Storytelling as the On-Ramp to the Meaning Economy
- Rich Washburn
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
A while back, I wrote about The Meaning Economy — the idea that as AI and automation steadily absorb traditional labor, the next wave of value creation won’t come from what we do for a living, but from what we create, express, and share as humans.
That idea felt theoretical at the time — but now we’re starting to see the first real-world on-ramps appear. One of the clearest? Tech storytelling.
The Human Layer That Machines Can’t Replace
Across industries — politics, media, business, even government — the same pattern is emerging: organizations are hiring people not for hard skills, but for human voice.
You’ve seen it already. Both political parties now have full-time influencer teams — not journalists, not marketers, but storytellers.They don’t read from scripts. They talk like people. They post from their kitchens, their cars, their walks.
It’s not about politics — it’s about a fundamental shift in how persuasion works.And the same thing is happening in tech, in commerce, in culture.
Advertising isn’t led by actors anymore — it’s led by authenticity. You’ll notice more and more “everyday people” — the relatable woman explaining a skincare brand, the bearded guy in a garage reviewing a new tool, the Wilford Brimley-types from the old “diabeetus” commercials reborn for TikTok.
That’s the evolution of storytelling in real time. It’s the oldest marketing principle in the world, reframed for a generation raised on the internet: we trust people who sound real.
Why This Is the Perfect Entry Point
If you’ve been wondering how to future-proof yourself in a world where AI can do just about everything, this is it.This isn’t about becoming famous. It’s about becoming useful — the kind of person who can make ideas land.
You can do this right now.Pick a topic you care about — tech, design, gaming, sustainability, local business, whatever.Start telling stories around it. Write, record, publish, repeat. That’s it. That’s the on-ramp.
You’ll learn as you go — about the tools, about the trends, and about yourself. You’ll accidentally build a body of work, a reputation, and a network.
And in the process, you’ll be developing the very skill that defines the Meaning Economy: the ability to translate experience into insight.
What Makes This Different From “AI Slop”
Let’s be clear — this isn’t about letting ChatGPT spit out 300 words and calling it content.Anyone can do that.Companies already are.
Your value is in what you add on top:
Your taste.
Your perspective.
Your real-world experience.
Your ability to connect dots the algorithm doesn’t see.
AI can write. But you can resonate.
And that difference — that extra layer of understanding, empathy, and lived context — is exactly what every brand, every publication, and every audience is looking for right now.
Start Small, But Start Now
Every person reading this has a domain they understand — something they’ve lived or learned that’s worth sharing.Start there.Use AI tools to help, but don’t hide behind them.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s presence. Show up. Speak clearly. Be curious.
That’s the new career path: building meaning in public.
From Labor to Meaning
In my earlier essay on the Meaning Economy, I wrote that as automation eats away at traditional labor, what will remain valuable are the things only humans can do — to create, explore, and contribute meaning.
Storytelling is one of the first tangible examples of that shift. It’s not the endpoint — it’s the gateway.
An on-ramp into a world where identity isn’t defined by your job title, but by your curiosity, creativity, and contribution. You don’t have to wait for the future to arrive. You’re already holding the tools to start shaping it.
So pick your story — and start telling it.
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