虎嗅

In the Age of AI, How to Make Yourself More Valuable? – Interview with Shi Xinyue, the Lawyer from "The Exciting Offer"

原文:AI时代,如何让自己越活越值钱?——对话《令人心动的offer》带教律师史欣悦

Summary of the Core Content

This is a practical offline conversation tailored specifically for ordinary working professionals. The guest is Shi Xinyue, a partner at Junhe, one of the top law firms in China, with 24 years of experience. She is also a star coach on the show “Ling Ren Xin Dong De Offer 2.” Despite her professional status within the elite legal community, she didn’t talk about the insides of the legal industry that most people don’t understand. Instead, she shared her practical experiences from transitioning from a pure lawyer to a writer and content blogger. She addressed six of the most common challenges faced by workers today: how to avoid being replaced by AI, how to find a second career, how to turn one’s skills into profitable assets, how to develop unique value that others can’t steal, why work becomes increasingly uninteresting, and how to live with peace of mind in an era of widespread anxiety. Her advice is practical and based on her extensive experience with thousands of different careers.

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Detailed Analysis of Each Point

1. The Special Value of This Conversation

This isn’t just an elite’s sermon; it’s the honest advice from someone who has experienced thousands of different career paths. Many current workplace resources are either written by recent graduates with “millions-in-a-year secrets” or by experts who are too far removed from ordinary people, making them unhelpful. Shi Xinyue, however, is unique. As a commercial lawyer for 24 years, she has handled cases ranging from small startups to billion-dollar companies and has coached dozens of young professionals. She has seen many people ruin their opportunities and also seen those with average qualifications succeed gradually. More importantly, she is a successful example of a “low-risk career transition”: she didn’t quit her legal job and instead used her insights to write books and give public talks, creating a second source of income. Her advice is based on real experiences she’s personally encountered, not just theoretical knowledge.

2. The Anti-Replacement Strategy in the AI Era

The root of anxiety among 90% of workers is misplaced: they worry that AI will outperform them in tasks like writing copy or creating spreadsheets. But Shi Xinyue’s perspective is clear: AI is essentially a “high-level employee” that can execute tasks efficiently, but it doesn’t understand the context. For example, while AI can generate ten standard rental contracts in a second, it doesn’t know that your core need is to protect your property from damage by tenants. Such judgment based on real-world situations is beyond AI’s capabilities. Instead of trying to outperform AI, focus on learning how to assign tasks to it, evaluate its output, and fill in the gaps with human judgment. This way, you’ll always be in control and not replaceable.

3. The First Step for Ordinary People to Expand Their Careers

Many people try to start side hustles or develop a second career but make mistakes by spending a lot of money on unnecessary courses. Shi Xinyue’s path wasn’t about “starting from scratch as a writer.” As a lawyer, she continuously learned from various clients and situations, which helped her write bestsellers. Ordinary people can do the same: if you’ve been a nurse for three years, organize the daily care tips you share with patients; if you’ve been an accountant for five years, share the financial knowledge you’ve used to help small businesses. The unique insights you’ve gained from your job are already valuable assets that can be leveraged immediately.

4. The Reason Why Work Becomes Uninteresting

The main reason people feel like “cogs” in the machine is that they treat themselves as disposable resources. They simply follow instructions without thinking. Instead, treat yourself as an asset. If you’re an administrator, use your experience to coordinate relationships between departments; if you’re a teacher, turn your teaching skills into engaging content. By developing these unique strengths, you’ll become valuable to your company and won’t feel overwhelmed.

5. The Solution to Anxiety in an Anxious Era

There’s no need to outperform everyone; just be a bit ahead of AI and those around you. Social media often shows extreme examples that can cause anxiety, but success takes time. Shi Xinyue’s journey to becoming a writer wasn’t instantaneous. Ordinary people don’t have to quit their jobs to start a business or master all AI tools. Focus on developing a small, yet valuable skill in your field. This will give you a competitive edge and reduce stress.

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This analysis provides a clear and practical translation of the original Chinese news analysis, adapting the language and tone to fit the target audience of financial and business journalists.