The Real Influence: How Trades Build Credibility in a World of Pretend Fame
The New Dream Job Generation
Walk into any classroom or chat with a teenager about their plans for the future and you’ll likely hear the same word repeated again and again: influencer. It has become the new dream job, the modern version of wanting to be a rock star or a professional athlete. The idea of making a living by posting online, getting brand deals, and being followed by thousands feels like freedom and fame combined. But beneath that glossy surface is a growing question. What happens when people try to influence others without ever building real experience? What do you actually have to say when you’ve never worked, never built, never learned a craft?
Doing Before Influencing
In the video, one tradie captures this reality perfectly. He shakes his head at how many younger people today want to skip the hard work and jump straight to fame. His nephew, like many kids, says he wants to be an influencer. The tradie’s reply cuts straight to the heart of the issue. “What are you going to influence people to do if you’ve never done anything?” It’s a question that doesn’t just challenge his nephew. It challenges an entire generation that sees success as visibility rather than achievement.
Being an influencer isn’t bad in itself. The problem starts when people chase influence without experience. Influence used to come from doing, from mastering something, from becoming the person others turned to for advice because you had already been there and done the work. For tradies, this principle still holds true. Whether you are a plumber, builder, roofer, or electrician, your credibility comes from results. You can’t fake a solid wall, a watertight pipe, or a properly wired circuit.
The Power of Skill-Based Credibility
In trades, respect isn’t handed out because of likes or followers. It’s earned through hands-on skill, long days, and the ability to solve problems that others can’t. Every tradie knows that moment when a job turns from challenging to satisfying, when something works perfectly because of your effort and focus. That kind of experience creates natural authority. You become someone others look to for guidance not because of your online presence but because of your real-world competence.
This is where the idea of the “real influencer” starts to shift. True influence comes from those who build, create, and demonstrate. A skilled tradesperson who shares their journey online is different from someone who only talks about success. They have proof in their hands. When they post about their work, their advice carries weight because it’s rooted in action.
Influence Through Example
The tradesman in the video doesn’t reject influence altogether. What he’s saying is that influence should grow from a foundation of experience. His own life as a tradie is an example. He works, he builds, and he shares stories that inspire others to find pride in their craft. That is real influence. It’s not about pretending to know. It’s about showing up every day, doing the work, and letting your results speak for you.
When he’s told that he’s an ideal influencer because of his trade and his lifestyle, the statement hits differently. It isn’t about social media fame. It’s about the credibility that comes from walking the talk. The best influencers are those who live the message they share. They don’t have to convince anyone. Their work and attitude do that naturally.
Tradie Values That the World Needs
There’s something deeply valuable about the mindset of tradespeople that today’s digital world often overlooks. While others chase shortcuts, tradies understand process. They know that good work takes time. They learn patience, persistence, and accountability because every project demands it. You can’t just talk your way out of a crooked line or a leaking joint. You fix it. You improve. You take pride in getting it right.
That mindset builds more than just strong walls and sturdy roofs. It builds strong character. It teaches that results come from effort, not exposure. These are lessons that every influencer, and every person chasing quick success, could stand to learn. In a world that rewards appearances, the tradie world rewards outcomes.
The Gap Between Perception and Reality
Social media has created a strange paradox. It celebrates visibility more than value. Someone can appear successful simply by looking successful. But in trades, that illusion doesn’t exist. You can’t fake finishing a job or pretend you’ve learned something you haven’t. The job itself is the test. That’s what makes the trade path so grounding. It’s honest. It keeps people connected to the real world.
The conversation in the video is more than just a generational complaint. It’s a reflection of where modern ambition has gone off track. When someone says they want to be an influencer, what they often mean is that they want to be admired. But admiration should come from achievement. That’s why trades are such a powerful antidote to this cultural drift. They show that respect isn’t given for talking. It’s given for doing.
Building the Right Kind of Influence
True influence begins with mastery. A young person who learns a trade, hones a skill, and gains experience earns the right to influence others in that field. They can teach, mentor, and inspire because they know the journey firsthand. They’ve felt the early mornings, the physical strain, and the satisfaction of seeing a finished product. That’s what makes their voice meaningful.
Tradespeople already have what many online influencers are missing: authenticity. They live their message daily. Their social media posts, if they choose to share, reflect genuine expertise and pride. When a plumber or carpenter talks about their work, they’re influencing others through honesty and example. That’s the kind of content people connect with because it’s real.
A Better Narrative for the Next Generation
The message from the video carries hope. It’s not about criticizing young people for wanting to be influencers. It’s about reminding them that the foundation of real influence is built through experience. The trades offer one of the best paths to build that experience early. A young person who picks up a trade learns responsibility, teamwork, and persistence long before many of their peers do. Those lessons last a lifetime and open doors to financial freedom, creativity, and even global opportunities.
By shifting the narrative from “look successful” to “be skilled,” the trades can redefine what influence means in this era. Instead of chasing followers, tradies show what it means to lead by example. Instead of trying to impress, they demonstrate competence. And instead of promoting illusion, they promote reality.
Conclusion
The world doesn’t need more influencers who haven’t lived what they preach. It needs people who lead through example, who build their credibility through skill and experience. The tradie in the video represents that ideal. His message is simple but powerful: do something first, then talk about it. Learn, work, build, and earn your place as someone others look up to.
In an age obsessed with visibility, the trades quietly continue to shape the world with authenticity and action. That’s the kind of influence that lasts. The next time someone says they want to be an influencer, maybe the best advice is to hand them a toolbelt instead of a phone.