Independence > One job

The new career model

Author

Jeanine Suah
February 26, 2025

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Dear XIR –

Grab your coffee and curl up next to the fire.
Because this one is a long (and juicy) one. *clears throat* Ahem…

I still remember the email like it was yesterday.

Subject line: "Full-time XIR position still open?”

There I was, on a Sunday evening in 2021 staring at my screen, thinking about three letters that would end up redefining my entire career: XIR.

Did I still want to build my startup full time? Or was I ready to take on what Brex was offering me? AND what the hell even was an XIR? 😂 High-key (like all of you) I had to Google it and even Google couldn't tell me at the time.

Little did I know that three years later, I'd have generated $30M+ through that role, discovered my entire professional purpose, and finally found a place where I didn't have to pick one lane.

See, my entire life I'd been told I was always "doing a lot." A linguist who started a company? An investor who loves community building? A strategy nerd obsessed with authentic marketing?

❝

"Just pick one thing, Jeanine."

But Shai Goldman at Brex saw something different. He saw that the combination of all my weird, seemingly disconnected experiences was actually my superpower. He created a role – X in Residence – specifically for generalists who drive outsized returns by operating at the intersection of multiple disciplines.

It was the first time I felt seen for what I really was: not scattered, but strategically diverse.

And guess what? When I got to be fully myself, I helped drive millions in revenue through methods that didn't fit the traditional playbook.

I'm reflecting on this journey for a reason – because what I learned at Brex isn't just a personal story. It's a preview of the future of work. It's a vision for how unconventional talent creates unconventional value. And most importantly, it's a roadmap to something we all deserve: financial independence by being authentically ourselves.

But here's the problem: the system isn't built for us. Not yet, anyway.

The Employment Myth Is Crumbling

While U.S. employers added 143,000 new jobs in January 2025 (slightly less than expected), the other side of the coin tells a much different story:

The traditional career path – the one where you pick a lane, climb a ladder, and expect stability – is fracturing before our eyes.

And let's be real: it never really worked for us XIRs anyway.

What I'm Seeing Behind the Curtain

For the past 3 years, I've been deeply immersed in how talent, value, and work intersect. Here's what I'm observing:

Field notes from the intersection

  1. Unconventional talent is being overlooked at scale 

    Companies are still using rigid hiring frameworks that were designed for a different era. The most innovative thinkers – those who create value at the intersection of multiple disciplines – struggle to fit into standard job descriptions.

  2. The system isn't “against us”; it's just outdated

    Traditional hiring, compensation, and career progression were all designed for an industrial economy where specialization was king. But in a knowledge economy, value is created differently.

  3. The gap between how value is created and how it's recognized is widening

    I regularly see generalists driving millions in revenue while specialists with clearer titles get the recognition and compensation.

  4. No single job can ever deliver true financial independence 

    Even executive roles at top companies can evaporate overnight. The days of trusting a single employer with your financial future are over.

  5. This isn't just a problem for XIRs.

    It's a systemic issue that affects anyone who:

  • Creates value across multiple domains

  • Sees connections others miss

  • Drives results through unconventional methods

  • Wants genuine financial security in an unstable world

The Vision: Building a New System

Sometimes it's not about fixing the old system. It's about building a new one.

When people saw outdated products or stale traditions, they didn't just complain. They asked: "How could this be better?" And then they built it.

That's exactly what I've been quietly working on 👀

A few dope friends and I are building the infrastructure that will help XIRs turn their unique skill combinations into sustainable income streams. A system that doesn't ask you to pick one lane, but instead rewards us for operating at the intersections.

Imagine a platform where:

  • Your multi-disciplinary background is an asset, not a confusion

  • You can build multiple income streams while maintaining stability

  • Your unique talent stack is recognized and valued at market rates

  • You can achieve true financial independence without starting a VC-backed company

The New Path to Financial Independence

Generalist queen Milly wrote a brilliant piece recently about what she calls the "II Ladder" – Independence + Income (coming next week).

❝

Unlike the traditional career ladder that measures success through promotions within a hierarchy, the II Ladder measures growth through increasing independence and income diversification. It's not about climbing higher in a single organization but building a portfolio of value-creating activities.

This resonated with me deeply because it captures exactly what XIRs need: not just better jobs, but better systems for creating and capturing value.

The truth is that by 2030, most people will have multiple income streams – not because they're hustling harder, but because it's the natural evolution of how work is organized in a digital economy.

But XIRs can't wait until 2030. We need this system NOW.

We need a way to:

  • Generate income outside of the 9-5

  • Get paid for expertise we already have

  • Create predictable revenue without starting a company

  • Build real wealth by being authentically ourselves

What's Coming Next

Oh sheeeeeet. Surprise lol…

Next week, I'll be sharing a much deeper dive into exactly how we’re building this new system. I'll walk through the specific infrastructure needed to help XIRs achieve financial independence through multiple revenue streams.

We'll explore:

  • The exact systems for packaging your unique value

  • How to create sustainable income without burnout

  • The frameworks for translating your weird into revenue

  • Real examples of XIRs who are already doing this

  • A sneak peek at the platform we’re building to make this accessible to all

This isn't just another "creator economy" pitch.

❝

This is about fundamental infrastructure for a new way of working – one that values what XIRs bring to the table.

Because financial independence shouldn't require you to fit into a box. It should come from being exactly who you are.

If you are interested in getting a sneak peak before everyone else reply XIR and I will send you the interest list.

Love you fam. Stoked as hell for what it is to come.

Leaders proving different drives millions

Tech industry: Uhh…communications majors can’t. build. tech.

Melanie Perkins: Hold my beer.

  • 100+ VC rejections → $26B valuation

  • 2 non-technical founders → Team at 3,200 globally

  • 400 schools → 185M+ users in 190 countries

  • $26B design empire

Here's how Melanie Perks, Co-founder & CEO of Canva completely transformed and revolutionized how the world creates (she’s so badass).

Jobs / resources / capital for unconventional builders

Slight remix to our field notes

Last week, I promised to share the complete template for turning community into revenue. As promised, if you share this letter with one friend who needs this framework, I'll send you the full $20M in 6 Days Framework for free.

Here's what's included:

  • Social activation post templates that convert

  • Qualification forms that feel personal at scale

  • Email sequences that drive consistent action

  • SDR handoff processes that preserve context

  • Metrics tracking systems to prove impact

Just share this newsletter with a friend, and you'll get access to the exact system I used to generate $20M in pipeline in just 6 days.

Because that's what XIRs do – we share what works 🫶🏾

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving $20M in 6 Days Framework. or share your personal link with others: https://dearxir.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

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I'm building something I believe will fundamentally change how XIRs work and earn. I'd love your thoughts, questions, and feedback – just reply to this email.

Love you all and have the best week!