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Man, what a time that was. Downloading MP3s over dial-up internet, praying nobody would pick up the phone mid-download, and checking out all music I could think of.

Music on demand, it was awesome!

How the tables have turned.

These days, I’m watching AI writing code, creating images, and even composing music. And it took me back to the Napster days.

And then something in my brain clicked while I was watching Rick Beato’s interview with Ted Gioia on YouTube. Ted’s a jazz pianist turned business consultant to author slash music historian (my kind of career pivot), and he dropped some serious knowledge about where this AI train is headed.

Ted talked about how we’re living through something similar to the Renaissance. Not the “guys in puffy shirts” part of the Renaissance – I’m talking about the massive shift in how people worked and created.

Back then, the church and state controlled everything. Today? It’s big tech and government. And just like back then, these institutions are starting to crack.

But here’s where it gets good…

Ted dropped something heavy during that interview that got me thinking. He said “musicians are like the canaries in the coal mine,” referring to the danger of prioritizing profit over creative merit.

But here’s where it gets interesting. He wasn’t just talking about music. In his words:

“we should pay attention even if you’re not a musician…you should care as a fan but even beyond that you should care because this is the same thing that’s going to happen throughout culture…”

Think about it. When’s the last time you solved a problem at work? Did you follow a template, or did you have to get creative? That’s what Ted’s talking about – when we prioritize automation and profit over human creativity, we all lose.

To me, it’s more proof that creativity isn’t just for artists anymore. It’s your ticket to staying relevant, no matter what occupation you’re in.

1. Creativity Isn’t Just for Artists

   Remember when everyone said learning to code was the answer? Plot twist: AI is already writing code. But you know what AI still struggles with? Original thinking and creative problem-solving.

2. Multiple Income Streams Win

   Musicians figured out they couldn’t rely on just album sales anymore. They diversified – touring, merch, teaching, streaming. That’s exactly what I did when I left my cubicle job. One source of income is risky; multiple streams keep you afloat.

3. Being Human Is Your Superpower

   Just like how auto-tune can’t replace the raw emotion in a live performance, AI can’t replace genuine human connection and creativity.

You might be thinking, “But I’m not creative.” Stop right there. I used to think the same thing when I was sitting in my cubicle, dreaming of something different.

Creativity isn’t just about making art or music. It’s about solving problems in new ways. It’s about connecting dots others don’t see. Hell, it’s about surviving and thriving when the world throws you curveballs.

Look at how musicians adapted. They didn’t just survive Napster – many ended up better off because they got creative about their careers.

The world’s changing fast, but here’s the good news: if a blue-collar foundry worker turned mechanical draftsman like me could reinvent himself multiple times, you can too.

Most people are “Napsterizing” ChatGPT right now

Remember how half the songs you downloaded off Napster or Limewire were mislabeled, corrupted, or sounds like garbage? That’s basically what’s happening with AI prompts right now.

Jeff Su did a breakdown of why ChatGPT-5 feels dumber for a lot of users — and how to fix it. Turns out, OpenAI changed the model’s entire architecture, so the old “magic words” don’t work quite the same anymore.

Watch the video and try the prompt he talks about to improve your own prompts.

You are an expert prompt engineer specializing in creating prompts for AI language models, particularly ChatGPT 5 Thinking model.

Your task is to take my prompt and transform it into a well-crafted and effective prompt that will elicit optimal responses.

Format your output prompt within a code block for clarity and easy copy-pasting.

Here’s my initial prompt:
[Insert your prompt here]

“Why Wait” — By Me (The Soundtrack to Reinvention)

Back in the early 2000s, Napster made every musician question what the hell was happening to their career. Today, AI’s doing the same thing — only this time, we get to choose how we adapt.

I wrote “Why Wait” back when I was stuck in a cubicle, dreaming about doing something that actually mattered. The song’s about that moment when you realize no one’s coming to save you — and the only way out is through your own creativity.

Fitting, right? Because that’s exactly what this AI wave is testing in all of us. You can fight it, or you can remix it into something new.

Napster broke the music business before it could be rebuilt. AI’s doing the same thing to creativity. The people who win aren’t the ones chasing every new tool — they’re the ones who learn how to talk to it.

Spend 15 minutes watching Jeff’s video, then experiment with one of his prompt upgrades this week. Because just like in the Napster days, the ones who figure it out early end up running the show later.

If the Napster-to-AI shift has you thinking about how to stay relevant and get paid — check out the theClick… seriously!

It’s where I’ve learned how to actually use AI to build services people pay for — not just play with prompts.

Same vibe as this post: creative reinvention meets real-world income.

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