The Secret Skill That Will Supercharge Your Career

I've been thinking a lot about the future of work lately.

Not the usual "AI is coming for our jobs" narrative — but something much more practical and immediate: How do you stand out in a world where AI is becoming part of everyone's toolkit?

Here's my take: Those who understand and leverage AI agents today will have a massive advantage tomorrow.

And when I say "tomorrow," I don't mean 5-10 years from now. I'm talking about your next promotion, your next job interview, or your next funding round.

In today's newsletter, I'll break down why learning about AI agents is one of the smartest career investments you can make right now — and why you don't need to be a technical genius to get started.

—Dharmesh

The Promotion Scenario Every Professional Should Consider

Let me paint a quick hypothetical for you:

Two people are up for the same promotion. They have identical experience, education, and skill sets — with one crucial difference. Person A has been experimenting with AI agents, using them to streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks. Person B hasn't.

Who gets the promotion?

Person A, of course.

Now, I know real-world scenarios are never this clean-cut. There are countless variables at play — domain expertise, leadership abilities, communication skills, and so on.

But all things being equal, having practical AI agent experience already gives you a tangible edge.

It's not just about using ChatGPT to write emails. It's about understanding how to:

1. Identify opportunities where agents can add value (and where they can’t)

2. Configure and customize agents for specific workflows

3. Chain multiple agents together to solve complex problems

These skills signal to leadership that you're forward-thinking, adaptable, and focused on maximizing your impact. That's valuable in any industry.

The Low Barrier to Entry (That Most People Don't Realize)

Here's the best part: You don't need a degree in AI, computer science, or machine learning to accrue most of that value.

You don't even need expensive tools or subscriptions.

The vast majority of learning resources and platforms for experimenting with AI agents are either free — or near-free.

I've seen this pattern before:

• Those who learned HTML in the early web era had an advantage

• Those who adopted social media marketing early had an advantage

• Those who mastered mobile app development early had an advantage

In each case, early adopters didn't need formal education — they just jumped in and started building.

The same opportunity exists right now with AI agents.

Why Agent.ai Stands Out

There are several agent platforms emerging in 2025 (including some by HubSpot's competitors).

Here's the difference: Most of these platforms are being built for the colossal company.

I'm building agent.ai for the curious creator — starting with myself.

Most of the features you see in agent.ai's Agent Builder today exist because at one point I needed, wanted, or craved them for myself. In fact, the entire platform was initially created because I wanted an easier way to build solo software that used AI.

Unlike competitors focusing on complex workflows requiring technical expertise, Agent.ai prioritizes:

• A simple interface that doesn't require coding

• Access to the latest AI models without additional subscriptions

• A growing library of agent templates you can clone and customize yourself

One thing led to another, and now we have 1.1 million users on the platform and 8,800 of them have built their first AI agent.

You could be next and impress your friends and colleagues. (But you won't impress your family, because I have not unlocked that mystery of the universe).

My Diabolical Plan And Your Career Opportunity

About 18 years ago, I was building HubSpot when "inbound marketing" was just emerging (blogging, social media, SEO).

The marketers who embraced these new approaches early didn't just become more effective — they became more valuable. Their careers accelerated because they had practical experience with what became the next generation of marketing.

My personal mission (which is very much aligned with that of my company, HubSpot) is:

Help millions grow better.

That’s it. It’s what drives me.

It back to my personal definition of success:

Success is making those who believed in you look brilliant.

OK, so back to my diabolical plan. With inbound marketing, I was able to help millions get into the new world of marketing. It was one of the most gratifying accomplishments of my life.

That's exactly what I'm trying to repeat with agent.ai and simple.ai (this newsletter). I want to help millions grow better with AI — not through theoretical discussions, but through practical application and community.

Not only do I want to help you learn about this stuff (and the best way to learn is by doing), I want you to verifiably demonstrate to others that you got into this "agent stuff" way back in 2025. Or, if you were one of the first million or so people on the platform, then way, way back (in AI) years in [gasp] 2024. Impressive!

So, how will we make your curiosity verifiable? 

We do this through your agent.ai profile (think LinkedIn for AI skills). There, you'll be able to show when you joined as a member, which agents you've followed and which agents you’ve built (either for yourself, for your company or for the world).

Imagine someone perusing your profile a couple of years from now. Don't you think they'll be impressed that you got into the game so early and that you actually did things?

And, it doesn't even need to happen years from now. It's possible next week, someone will come across your profile or an agent you’ve built, and it opens up an opportunity for you.

I've experienced what it means to be an early member of a new movement. Those early members reap the rewards:

• They get deeper collaboration with others in the community (because it's small and growing)

• They get better distribution for their ideas

• They build relationships with pioneering companies and individuals

• They develop intuition that's impossible to teach later

So, do something your future self will thank you for. Be curious. Jump in. Try some agents. Maybe even use one of the existing agents, clone it and tweak it for your purposes. Go ahead, you can try it now at agent.ai. It will take (literally) 5 minutes. Just pick one of the popular/featured agents at the top, like company research. BOOM! You’re done. Welcome to the world of AI Agents!

(And sorry if I'm coming on a bit strong here — I just genuinely believe this is one of those pivotal moments where a small investment of time can yield massive returns.)

3 Simple Ways to Get Started Today

If I've convinced you that learning about AI agents is worthwhile, here are three ways to jump in:

1. Start Using Agents: Find a simple use case in your daily work and try solving it with an existing agent. Don't overthink it — even automating email sorting is a start.

2. Clone and Modify: Take an existing agent and customize it for your specific needs. You'll learn more by tweaking than by building from scratch.

3. Join the Community: Create your agent.ai profile and connect with others. Share what you're learning, ask questions, and build your network.

The beauty of this approach is that you're learning by doing. There's no certification or degree required — just curiosity and willingness to experiment.

What do you have to lose other than unnecessary apprehension?

Your future self will thank you tomorrow for jumping in today.

—Dharmesh (@dharmesh)