Finding Your Edge

In a world where everyone can access the same tutorials, courses, and resources, how do you stand out?

You find your edge.

The Differentiation Problem

Here is the uncomfortable reality:

There are millions of people learning to code, design, write, create. Many are talented. Many work hard. Many have better resources than you.

If you compete on the same terms—following the same paths, building the same skills, presenting yourself the same way—you become interchangeable. A commodity.

The solution is not to be better than everyone. That is exhausting and often impossible.

The solution is to be different from everyone. To find the unique angle only you can occupy.

What Is an Edge?

Your edge is the combination of things that makes you uniquely valuable:

• Skill stack: The specific combination of skills you have
• Perspective: How you see problems differently
• Background: Experiences that shaped how you think
• Interests: What you genuinely care about
• Constraints: Limitations that forced creative solutions

Your edge is not one thing. It is the intersection of multiple things.

The Skill Stack Strategy

Single skills are common. Combinations are rare.

Developer who can code: Common Developer who can code + explain things clearly + understand business: Rare

Designer who can design: Common Designer who can design + conduct user research + write compelling copy: Rare

Writer who can write: Common Writer who can write + understand SEO + build simple websites: Rare

The strategy: Instead of being top 1% in one skill (nearly impossible), be top 20% in three complementary skills (very doable).

The intersection of three skills is your territory. Few people occupy it.

Finding Your Natural Advantages

You already have advantages. You just may not recognize them:

Geographic edge: What do you know about your city, region, culture that outsiders do not?

Access edge: Who do you have access to that others do not? What communities are you part of?

Timing edge: What are you learning or experiencing right now that will be valuable soon?

Struggle edge: What hard things have you overcome that gave you unique insight?

Obsession edge: What do you think about constantly that others find boring?

The Intersection Finder

Try this exercise:

1. List 5 skills you are developing or want to develop
2. List 5 industries or topics you genuinely care about
3. List 5 unique experiences or backgrounds you have

Now look for interesting intersections:

Skill + Industry = Application (e.g., coding + healthcare = health tech products) Skill + Background = Perspective (e.g., design + growing up poor = designing for accessibility and cost) Industry + Experience = Insight (e.g., education + struggling student = reimagining how students learn)

The most interesting edges come from unexpected combinations.

The Niche Question

People often advise "find a niche." But what does that mean practically?

A niche is a specific problem you solve for a specific audience. The more specific, the better.

General: "I help businesses with marketing" Specific: "I help solo fitness coaches get their first 100 email subscribers"

General: "I am a web developer" Specific: "I build websites for local restaurants that help them reduce phone orders"

General: "I am a designer" Specific: "I design mobile apps for meditation and mental health startups"

Your niche should be:

• Specific enough to be remembered
• Large enough to sustain you
• Aligned with skills you want to develop
• Something you can credibly claim (or grow into)

The Packaging Problem

Having an edge is not enough. You must communicate it clearly.

This is where most students fail. They:

• Have interesting combinations but never articulate them
• Hide their unique background instead of leveraging it
• Present themselves generically because it feels safer

Your edge needs to be:

• Stated in your bio
• Visible in your portfolio
• Obvious in how you position yourself
• Consistent across platforms

The Evolution of Edge

Your edge will change. As you grow, your skill stack expands, your interests evolve, your opportunities shift.

This is fine. Your edge is not permanent. It is your current positioning.

What matters is always having a positioning—some angle that makes you more than just another person with skills.

The Anti-Positioning Trap

Some people refuse to position themselves. They want to be known for everything, appeal to everyone, keep all options open.

This leads to being known for nothing. Being interchangeable. Being easy to ignore.

Positioning is not limiting. It is focusing. You can always expand later, but you cannot start from everywhere.

Finding Your Edge: The Process

1. Audit your current situation: What skills, experiences, and interests do you have?
2. Identify unusual combinations: What intersections are interesting?
3. Test with projects: Build things that demonstrate your edge
4. Refine based on feedback: What resonates with people?
5. Communicate clearly: Update your positioning across platforms

This is not a one-time exercise. Revisit quarterly.

Your Assignment

Complete the Intersection Finder exercise above.

Write a one-sentence description of your edge:

"I am a [skill 1] + [skill 2] person who helps [specific audience] with [specific problem]."

This will feel too narrow. That is the point. You can always expand it later.

In a world of generalists, the person with a clear edge becomes unforgettable.

Next: How to turn all of this into money.