: Metaversable)