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Hello, ladder climbers! This is Antoine Wade from the Elevate to the Unknown YouTube channel and blits.com. It's Thursday morning at 7 a.m. Central, and it's time for the Daily Climb. Welcome to the show where we discuss real money and real career moves, Monday through Friday. If you're new here, make sure you hit the like button and drop your city in the chat. I want to know where you're tuning in from and who's in the house watching.

This is going to be a fantastic show. I woke up with a ton of energy this morning after getting my workout in. I was up at 3:30 a.m.—I’m telling you, I wake up early—went to the gym, and felt great knowing that today's show is going to be special. We're bringing in our first guest success story, a ladder climber from our community who completely transformed his career and is about to break down exactly how he did it. You're going to learn a lot about particular fields of study and get to know this individual as he blesses us with his knowledge.

First, let me give you the overnight business intelligence, because Cisco dropped some major news last night that affects the tech market across America. I was two minutes late to my own show—my guest even witnessed it—because I had to go warm up my coffee. It's extra strong this morning because we're covering Cisco's earnings results and how AI infrastructure is booming for them, even as they're cutting 7% of their workforce. Plus, we've got huge news about job market trends that you need to know.

As you always do when you come into this show, hit the like button, because we're about to give you the business intelligence you need before you start your day. This information directly impacts your career. Then, we're going to show you exactly how one of our community members used the kind of information we share on this channel to completely transform his life. Let me see who's here: we've got NC Reer, MLC, and NC worker in the house. Maurice Lee is coming to us from Milwaukee, Wisconsin—I love it! That’s my alma mater; I went to UWM. Life of Cam is here from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and he'll be on the show shortly. It's going to be a great show today, so go ahead and share this with your friends and family so we can get started.

Wednesday night and Thursday morning brought some game-changing business news. Let me break down what happened. Cisco beat earnings and expectations, but their stock dropped 2% because they're cutting 7% of their workforce while investing $2 billion in AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, Deere, the tractor company, is about to report earnings this morning, which will tell us if manufacturing jobs are coming back or getting worse. If they beat earnings, it suggests the wave of manufacturing jobs we've been hearing about is real, as more tractors and equipment would be needed.

Apple just announced they're investing an additional $100 billion in American manufacturing, which could create 450,000 jobs. If Apple hasn't been on your radar for employment, this should be a sign. You should be checking their website daily and creating alerts for when roles open up because they're going to be doing a lot of hiring.

Here's the big one: 70% of workers are actively seeking career changes right now, and successful career changers are seeing 15% to 65% salary increases. Many of you want to do something different, and you see how much money AI engineers are making and think, "Maybe I should look into this." A transition is happening right now. The people who are making the leap and sacrificing their time to learn the necessary skills are earning significant salary increases. If you're on the fence, maybe it's worth the investment of six to twelve months to get that big salary bump.

Now, let's dive deeper into Cisco. The networking company beat expectations, making 99 cents per share versus the expected 91 cents, with revenue hitting $14.67 billion against a $14.62 billion target. They crushed it. But here's what you need to know for your career: they are cutting 7% of their workforce while their AI infrastructure orders hit $2 billion. This is the new normal. It sounds just like Microsoft, which also crushed earnings but laid off 9,100 people. Companies are making more money than ever, but they're using AI to replace workers while hiring AI specialists for massive salaries. This is the shift in the workforce. If you don't follow this trend, you may be one of the ones who gets cut.

Let’s shift to Apple. Their additional $100 billion investment in American manufacturing brings their total commitment to $600 billion over four years. This is expected to support 450,000 jobs across all 50 states, not just through direct hires but through their vast ecosystem of partners and suppliers. They plan on 20,000 direct hires focused on engineering and AI roles, with major expansion happening in Texas and Kentucky.

Regarding earnings this morning, John Deere is expected to make $4.62 per share, which is down 26% from last year. If Deere misses, expect more manufacturing layoffs. If they beat, those jobs might be coming back. We also have Applied Materials from the semiconductor industry announcing earnings today. This will tell us about the state of semiconductor manufacturing. With potential 100% tariffs on imported chips, American chip manufacturing could explode if companies like Applied Materials, who make the equipment to produce chips, are doing well.

Here’s the pattern: AI companies are hiring like crazy and paying massive salaries. Traditional companies are cutting workers while investing in technology. And manufacturing might be coming back to America. This level of business intelligence sets us up perfectly for our guest today because he navigated this exact kind of changing job market to transform his career.

A Ladder Climber's Success Story: Meet Kamal
It's time for a very special part of the show. We're bringing you our first guest success story from someone in our community who has used the exact strategies we discuss every morning. Meet Kamal. Just 24 months ago, he was in a completely different situation. Today, he's crushing it with a career transformation that proves when you apply these principles consistently, you can change your life. I'm going to ask him some tough questions about his journey—the struggles, the failures, the breakthroughs, and most importantly, the specific steps you can take to replicate his success. Kamal, welcome to the Daily Climb! Thanks so much for being our first guest and sharing your story.

Kamal: "I'm doing great, Mr. Wade. Thanks for having me. I've been watching your show for four years, going back to 2021, so it's a great honor to be here today."

Antoine: "Take us back 12 to 24 months ago. Paint the picture for our audience. Where were you career-wise, what was your salary situation, and what did daily life look like?"

Kamal: "Two years ago, in the summer of 2023, I was still active duty military, stationed overseas in Japan. As an E-5, you can expect to make $50,000 to $70,000 a year, so I was probably lower-middle class at best, but I was enjoying my time in Japan. I wasn't struggling financially and had strong savings habits, but I knew I was worth more and capable of more. With a tech background, a strong collection of certifications, and a master's degree in Information Systems from WGU—which this channel recommended—I knew I could increase my salary by making a career transition."

The Motivation for a Major Change
Antoine: "What went into your decision to leave the military? You said you knew you were worth more, but what drove that?"

Kamal: "A big moment for me was back in 2018 when I signed my second military contract. I prefer to have options and not feel like I'm doing something because I have to. At that moment, I was broke with no savings and no direction. I wasn't against staying in the military, but I wanted the option to do something else. The real change started in 2021 when I was stationed in Bahrain. It was the most wealth I had ever seen in my life and my first time experiencing a luxury lifestyle. I grew up in North St. Louis County, near Ferguson, in a working-class environment with bouts of poverty. Joining the military wasn't luxurious either. But in the Middle East, I was living in a luxury apartment and understood that lifestyle was temporary. It took actual work to secure that permanently. I didn't want something that nice to go away. I realized the military couldn't provide that life unless I became a high-ranking officer."

"Around that time, I was exposed to Kevin Samuels' self-improvement content, which focused on working harder outside your 9-to-5. I also discovered another YouTuber, Shane Hummus, whose content focused on valuable degree paths. That's how I learned about Management Information Systems (MIS). I did further research and found that MIS was one of the top 10 degrees that earned African Americans the most money. Since I had relevant experience, I knew that was the path. Researching MIS is how I found your channel. I looked you up on LinkedIn to make sure you were who you said you were—and you actually understated your background. I booked a coaching session with you, and you helped me narrow down my ambitions into a clear, clean-cut direction: finish my undergraduate degree, get my master's, earn the Google Data Analytics certificate, complete projects, and look into certifications to prepare for the transition. I took on that challenge."

Executing the Plan: Education and Investment
Antoine: "So you did your research, found resources, and created a plan. Tell us about executing that plan, especially the education piece, while still on active duty."

Kamal: "It took about two years to finish my undergraduate degree. Looking back, I could have finished it in six months if I had gone to WGU for undergrad. My advice for people going to school is to get in and get out as efficiently as possible. For my master's, I got it right the second time and went to WGU. I finished my Master's in Information Systems in one semester and even won the academic excellence award for my capstone project. I used tuition reimbursement and the Pell Grant for my undergrad, and for the master's degree, I paid just $4,000 out of pocket one time. I earned both degrees without any debt."

"Outside of school, I also paid for various certifications and joined one of the D9 Black college fraternities to expand my network. Over four years, I probably invested around $15,000 to $20,000 in myself. People spend $100,000 just for a piece of paper, which is insane. I've already made back all the money I invested, and more. It gave me a multitude of credentials, networks, and improved skills."

Antoine: "How did you balance all of this while still working full-time in the military?"

Kamal: "It definitely wasn't easy, and most people won't do it. But success takes sacrifice, especially when you don't come from wealth. There were moments when it was extremely hard. I'd get off work and then spend the entire night on schoolwork or studying, sleep for maybe two hours, and then go to work the next day. Those were very tough moments, but because I made those sacrifices then, I don't have to worry now."

The Transformation: From Soldier to Six-Figure Analyst
Antoine: "You put in the work. Tell people where you are now."

Kamal: "Now I'm working as a mid-senior level Business Data Analyst for a government contractor. My salary has more than doubled since my time in the military, putting me strongly in the middle class. A huge win for me was landing a remote role. People in the military often chase lifestyle over salary when they get out; we don't want a strict environment with people breathing down our necks. Now I have autonomy. I also got to choose where I live, so I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, a low-cost-of-living state. Making $80,000 here is like making six figures on the East Coast. I recently bought my first property, a multi-unit, so I'm now a landlord. I'm also working with a group to launch our own real estate business. I've transitioned from a low-enlisted service member to a W-2 employee, a landlord, and a business owner."

Antoine: "That's incredible. Walk us through the job search. It's a tough market, with some saying it takes six months to find a job. How long did it take you?"

Kamal: "It took me two months. I started my job search six months before my contract ended, and I secured my position by July, two months after I started looking. I actually started working remotely from Japan in August, three months before my contract officially ended. The main reason it was so fast was relevant experience; I was applying for jobs where I already had transferable skills and knew how to communicate them. Second, I planned ahead and started looking while I was still employed. Third, I invested in myself through networking and mentorship. My resume was reviewed and improved by multiple people, including you and others in the community. By the time I started applying, my LinkedIn and resume were ready, and I had a support system. All I had to do was execute."

Final Advice and What's Next
Antoine: "You've shared the bright spots. Did you have any dark moments or obstacles during this transition?"

Kamal: "My most challenging experiences were before I truly locked in and started this journey in 2021. Growing up in an unstable environment, experiencing homelessness before the military, and then feeling unrecognized at work—those hard times fueled me. I learned that you have to toot your own ho-n; quiet work ethic doesn't always get you recognized."

Antoine: "What are your thoughts on the current transition happening in tech, with the major shift toward AI?"

Kamal: "The biggest thing is that what used to work yesterday doesn't work today. You have to adapt. Treat the job market like the weather—sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, but you always have to adjust. Follow the money and the opportunities. Be prepared to pivot, or at least understand how you can use AI in your current job to improve your performance and efficiency. The first step for everyone should be to start using AI consistently every day."

Antoine: "Fantastic. So what's next for you?"

Kamal: "I'm currently studying for the PMP certification and plan to take the exam in October. Long-term, I want to get more into project management to ride the wave of AI integration projects. I also plan on starting my Ph.D. in Information Systems and Data Analytics next year to get into research and use it as another income stream. I will continue expanding my real estate portfolio, and in about three years, I plan to start my own IT and data analytics consulting firm."

Kamal's transformation happened in the exact market conditions we're seeing now. This could be you. The action plan is clear: research growing industries like AI and advanced manufacturing, build the skills companies need, network with people who've made successful transitions, and create a financial plan. It starts with small steps, but most importantly, it starts with starting. Don't wait until tomorrow or next year. Start now.

That was the show for today. Thank you so much for tuning in. Tomorrow, we'll cover the end-of-week business intelligence, including Deere and Applied Materials' earnings results, and digest more stories from the job market. Until next time, ladder climbers, peace! Have a fantastic day and go out there and crush it.

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