04/22/2026
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market. The careers that will thrive are the ones that combine human skill, judgment, and connection with AI tools that make you more efficient and effective. A plumber uses diagnostic AI to solve problems faster. A carpenter uses design tools to build with precision. A business owner leverages AI to streamline operations. These jobs get better with AI. But the ones built on hope and a phone? Those evaporate. That’s why it matters now more than ever to pick meaningful work.
In the decades following the moon landing, when kids were asked what they wanted to be, astronaut was consistently at the top of the list. That required years of education, rigorous training, mastery of complex skills. Today, the top aspirations are social media influencer, YouTuber, professional gamer. Those require hope and a phone. Now, there’s nothing wrong with building a brand or audience. But only if there’s substance behind it. Real expertise. Real value. Without that, you’re just gambling with your time.
So what does meaningful work actually look like? It could be running a business. It could be a skilled trade; a plumber, electrician, carpenter. These are the jobs that actually hold society together, the ones we overlook because they’re not glamorous. But they’re essential. They pay well because they solve real problems every single day.
I buy businesses and make them better. When we took over Sunshine Scenic Tours, we doubled profitability in two years. But here’s what that meant: higher-paying jobs, more creative opportunities for our team. We created an eco-education program and gave it free to local schools so kids could explore their own backyard and discover the dolphins in Boca Ciega Bay. We wrote a children’s book to inspire them to take risks and find beauty. That’s what profit looks like when it’s tied to contribution.
I also rehab properties. We took a condemned house in Midland, completely remodeled it, and now somebody has a home they can actually live in. And the neighborhood got better too, instead of a blight on the block, there’s now a beautiful property that lifts up the whole street.
That’s the work that matters. It pays well because it solves real problems. And through that work, you find purpose. Stop waiting for your dream to find you. Pick meaningful work. Get good at it. Contribute something real. Your purpose will emerge from what you build, not from what you hope will happen. That’s where actual fulfillment lives.