To make a living as a successful leader in your profession “you don’t need millions. You don’t need millions of dollars or millions of customers, millions of clients or millions of fans. To make a living as a craftsperson, photographer, musician, designer, author, animator, app maker, entrepreneur, or inventor, you need only 1000 true fans. First, you have to create enough each year that you can earn, on average, $100 profit from each true fan. Second, you must have a direct relationship with your fans. The numbers 1000 and $100 are not absolute.The actual number has to be adjusted for each person, but (in this example) if you keep the full $100 of each true fan, then you need only 1000 of them to earn $100,000 per year. That’s not a bad living for most people!” (29) Optimized and intelligent use of digital media and economies can help get you there.

Along with reading and writing, digital literacy is now being considered as a fundamental skill in modern trade with social media, collaborative and communications tools at the top of the list:

“Digital competence involves a mix of knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to various ends (communication, creative expression, information management, personal development), domains (everyday life, work, privacy and safety, legal aspects), and levels (cognitive and competitive).” (30)

Research suggests the majority of social entrepreneurs worldwide are young, and as far as intrapreneurship is concerned, “more than 70 percent of Millennials expect their employers to focus on societal or mission-driven problems; 70 percent want to be creative at work; and more than two-thirds believe it is management’s job to provide them with accelerated development opportunities.” (31)

According to UNICEF estimates, “one third of internet users globally are children.” (32) This provides much food for thought and makes it essential to cator digital communications and exchange in service of the younger generations. 

As part of the youth online, you are influencers in digital marketing, you are players in the digital economy, and no matter what you are here to contribute to our modern barter system, you are at the forefront of your life and this digital era. How and why will you take the lead?