In the opening of the Eras Tour documentary series Episode #1, Taylor Swift circles up her band and dancers for a pre-show huddle. Amidst the sequins and stadium sounds, she says something grounded and at the same time radical:
“Every single person in this circle was told at some point that they couldn’t make a living doing this. That it was a pipe dream. But you’re here because of your hard work, not just luck.”
For most of us, we’ve been told the same thing about our deepest interests by our parents, peers, teachers, academic institutions. “You can’t make money in the arts.” “That niche hobby won’t pay the bills.” “Stick to the tidy corporate box; it’s safer.” But as the world of work shifts, Taylor’s message isn’t just inspiring, it’s a blueprint.
The sunk cost of staying in a job you feel 'meh' about
- The Trade Off: In a world where 72% of people are disappointed by the reality of their jobs, the real risk is staying in a role that drains your identity.
- The Rise of the Independent Worker: With 36% of the workforce now operating their own businesses thanks to the gig economy more people than ever are proving that non-traditional paths are not only possible but profitable.
- The Safety Illusion: Over two-thirds of professionals report that no job is ‘safe’. This couldn’t be more true with current tech and market disruptions affecting every industry (from finance to film) and role (from software engineers to content creators).
How to pursue the career that scares you
At oyster, we don’t believe you should have to hope for a miracle to find a fulfilling career. We built the platform to help you uncover the actual mechanics of how people make a living doing what they love. On oyster, we expand your career orbit by showing you connections and organizations beyond your current periphery aligned to what you like to do, what you are good at, and where the market is headed.
- Uncover the “How” (Discover Search):
- Instead of a generic job board, use oyster’s explore page, which functions like the Apple Music discovery page expect with careers, to find others who are already doing the 'impossible'. Whether it’s a tattoo artist, painter, or actress, you can see their full career journey of steps they took to get to where they are.
- Candid Insights, Not Transactional Advice:
- Want to know how a dancer gets health insurance? Or how a freelance graphic designer finds their first five clients? Have a casual, exploratory 1:1 Chat with them to uncover their day-to-day work/life insights, advice, and tips/resources. Our platform facilitates the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations that LinkedIn’s performance culture could never solicit.
- Find Your Village in a Pod
- Building a purposeful career takes a village. Join a Pod like “Freelance Graphic Designers” "Early Career Hip Hop Dancers" or “Breaking In: Screenwriters" to swap strategies with others who are actively carving out a career path similar to yours.
The Bottom Line | Pursue Your Own Era
Taylor Swift’s dancers didn’t get to the Eras Tour by following a resume template. They got there by leaning into their unique identities, finding the right connections that showed them a career as a dancer was in fact a viable path, and also of course, by working incredibly hard.
Stop shrinking your career potential. The world needs more artists, creators, and artisans -- people who know how to build, create, and do. It’s time to move past the luck narrative and use oyster's features to help you unlock a career at the trifecta intersection of: what you love, what you’re good at, and where the market is headed.
Sign up today:
https://oyster.thekindsocialmediacompany.com
