🎙️ The Koe Cast: You Have About 36 Months To Make It

PODCAST INFORMATION

You Have About 36 Months To Make It
Dan Koe (Host)
No guest - solo episode
Episode Duration: approximately 28 minutes

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HOOK

Dan Koe presents a urgent yet optimistic perspective on the narrow window of opportunity humanity has to adapt to an AI-driven future, where those who embrace their humanity and develop director-level thinking will thrive while those stuck in mechanical living will be left behind.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

The next 36 months represent a critical transition period where individuals must evolve from doers to directors, leveraging AI as a tool while focusing on uniquely human capabilities like taste, meaning, and philosophical thinking to thrive in the coming age.

SUMMARY

In this thought-provoking episode, Dan Koe explores the concept that humanity has approximately 36 months to adapt to a rapidly changing technological landscape dominated by artificial intelligence. Koe begins by addressing various predictions circulating online about AI replacing jobs, changing the nature of money, and marking the end of incredible crypto gains. While he maintains neutrality on whether these predictions will come true, he emphasizes that something significant is changing, and this period represents a crucial transition point before the definition of "making it" transforms drastically.

Koe introduces the central dichotomy between doers versus directors, those who execute tasks versus those who direct and orchestrate. He explains how power has transferred through three layers; first through the internet giving access to knowledge, then through social media giving leverage to build audiences, and now through AI giving the ability to create and automate almost anything. This power shift enables individuals to operate at the level of large teams with minimal manpower, creating unprecedented opportunities for those who can adapt.

The episode explores three superpowers available to navigate this transition; learning (the ability to adapt and determine necessary actions), persuasion (building trust and attracting people to a vision), and execution (turning ideas into reality through automation and delegation). Koe argues that free individuals pursue their interests and solve problems without permission, and with increasing complexity in reality, there are more problems to solve than ever before; making solutions and wealth creation essentially infinite.

Koe addresses the anti-AI crowd, suggesting they misunderstand the true nature of AI as merely a chat box for content generation rather than recognizing it as a new tool for creation. He explains that taste is the new intelligence, and what separates art from "slop" is not the tools used but the vision and intention behind the work. He distinguishes between utility and meaning, suggesting that machines will handle repetitive, necessary work while humans focus on story, novelty, myth, and meaning (things people crave despite their inefficiency).

For preparation, Koe recommends three steps; becoming a philosopher-builder (merging big-picture thinking with technical skills), becoming a filter for ideas (developing taste to identify valuable concepts in an age of information overflow), and becoming an AI orchestrator (knowing when to leverage AI and when to do things by hand). He emphasizes that AI should complement rather than replace human creativity, and that the key is to develop one's own philosophy and vision to frame what deserves attention.

Throughout the episode, Koe maintains an urgent yet optimistic tone, suggesting that while the transition may be turbulent, it ultimately represents an opportunity to move away from industrial living toward more meaningful, human-centered work and life.

INSIGHTS

The 36-month window represents a critical transition period before the definition of success changes dramatically in an AI-driven world, though the exact timeframe is less important than the direction of change.
The shift from doers to directors is essential: those who can direct work (to themselves, AI prompts, or automation tools) rather than merely being assigned work will thrive in the coming age.
Three superpowers are available to navigate this transition: learning (adaptation), persuasion (building trust), and execution (turning ideas into reality through automation).
Problems are infinite: as reality becomes more complex, new problems continue to emerge, meaning solutions and wealth creation are also infinite.
Taste is the new intelligence: what separates meaningful creation from mediocre content is not the tools used but the vision, intention, and discernment behind the work.
Machines handle utility; humans create meaning: AI will solve repetitive, necessary tasks that humans hate, while humans focus on story, novelty, myth, and meaning (experiences people crave despite their inefficiency).
Anti-AI sentiment often stems from misunderstanding: many critics see AI merely as a content generation tool rather than recognizing it as a new medium for creation that requires taste and vision to use effectively.
The philosopher-builder approach is becoming essential: merging big-picture thinking with technical skills will be more valuable than specializing in only one area.
Curation is the new IQ test: in a world where anyone can create anything, the ability to identify and execute valuable ideas becomes paramount.
AI should complement rather than replace human creativity: using AI as a tool to enhance one's process rather than outsourcing thinking entirely leads to better outcomes and maintains human agency.

FRAMEWORKS & MODELS

Doer vs. Director Framework: Koe presents this as the central distinction between those who will thrive and those who won't in the AI age. Doers execute tasks assigned to them (by employers or others), while directors assign work; either to themselves through self-direction, to AI prompts, or to automation tools. This framework emphasizes the importance of moving from low agency (being assigned work) to high agency (directing work and pursuing personal goals).
Three Superpowers Model: Koe identifies three essential capabilities for navigating the transition; Learning (the ability to adapt and determine necessary actions for specific results), Persuasion (building trust and attracting people to a mutually beneficial vision), and Execution (turning ideas into reality through automation, creation, and delegation). These superpowers enable individuals to take control of their future rather than being passive recipients of change.
Utility vs. Meaning Distinction: This framework helps clarify what work should be handled by machines versus humans. Machines are suited for speed, repetition, and necessity; tasks humans hate like DMV lines or incorrect orders. Humans are suited for story, novelty, myth, and meaning (experiences people crave despite their inefficiency).
Philosopher-Builder Approach: Koe argues that the future demands merging traditionally separate roles; programmers vs. marketers, big-picture thinkers vs. technical detail people, spiritual vs. practical. Those who can embody this duality become unstoppable. Examples include design engineers (merging design and coding) and creators who found companies (merging content creation with business building).
AI Orchestration Framework: This approach involves knowing when to leverage AI and when to do things by hand, typically based on what one enjoys doing. Koe suggests treating AI prompts as creating specialized employees: programming AI with one's processes to enhance creativity rather than replace it. The framework emphasizes using AI as a prototype or first draft while maintaining human taste and discernment in refining the final output.

QUOTES

"You have about 36 months to make it... You may not have 36 months to make it, but in my eyes you have about 36 months until the definition of making it changes drastically."
"The amount of power that an individual has is vastly more now than it has been at any time in the past, and this has occurred in three layers. First, the internet gave people access to any and all knowledge. Second is that social media gave people the leverage to attract their own audience. Third is artificial intelligence is giving people the ability to create, automate, and outsource almost anything."
"Free people, the definition of a free individual is those who pursue their interests and do many things throughout their lives. It's those that don't need permission to identify and solve a problem to create value in the world."
"Taste is the new intelligence, because there's a huge anti AI crowd. And personally I think they're going to lose. I think that is the losing side."
"Machines are for speed, repetition, and necessity. Humans are for story, novelty, myth, and meaning."
"If you can't create art with AI, then you weren't an artist to begin with. You were simply good at using a tool, and tools get replaced."
"The single distinction that will separate art from slop is taste. So in other words, nothing has changed. We just have a new tool to create."
"Ideas now matter more than execution. They're not the only thing that matters, obviously, but they matter more. Why? Because if taste is the new intelligence and curation is the new IQ test."
"Your mind must become a finely tuned signal to noise filter. And for that to happen, you must understand that your mind interprets reality based on your identity and worldview, your values and beliefs, the code you live by."
"The peak of human ability lies in being a specialized generalist, not so specialized that you get replaced in an instant or taken advantage of because you are identified with a credential, but not so generalized that you are effective at effectively nothing."

HABITS

Develop director-level thinking: Move from being a doer (executing assigned tasks) to being a director (assigning work to yourself, AI prompts, or automation tools). Take control of your career and projects rather than waiting for others to direct you.
Cultivate your three superpowers: Regularly practice and develop learning (adaptation skills), persuasion (building trust and attracting people to your vision), and execution (turning ideas into reality through automation and delegation).
Become a philosopher-builder: Merge big-picture thinking with technical skills. Don't limit yourself to being either a "programmer" or "marketer", develop both the strategic vision and the ability to implement it.
Develop taste as a filter: In a world where anyone can create content, cultivate your ability to distinguish between signal and noise. Develop your own philosophy, vision, and values to frame what deserves attention and execution.
Learn to orchestrate AI: Start by automating yourself out of routine tasks. Learn prompt engineering not just for content generation but as a way to create specialized "employees" that complement your creative process and enhance your thinking.
Focus on meaning over utility: Identify which aspects of your work and life are about efficiency (which can be automated) and which are about meaning (which should remain human-centered). Direct your energy toward the latter.
Practice philosophical thinking: Regularly examine your identity, worldview, values, and beliefs. Understand how these shape your perception of reality and your ability to recognize valuable opportunities.
Embrace the transition period: Use the urgency of the 36-month window as motivation to make changes rather than as a source of anxiety. View it as an opportunity to turn your life around and pursue what you care about.
Share your vision publicly: Develop the habit of sharing your story, values, vision, and work in public. This builds a tribe of supporters and creates opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Balance AI use with human creativity: When using AI, treat it as a tool that complements rather than replaces your creative process. Use it for prototyping and idea generation, but maintain human taste and discernment in refining the final output.

REFERENCES

The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch: A book mentioned by Koe that explores the concept that problems are infinite, which leads to the conclusion that solutions and wealth creation are also infinite.
Purpose and Profit: Koe's free book available on his Substack that includes a summary of concepts from The Beginning of Infinity.
ChatGPT: The AI tool that Koe references as both a content generation tool and a thought partner when properly programmed with effective prompts.
CGI (Computer Generated Imagery): Used as an example of a technological tool that was initially resisted but eventually became accepted as a legitimate art form, similar to how AI is being received today.
Photoshop: Mentioned as an example of a tool that changed how people create visual art, similar to how AI is changing creation today.
Universal Basic Income (UBI): A concept discussed by Koe in relation to how people might use their time if they received guaranteed income, suggesting that whether people become lazy or self-actualized is a personal choice.
Design Engineer: A hybrid job title mentioned by Koe as an example of how roles are merging technical and creative skills.
Prompt Engineering: The skill of programming AI with effective instructions, which Koe describes as an art form and essential skill for the future.
Market Sophistication: A concept referenced by Koe suggesting that as markets mature, low-quality content becomes less effective, creating opportunities for those who focus on quality.
The Dead Internet Theory: A concept Koe has created an entire video about, suggesting that the internet has been "dead" for a while but remains a living space despite this.

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