Viva La Revolution 🎭

🎨 Drawing by Justine Anweiler, Sal Kahn’s Industrial to Information Revolution, 2025.

The Rise of the Creative & Entrepreneur Class 🎭

About a month ago, James Cannell accidentally sent me Sal Kahn's 2015 TED Talk “Let’s teach for mastery –– not test scores” when he meant to send me Kahn's original talk from 2011, “Let’s use video to reinvent education”.

By now, you know that I don’t believe in coincidences – so I know I watched the “right” TED Talk because I’m still thinking about it hours, days, and month(s) later.

Towards the end of Kahn’s 2015 talk, he explores an insight that describes our current Information Revolution as a reversal of the pyramidal structure from the Industrial Revolution. See my drawing below.

As we all know from global politics our systems are collapsing, upending, reforming, or whatever word you prefer to prescribe to change we are all experiencing.

That change is the demise of the pyramid or hierarchy. Or, as Kahn refers to it, it’s an inversion.

You see the Industrial Revolution created three distinct working classes:
• Majority: The Human Labour Class = “blue-collar/low-skilled” working class
• Minority: Bureaucratic Class = “white-collar” managers of systems
• Rare Few or Elite: Creative & Entrepreneur Class = lifelong learners in the pursuit of purpose and meaningful livelihoods*

*Definition I distilled from further research

I share this with you because I too have seen this.

I know from being an early adopter all my life that whatever happens to me, happens to everyone else a few days, months, years later.

It’s a blessing and a curse.

Many of us have seen it – this transition and desire to have in a career in purpose, but not everyone is there yet.

This drawing of Kahn’s insights mirrors what I have chosen, what I see more and more people choosing, and what advancements are being made with technology.

This reformation is a prophecy and mark my words . . . The Creative & Entrepreneurship Class is just getting started.

Article FAQs generated by ChatGPT:
1. Could you tell me more about the "top of the pyramid" class of creatives and entrepreneurs?
Instead of a small elite group at the top, Khan suggests that almost everyone can and should be part of this expanded top tier. In this new structure:

1. More People as Innovators & Creators – With automation taking over routine tasks, people will need to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

2. Self-Directed Learners – Education will shift toward mastery-based learning, allowing individuals to continuously upskill and adapt.

3. Value Beyond Repetitive Tasks – Jobs focused on rote tasks will disappear, meaning success will depend on the ability to generate new ideas, collaborate, and lead.

4. Greater Emphasis on Meaningful Work – Instead of being stuck in rigid job roles, individuals will have more freedom to pursue careers driven by passion, purpose, and innovation.

2. How do I join The Creative & Entrepreneur Class?
The future of work belongs to those who take ownership of their learning and creativity rather than relying on traditional job structures. Therefore, to join you must:

1. Develop Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills

2. Embrace Lifelong Learning (especially in technology, creativity, and business)

3. Adapt to Changing Work Environments (remote work, AI collaboration, entrepreneurship)

4. Cultivate Leadership & Communication Skills

3. How can someone transition from a traditional job into the Creative & Entrepreneur Class?
Steps might include developing new skills, building a personal brand, leveraging digital platforms, and experimenting with side projects. It’s also about shifting mindset—from security-seeking to innovation-embracing—and learning to navigate uncertainty with curiosity and adaptability.

4. What challenges might arise with this shift, and how can they be navigated?
While autonomy and purpose are appealing, challenges include financial instability, self-motivation, and the lack of traditional benefits (healthcare, retirement plans). Solutions could involve community support, new economic models (universal basic income, cooperative businesses), and redefining success beyond old productivity metrics.