Most people think wealth is something you chase. They run after trends, jump on the latest investment fads, or work endlessly at jobs they don’t care about, hoping that one day, money will come.

But the truth is, wealth is not created by running—it’s created by refining. By looking inward instead of outward.

If you’re talented at something—writing, speaking, designing, teaching—you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You need to package what you already know in a way that others are willing to pay for. This is the foundation of talent monetization.

Not every talent is equally valuable in the marketplace. The key is finding the intersection of what you’re good at and what people will pay for. Ask yourself:

• What do people naturally ask for my help with?
• What skill do I have that others see as “hard” but is easy for me?
• Where have I already made money, even if it was accidental?

An Example of this is Ali Abdaal, a doctor-turned-YouTuber, realized that people valued his insights on productivity and learning. Instead of just practicing medicine, he started teaching others through online courses and videos, turning his knowledge into a multi-million-dollar business.

Once you recognize this, you’re halfway there.

Your talent is raw material. It only becomes valuable when structured into something people can buy. There are three main ways to do this:

• Teach it: Courses, coaching, mentorship
• Do it for them: Services, consulting, freelancing
• Package it into a product: Templates, books, digital tools

A Real-World Example: Marie Forleo started as a life coach but soon realized she could reach more people by turning her expertise into an online program, B-School. Today, it generates millions by teaching others how to build successful online businesses.

The goal is to create something people can exchange money for, not just admire.

A great skill with no visibility equals zero income. You need distribution.

• Leverage content: Teach small pieces of your expertise online to attract interest.
• Use social proof: Share testimonials and results to build trust.
• Run a simple funnel: Offer something small to start the relationship, then guide people to your main offer.

Real-World Example:Justin Welsh, a former sales executive, built a personal brand by sharing insights on LinkedIn. By consistently posting valuable content, he created a seven-figure business selling digital courses and coaching services.

The internet allows one person to serve thousands. Your job is to position your talent where the right people can see and buy from you.