gigstack
I am Gigi Cheung, I live in Hong Kong & Singapore
I will share how you and I can be independent making money online and offline. Dedicated to Gig workers out there.
GIG Stack
I am Gigi Cheung, I live in Hong Kong & Singapore
I will share how you and I can be independent making money online and offline. Dedicated to Gig workers out there.
STACKSLIDES
HOW TO BE A LEGEND. (EP. 1)
FROM KNOWLEDGE TO SKILL TO EXPERTISE TO MASTERY TO LEGEND
IT TAKES TIMES TO BE A LEGEND, BUT HOW TOWARDS THE RIGHT DIRECTION
First, Go through & Learn the steps & stages.
Images are: "Miyamoto Musashi" from "The Samurai Trilogy" & "The Age of Samurai" (Netflix)
KNOWLEDGE
Basic awareness or understanding of facts, concepts, and ideas. Typically theoretical, acquired through reading, lectures, or observation. Jadi baru pemahaman konsep gagasan. Lebih ke Teori.
EXAMPLE OF KNOWLEDGE
NOVICE AT AWARENESS STAGE
Take the world of coffee and coffee shops as an example – for instance, knowing the difference between Arabica and Robusta and how tools like a French press and V60 are used.
SKILL
Skill is the practical use of knowledge in a specific field, built through practice and repetition, shown by doing tasks smoothly and consistently.
EXAMPLE OF SKILL
SKILLED AT APPLICATION STAGE
A barista who is skilled at preparing espresso and cappuccino, and creating simple latte art such as a heart (or other basic designs), while keeping the taste consistently good.
EXPERTISE
Expertise is advanced proficiency gained from years of using skills, adding knowledge, and deep understanding, leading to consistently superior results.
EXAMPLE OF EXPERTISE
EXPERT AT PROFICIENCY STAGE
In the coffee world, a barista develops deep understanding of the coffee industry, mentors junior baristas, and regularly competes in regional professional barista championships.
SPECIALIZATION
A specialist deliberately focuses on one or a few aspects of their field, deepening expertise to reach a high level of specialization.
EXAMPLE OF SPECIALIZATION
SPECIALIST AT DEEPENING STAGE
A barista who specifically deepens their expertise in roasting single-origin beans, sensory evaluation, or a particular brewing technique, for example specializing in manual brewing methods.
MASTERY
Outstanding capability built over years, combining deep intuitive understanding with exceptional skill, enabling consistently extraordinary performance.
EXAMPLE OF MASTERY
MASTER AT EXCELLENCE STAGE
Becoming a judge at national or international barista competitions, recognized as an authority in coffee taste. Similarly, sushi chefs in Japan train for years to reach mastery.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Actively sharing, influencing through teaching, mentoring, publishing influential works, shaping industry-wide practices." At this level, they educate and share new perspectives
EXAMPLE OF THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
THOUGHT LEADER AT INFLUENCE STAGE
Writing popular books about coffee, actively delivering international trainings and workshops, and serving as a key speaker at major global coffee events.
INNOVATION
Transcending mastery to create new methods, original ideas, or paradigm shifts; involves inventing, innovating, & fundamentally advancing the field.
EXAMPLE OF INNOVATION
INNOVATOR AT INNOVATION STAGE
Creating new brewing methods like the Aeropress or Origami Dripper, offering fresh perspectives on coffee extraction and connecting them to sustainability, technology, and new business models.
LEGACY
Leaving a lasting Positive impact, becoming synonymous with the field itself, and influencing multiple generations beyond your lifetime. They give back contribution to the industry
EXAMPLE OF LEGACY
LEGEND AT VISION & LEGACY STAGE
Achmad “Adhi” Taroepratjeka (Indonesia), James Hoffmann (England), and Tetsu Kasuya (Japan), whose names and influence continue to inspire new generations of baristas all around the world. What else?
SUMMARY
FROM KNOWLEDGE TO LEGACY
Knowledge → Skill → Expertise → Mastery → Thought Leadership → Innovation → Legacy. This framework illustrates a person’s journey from basic knowledge to creating real impact in their field.
TAKE A HARD LOOK AT YOURSELF., WHAT LEVEL ARE YOU IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
Nothing is instant.
But you can start now and keep growing from here.
THE END
GIG ECONOMY
Gigs or “short projects” are short-term jobs or tasks carried out by independent talent and structured on a project basis.
PRIMARY DRIVER: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGFast internet, multi-app ecosystem, easy installation and a user-friendly interface, plus instant onboarding, allow new talent to quickly create profiles, find gigs, and complete tasks with ease.
FLEXIBILITY & AUTONOMY
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGGig talents, especially Gen Z, pursue work-life balance by choosing their own hours, location, and types of projects, boosting both their productivity and satisfaction.
MULTI-INCOME
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGAmid global economic uncertainty, many professionals now have a “multi-income mindset”: one talent can work on several gigs at the same time, minimizing income risk.
ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGGigs help gig talents learn tools in new domains faster than through traditional career paths.
ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS TO BUILD A PORTFOLIO
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGEach completed gig becomes concrete proof of value: ratings, reviews, and deliverables that strengthen reputation and open up higher-value opportunities.
ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS TO BUILD A NETWORK
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGGigs allow talent to meet far more high-value individuals than they would in a single office job. Every gig client becomes a new connection.
SCALABILITY
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGA single talent can handle 1–5 gigs at the same time, making the gig path much more scalable.
ACCESS TO GLOBAL MARKETS
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGSome platforms enable talent to compete in the global market at competitive rates – for example, clients in the US working with talent in Singapore.
ONE OF THE MAIN SOURCES OF SIDE JOBS
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGWithout leaving their full-time jobs, people can use gig platforms as an easy way to earn additional income.
LOW-BARRIER ENTRY
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGWithout requiring degrees, diplomas, or lengthy recruitment processes, gig talents can onboard immediately, upskill, and monetize their expertise.
ENTREPRENEURIAL DNA
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGGig talents see themselves as micro-entrepreneurs: running a “mini-business” with their own brand, testing ideas, and iterating their services based on market feedback.
HONING ADAPTABILITY
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGFrequently switching between projects sharpens their ability to pivot, troubleshoot, and survive amid constant change skills that are highly valued in a volatile market.
COLLABORATION & COMMUNITIES
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGGig platforms build networks of peers, mentors, and referrals. Gig talents tap into these communities for support, collaboration, and shared learning.
FREE ACCESS TO ONLINE EDUCATION
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGEducation platforms like YouTube, Coursera, and others provide free learning materials, enabling gig talents to continuously sharpen their skills and expertise as needed.
ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS TO SWITCH JOBS
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGFor full-time employees, gigs are one of the fastest ways to switch jobs, careers, or even industries, immediately putting their hidden expertise to the test.
DECENTRALIZATION, WEB3 & BLOCKCHAIN
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGSmart contracts and project tokenization enable automatic payments, on-chain escrow, and guaranteed IP ownership, driving a fully peer-to-peer gig ecosystem.
BIG COMPANIES CUT-BACK
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGTrend of startups and large corporations cutting recruitment costs and the overhead of full-time workers, while gaining high operational agility. Gig-based models are seen as more competitive.
FROM INDIVIDUAL TO AGENCY
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGBy working on gigs in a specific area of expertise, gig talents can grow from solo operators into small agencies, building teams to handle larger projects within the same specialty.
DIGITAL NOMAD TREND
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGThe rise of the digital nomad trend, where people no longer rely only on income from content creation, but also from gig-based projects.
ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGWith the growth of gig platforms, the creation of micro-opportunities and short-term projects can significantly reduce unemployment rates.
GROWING GIG PLATFORMS
GIG ECONOMY SILENTLY RISINGOnline platforms like AgentX.ID make it easier for gig talents and clients to interact directly without traditional intermediaries, accelerating the adoption of the gig economy across many sectors.
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025 TO 2030)
ALMOST EVERYTHING HAS SHIFTED
SKILLS & EXPERTISES OVER DEGREE
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)Traditional degrees are being devalued. Project portfolios, real-world impact, and certifications (Google, AWS, etc.) matter more.
REMOTE FIRST, FLEXING SECOND
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)Time autonomy is valued more than salary in many cases. 80%+ prefer remote or hybrid work.
CONTENT CREATOR ECONOMY & SOCIAL VALIDATION
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)Many Gen Zers don’t want to work for others. They want to monetize themselves. TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Substack, and Instagram are the new CVs.
AI-NATIVE
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)Gen Z embraces AI + automation — from ChatGPT to Notion AI to MidJourney. They build tools, products, and services faster with no-code/low-code platforms (e.g., Bubble, Webflow, Zapier).
MULTI-INCOME MINDSET
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)“One job is not enough” — Gen Z prioritizes income diversification over job security. Freelancing, side gigs, and passive income are normalized. Startups, dropshipping, trading, content creation, etc.
MOSTLY RULED BY CERTAIN INDUSTRY
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)Like it or not, our work culture mostly ruled by industry like Tech, Content-creation, Digital & creative media, Green & social impact startups.
GIG BASED ECONOMY, NO PERMANENT JOB
WORK EMPLOYMENT TREND (2025)Permanent jobs are seen as risky — layoffs, burnout, and capped growth. Gen-Z prefers: Project-based work, Contract flexibility, Ownership opportunities (revenue share, royalties, brand building).
BEHIND THE EVER-GLOWING SCREEN
STORY OF DINO
A web designer in their twenties who works from home. They take on any web design project that comes their way. But…
JACKPOT!!
DINO SIGN CONTRACT OF A PROJECTA company hire him as a freelancer to build an official marketplace sites
WORKS DAY-IN NIGHT-OUT
DINO WORKS 24/7 TO GET THE JOB DONEHe wakes up at 5 a.m., starts working, and keeps going all the way until 11 p.m.
THE MOMENT HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR
PRESENTATION DAYAfter two months, the website is finally done.
Dino presents it to the client with pride. The client is happy too.
INVOICE SENT
DINO SEND INVOICE TO THE CLIENTAfter the presentation, Dino creates the invoice,
hoping he can use it as a down payment for a trail bike, including all the mods.
TIME GOES BY
DINO FOLLOWS UP FOR PAYMENT EVERY WEEK.Until the second month passed, the client still had not given any news about the payment.
6-MONTHS PASSED BY
STILL NO PAYMENTHe’s exhausted from chasing the payment, and Dino still hasn’t been paid.
This is what happens when you work without proper management, a contract, or a down payment.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED
THIS WOULD BE THE CASE OF MOST GIG PROJECTS