​

I used to think tweets like that were a joke.
Now, I realize it is the only survival strategy that actually works.

We are watching a break in the job market that is catching 99% of people off guard.

The Reality Check:

• The Panic: Pinterest just laid off 15% of its workforce (mostly execution roles).
• The Boom: IBM is tripling its entry-level hiring (mostly strategy/AI roles).

The Paradox:​
The "Realist" looks at this and says: "The economy is unstable. I should take what I can get. I should play it safe."

The "Realist" shrinks.
​And the "Realist" is the first one to get fired.

To survive 2026, you need to be Slightly Delusional.

You need to believe you are worth a premium when the data says you aren't.
You need to believe you have leverage when you have no offers.

This isn't about arrogance. It's about strategy.

Here is the Delusion Protocol to reverse the dynamic.

Naval Ravikant said it best:
​"The leader is the one who has the power to eat first but chooses to eat last."

Realists eat first. They take the first job offer because they are scared of starvation.
​Delusional leaders eat last. They delay gratification.

They build their skills, their network, and their leverage before they ask for the check.
Because they are delusional enough to believe the check will be massive when it finally comes.

​Madeline Mann coined the term "Job Shopping."

Most people are Job Seekers.

• They beg for attention.
• They hope to be picked.
• They view the company as the prize.

You must become a Job Shopper.

• You audit the company.
• You ask the hard questions.
• You view your skills as the product they are lucky to buy.

It feels delusional to treat a billion-dollar company like a vendor you might reject.
But that "delusion" is exactly what makes you attractive. High-value candidates don't beg.

For years, I thought my value was in writing complex code or using big words.
I was wrong.

In a world of infinite AI complexity, the most valuable asset is Simplicity.

• Can you explain the problem so clearly that a 5-year-old understands it?
• Can you cut through the jargon?

If you can be the "Translator" between the AI and the Business, you will never lack for work.

The Takeaway

Staying in what's comfortable seems easy.
But settling for less than you deserve is harder than any uphill battle you'll face.

Be the crazy one.

So, tell me:​
How do you plan to be a little more delusional next week?
(Reply and let me know. I read every single one).