I’ve been OE-ing for 2+ yrs, ever since my top business school program. J1 and J2 are in consulting.

From my base in Bangkok, I've more than doubled my earnings compared to right after my Ivy League undergrad days, and I want to help you do the same.

An info edge is basic: it's when you have details about how to do something that your boss or team lacks. It's not about keeping secrets on purpose. Rather, it's noticing gaps and using them to work on your own terms. Like knowing a quick way to fix something that others think takes forever. You end up with extra time, no questions asked 🙂

From what I recall as an econ major back in my college days, I think economists term it "asymmetric information." I think to a certain extent, we all use it sometimes, especially when time is tight or stakes are high, withholding information from others to buy ourselves some slack. In OE, I have systematized it as a tool to handle multiple roles without stress.

We will look at two types that have been particularly helpful for my OE-ment. The first is your personal info edge, where only you know your true skill level or how a process really runs. The second involves what one manager knows versus another, which fits well in roles with many projects. I'll go deep on the personal one now, with steps to build it. The other type comes in the next post – it's great for jobs like consulting where you report to several people.

Showing how skilled you are can hurt more than help in OE. Hide your ‘power level'.

If you are already in the OE game, I am going to assume that the below sounds more as a truism than anything else. You might have already encountered these concepts in your daily life. Perhaps, what got you into OE is some level of discontent with your renumeration vis a vis your income.

For others it’s worth reminding ourselves that your pay doesn't rise in a linear form with your skills. It’s a curve at best or jumps only at certain points, like during promo cycles. You could be twice as good, but your check might not show it right away. Think of a jagged curve.

So, how do we optimize our skill vs our income? I believe the answer is hiding it.

This runs against usual job tips, like making yourself key by standing out in one area, or being a savvy operator to gun for that promotion. But in the OE approach, you optimize horizontally, not vertically in one job. it's about adding jobs side by side, not pushing up in just one. Going up means more duties, tougher days, and less room for other income.

Data shows this makes sense even outside OE. A 2022 Pew study found that about half of people who changed jobs got at least a 9.7% pay bump in a year, far better than those who stayed. More recent Forbes numbers say job switchers averaged 35% growth over three years, nearly twice what long-timers got. Moving around beats loyalty in today's market (unfortunately).

Some folks prefer deep focus in one job, and that's fine. I’m not going to lie, OE does carry its own mental load and stress (I will cover this at some point in my mindset guide). But if your goal is max pay with min grind, keep the information on your skills close to yourself. Use your competence to gain time, not gain more work.

Having led small teams before, I wouldn't want this from my staff. But as an employee? It's about taking back control. Harsh, but it lets you chase that bigger bank account and freer life we all want deep down.

Here's one from my main job not long ago. A manager I've teamed with often – she counts on me for key stuff – needed help with a big PowerPoint file, over 100 pages.

Things like pulling off page numbers and tweaking footers. She even said it might be dull and asked if my plate was too full.

I took it on, saying I'd wrap in 2-3 hours since it looked like hands-on effort. But I knew about slide master, a built-in tool that lets you change the base setup for every slide at once. The whole thing? Under 30 minutes.

I didn't send it back fast. Instead, I parked it in my Notion list for done tasks, waiting a bit before sharing.

That gave me three full hours to handle my second job's work. When I delivered, it was spot on time, clean, and she praised the quick turnaround. My past deck know-how stayed my edge – no one guessed how easy it was. It kept me looking solid while opening up my day.

Anyone can find these edges without being an expert. Look for tasks where you're the only one in charge and/or you have a technical edge.

This works best when you own a piece of the project solo. Think of mail carriers who know exact spots for boxes or how folks like their packages – that's info only they hold, and the system needs it to run smooth. They hold the leverage against the company when it comes to their specific piece of work. In OE, seek jobs that give you lone duties. It means you have the leverage. You set the speed.

For instance, hold back on sharing fast tools. Done early? Wait to report. I push mine back by at least six hours, sometimes a day or two if possible. That slot goes straight to my other role.

Jump on AI if you're not there yet. Firms move slow with rules, setups, and training hold-ups, especially for less tech-savvy staff. You, though? Sign up for ChatGPT Pro and test it out. Try file uploads, research modes, strong prompts. By 2026, with the latest version like 5.2, it handles reports and data tweaks in tools like Excel or PowerPoint better than ever. Start with your first job to cut time, then layer in a second. (I’m well aware that companies may have policies on AI use, and I will cover my thoughts on this at a later article)

But, the bar is rising, as tools get dispersed in the market. As more people learn, bosses expect faster work. Right now, while companies sort it out, being sharp with AI allows you to arbitrage and gain valuable time.

To build more edges, work on how you talk. As I said in my optics piece, clear communication is fundamental for OE.

Another tip: aim for work that's new or complex, where no one can check progress easy. That solo space lets you pace things your way.

Take this from a past consulting stint. I ran point on a market study for a client eyeing new services to beat rivals. Small group, me doing most – sifting surveys, huge Excel sets, crafting methods to spot trends. Managers steered clear of the messy data parts, leaving it to me.

It took real brain work and hours, no doubt. But with no peers at my level, I could stretch timelines a touch, noting how thorny each step was. Daily checks? Hard, since it was custom, first-time, and they had other fires. I delivered solid in the end, team pleased.

Meanwhile, those extra days let me balance my OE setup, pulling double pay without rush. Wasn't about skipping effort – it was owning the task fully, on my schedule. Shows how taking charge turns info gaps into steady wins.

Here's the twist: OE isn't for the lazy. It's for getting good, claiming tasks, and giving value that stands out – but on your clock.

These personal edges give the space to juggle jobs and boost that income. If you're juggling a lot, they make it doable.

Watch for part two on cross-manager edges, ideal for multi-task roles. Join the list if you're new, and share your own edges in replies. Let's keep sharing what works.

Chad Jifinity.