Health plays an important role in our daily life

Allo Innoware

In the year 2021, Java turned 26 years old. Yes, Java is a pretty old programming language. Still, it holds popularity in the software development landscape and is one of the widely used programming languages across the globe. Source: TIOBE Index Source: PYPL The majority of Fortune 500 enterprises use this programming language. The Java language is making enhancements periodically to be in the market for a longer time. Java 9 has transformed the way Java developers write code to develop Java-based applications. It has come up with lots of improvements to existing APIs. We will be discussing the following listed API improvements in Java 9: Stream API Improvements Process API Improvements Multiresolution Image API CompletableFuture API Improvements Optional Class Improvements Collection Factory Methods Let's deep dive into the API improvements of Java 9. 1. Stream API Improvements In Java, streams were introduced to assist Java application developers to perform aggregate operations from a collection of objects by using various methods. In order to improve stream API, Java 9 comes with some new methods. Let’s talk about the new methods added to the stream interface in Java 9 to improve the stream API. a) Java Stream Iterate Method The iterate method is introduced to the Java 9 stream interface. It allows you to iterate stream elements till the given condition. The iteration of stream elements stops as soon as the predicate (condition) returns false. This method takes three parameters- seed, hasNext and next. Indicates an initial element. seed: It is a condition (predicate) that applies to elements to verify when the stream must end. hasNext: It is a function to be applied to the previous stream element to generate a new stream element. next: import java.util.stream.Stream;

public class StreamExample

{

  public static void main(String[] args)

  {  
   Stream.iterate(1, i -> i <= 10, i -> i\*3)

  .forEach(System.out::println);
  }
} Output: [1, 3, 9] b) Java Stream dropWhile() Method Stream dropWhile method gives the outcome based on the order of the stream elements. In an ordered stream, the method returns a stream that consists of elements after removing the elements that match the specified predicate (condition). Ordered stream: dropWhile() In an unordered stream, this method returns a stream that consists of leftover elements of this stream after removing a subset of elements that match the specified predicate. Unordered stream: Implementation of Stream dropWhile() Method: import java.util.List;

import java.util.stream.Collectors;

import java.util.stream.Stream;

public class StreamExample {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<Integer> list

      = Stream.of(2,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)

        .dropWhile(i -> (i % 2 == 0)).collect(Collectors.toList());
   System.out.println(list);

   }

} Output: [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] c) Java Stream takeWhile() Method Java 9 comes with the Stream takeWhile method to improve the stream API in Java. The method returns every element until the predicate (condition) unmatched the elements. And the program ends just when it fails to satisfy the predicate. -Implementation of Stream takeWhile() Method: import java.util.List;

import java.util.stream.Collectors;

import java.util.stream.Stream;

public class StreamExample {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
   List<Integer> list
   = Stream.of(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
      .takeWhile(i -> (i % 2 == 0)).collect(Collectors.toList());
  System.out.println(list);

  }

} Output:
[] Here, method returns an empty list because the condition is not matched at first list element, and the method terminates here. takeWhile() -Implementation of Stream takeWhile() Method: import java.util.List;

import java.util.stream.Collectors;

import java.util.stream.Stream;

public class StreamExample {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<Integer> list
    = Stream.of(2,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
       .takeWhile(i -> (i % 2 == 0)).collect(Collectors.toList());
   System.out.println(list);

  }

} Output:
[2,2] Here, the method returns the first two elements because the condition matched for the first 2 elements (even elements), and the third element failed to satisfy the condition. So, the program ends at the third element. d) Java 9 Stream ofNullable Method Prior to Java 9, you couldn’t make a stream using a null value, it would throw NullPointerException error. To handle this error, Java 9 has added a Stream ofNullable method to the stream interface. This method returns a sequential stream that consists of a single element if the parameter of the method is non-null. And the method returns an empty stream for a null parameter. Implementation of Stream ofNullable Method:
import java.util.stream.Stream;

  public class StreamExample {
    public static void main(String\[\] args) {
      Stream<Integer> val
      = Stream.ofNullable(null);
    val.forEach(System.out::println);
  }

} This code will not give any result. 2. Process API Improvements The process API in Java helps in managing and controlling Operating system processes. In the older versions, managing OS processes was a cumbersome task to do for developers. With the advent of Java 9, the process API has improved a lot. In Java 9, some new classes and interfaces are introduced for interacting and managing OS. Two new interfaces have been introduced to the JDK: ProcessHandle ProcessHandle.Info Java ProcessHandle Interface ProcessHandle interface helps developers to manage and control processes. With a slew of static factory methods in this interface, you can monitor every process for aliveness, list its children, process ID, current direct children of the process, the killing of the process, and many more. Signature of Java ProcessHandle Interface public interface ProcessHandle extends Comparable<ProcessHandle> Source Java ProcessHandle.Info Interface Java 9 has introduced this new interface to give information about the processes. This newly added interface is the nested interface of the ProcessHandle interface. Signature of Java ProcessHandle.Info Interface public static interface ProcessHandle.Info We have tabled various methods in ProcessHandle.Info interface. Source 3. Multiresolution Image API Java 9 brings a new multi-resolution image API that supports multiple images with different image resolution variants. This Java 9 API allows a group of images with different resolutions to be used as a single multi-resolution image. We have listed down the important methods of multi-resolution images. − Image getResolutionVariant(double destImageWidth, double destImageHeight) Gets a specific image which is the best variant to represent this logical image at the indicated size. – This method returns a readable list of all resolution variants. List<Image> getResolutionVariants() 4. CompletableFuture API Improvements A CompletableFuture is a type of class in Java that belongs to java.util.concurrent package.  This class implements CompletionStage and Future interface. It was introduced in Java 8. Java developers use this class for asynchronous programming which means to write non-blocking code. It runs a task on a thread other than the main application thread. And also sends a notification to the main thread about its task status whether the task is in progress, completed, or failed. In this way, the main thread does not wait for the task to get over. Lots of other tasks run in parallel. This helps in enhancing the performance of an application. Java 9 brings some enhancements to the CompletableFuture API. Support for delays and timeouts Enhanced support for subclassing Addition of New factory methods 5. Optional Class Improvements Optional Class is a public final class in Java. This class was introduced in Java 8 to avoid null checks and NullPointerException issues. Java developers need to import java.util package to use the Optional class in your applications. This class provides methods to check whether a value is present for a particular variable or not. Java 9 brings 3 new methods to enhance its functionality. Let’s have a look at these methods. stream() public Stream<T> stream() If there is any value, it will return a sequential Stream consists of that value, otherwise returns an empty Stream. ifPresentOrElse() public void ifPresentOrElse(Consumer<? super T> action, Runnable emptyAction) If there is any value, this method will perform the given task with the given value, otherwise performs the given empty-based action. or() public Optional<T> or(Supplier<? extends Optional<? extends T>> supplier) If there is any value, the method will return an Optional describing the value, otherwise returns an Optional generated by the supplying function. 6. Collection Factory Methods Previously, for creating a list of 5 elements, developers used to write the following code. import java.util.ArrayList;

import java.util.List;

public class FactoryMethodsExample {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<String> list = new ArrayList<>();
    list.add("Java");
    list.add("JavaFX");
    list.add("Spring");
    list.add("Hibernate");
    list.add("JSP");
    for(String l : list){
      System.out.println(l);
     }
   }

} Output: Spring
JavaFX
JSP
Java
Hibernate As you can see, in the above-written code, add method is called frequently for each list element. Here comes the improvised version of doing the same task. In Java 9, you can do it in a better way with the help of collection factory methods. So, what are these Factory methods? Well, Factory methods are a special kind of static method that assists developers to make unmodifiable instances of collections in Java. By the collection Factory methods, you can make list, set, and map a small number of elements. Signature of Java 9 Set & List Interface Factory Methods Based on the number of parameters, it will return an immutable set of elements. // ....and so on static <E> Set<E> of() static <E> Set<E> of(E e1) static <E> Set<E> of(E e1, E e2) It returns an immutable set comprised of a random number of elements. static <E> Set<E> of(E... elements) Similarly, for List interface: // ....and so on static <E> List<E> of() static <E> List<E> of(E e1) static <E> List<E> of(E e1, E e2) static <E> List<E> of(E... elements) Generally, 10 elements are enough. In case, more than 10 are needed, you can make use of the var-args version. But you might be thinking, what is the use of 11 overloading methods if you have a var-args version that can return n number of elements. Well, the performance factor is the answer to your query. Every var-args method call implicitly makes an array. While overloading methods do not create objects unnecessary and thus avoid garbage collection overhead. Implementation of Java 9 Set Interface Factory Method: import java.util.Set;
public class FactoryMethodsExample {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Set<String> set = Set.of("Java","JavaFX","Spring","Hibernate","JSP");
    for(String l:set) {
     System.out.println(l);
    }
  }
} Output: Spring
JavaFX
JSP
Java
Hibernate Java 9 Map Interface Factory Methods Map Interface In Java 9, Map interface has two factory methods- Map.of() and Map.ofEntries() that assist Java developers to build immutable maps seamlessly. Implementation of Java 9 Map Interface Factory Method: import java.util.Map;
public class FactoryMethodsExample {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    // Creating Map Entry
    Map.Entry<Integer, String> e1 = Map.entry(101, "Java");
    Map.Entry<Integer, String> e2 = Map.entry(102, "Spring");
    // Creating Map using map entries
    Map<Integer, String> map = Map.ofEntries(e1,e2);
    // Iterating Map
    for(Map.Entry<Integer, String> m : map.entrySet()){
      System.out.println(m.getKey()+" "+m.getValue());
    }
  }
} Output: 102 Spring
101 Java We have listed the common characteristics of Factory method for set, list, and map instance: It is immutable No null elements It is serializable ( if all the elements are serializable) No duplicate elements. The iteration order of set elements is not specific and it might vary. Points to Ponder: For List and Set interfaces, of() method is overloaded to take 0 to 10 parameters and one with var args parameter. For Map interface, of() method is overloaded to have 0 to 10 Key-value pairs. And if there are more than 10 key-value pairs for Map interface, you can use ofEntries() method by taking var args parameter. Wrapping Up Hope you have learned about the API improvements in Java 9. These API improvements will assist you to write better code for your Java-based application development projects. Happy learning!

Six ‘Java 9’ API Improvements You Should Know

Test early and often “ ”  The person who first introduced the concept of " " in the Dobbs Journal back in 2001. Larry Smith shift left testing It is commonly said that prevention is better than cure, yet the secure-by-design approach is still given little consideration in software development. If this attitude does not change quickly, there will be more data breaches in the tech industry resulting in the loss of customer data and reputation, which could lead some companies to bankruptcy. It is important to remember that insecurity comes at a great expense. It is imperative to design apps and platforms with a security mindset to minimize attacks from black hat hackers, as the consequences can be severe. According to the Consortium for Information & Software Quality ( ), Software quality problems could have caused a loss of $ trillion to the U.S. economy. This report proves why shifting left is the way to go in software development. CISQ 2.41 What is Shift-Left Testing? Shift Left Testing is a approach that involves testing the code earlier in the Software Development Lifecycle ( ). The objective of this approach is to detect and rectify any bugs or errors at an early stage by moving the testing process to the left side of the SDLC timeline. software development SDLC : The three main goals remain to speed test to minimize of code bugs to improve code quality and software applications ready to market Why Shift-Left Testing? Because insecurity is expensive! With a secure-by-design approach from the early beginning of the software development phases, more bugs could be found and minimized to deliver high-quality software. In the traditional SDLC approach, testing was delayed until the end, resulting in buggy software, market delays, and poor user experience. Shift-left testing is currently the way to go. There is no longer time to neglect security. Building software is not enough - security is crucial to delivering world-class services. in a nutshell, security is vital at each phase of the SDLC. Key Benefits of Shift-Left Testing During the development process, testing is performed earlier at each phase. This provides various key benefits: : The core principle of shift left testing is to test earlier and more often because insecurity is expensive Reduce costs : increased in the SDLC process Higher efficiency Bugs are detected earlier in the development process, ensuring high-quality software ready for delivery. Higher quality: : Development teams can move fast, build, prove their credibility, and innovate by iterations. Competitive advantage Types of Shift-Left Testing There are four types of shift-left testing that development and testing teams can work on based on their needs. : The approach follows the V model an extension of the waterfall model in software development, and brings testing activities starting at each phase of the lifecycle. Traditional shift left testing it is still used today in some companies, but as the world of tech changes, it has become less adopted as organizations have adopted more efficient approaches for testing. : This approach is ideal for big and complex projects that use incremental and iterative development methods. It ensures that the code is secured step by step in the SDLC. Testing is carried out at each iteration and the end of the project, with the core principle of "early and often" in mind. This approach aims to catch any issues as early as possible to minimize the risk of problems down the line. Incremental shift left testing : Agile and DevOps principles are the main focus of this approach. It emphasizes continuous integration, continuous delivery, and testing. Testing is an integral part of the development process, carried out repeatedly and collaboratively by different teams. Collaboration is one of the core principles of DevOps. Agile /DevOps shift left testing : The approach utilizes models to generate test cases, data cases, and oracle tests in the early stages, resulting in the elimination of 45-65% of errors. Model-based shift left testing How to Implement Shift-Left Testing Adopting shift-left testing can be challenging for some companies as it requires time to train teams in the new approach. However, it is a highly effective way to enhance software quality. Where to begin? : Collaboration between managers, PMs, testers, and developers is crucial for the successful implementation of the approach. Involve all the stakeholders : Automated tests are essential for shift left testing. Automation allows for quick test execution, enabling earlier detection and resolution of bugs. Automate your tests : It’s paramount to involve developers in testing from the beginning, an excellent way for them to have a security mindset at each phase of the SDLC. Involve developers in testing : The role of automation in the world of DevOps is crucial as it simplifies the process of building, testing, and deploying software. It provides an opportunity to implement shift left testing, which enables automatic testing at every stage of the development process. Use CI/CD : You can't improve what you don't measure, by measuring different challenges of several tests it’s possible to know precisely what works and what doesn’t, always measure your results! Measure your results A Tale of Shift-Left Testing The mantra remains the same! “ ”, companies who invest their time in shift left, training developers, and involving all the stakeholders, innovate and make a difference with top-notch services, Among them are Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, Linkedin … Test early and Often testing is not a technology! just a software development approach Shift left has been considered a pioneer of shift left testing, with million subscribers The platform remains the most used by cinephiles around the globe, users ’demands change all the time, and from their feedback such companies have to innovate to keep pace with different trends, retaining customers and generating more revenue. Netflix 238.39 With a traditional approach to testing Netflix had some issues in the past such as: High costs of testing Defects in production resulting in outages affecting some users a delayed time to market By adopting the shift left approach, they were able to achieve significant improvements in their production. They reported a 50% decrease in defects, a 30% reduction in Time to Market (TTM) for new features, and a 20% reduction in testing costs. Developers can gather feedback from users to improve code while satisfying demand, the challenge is to know how to shift left. Shift Left Now The world of software development is stressful when it comes to data breaches because of poor designs, an opportunity for black hat hackers to exploit anything they want, and a risk for companies to lose the trust of customers and investors, resulting in bankruptcy. Insecurity is expensive, it’s time to foster shift left testing now not later!

Shift Left Testing: Why Security Should Start on the Left

Call me old-school but I often have a hard time wrapping my head around the “thank u, next” trend. While the overnight success of this pop culture sensation may point to our continuous collective quest for something new, the only space where I can relate to this millennial anthem is the world of tech. Given that the incredibly promising and steadfastly efficient blockchain technology has officially been around for over a decade now, what’s more exciting than exploring the possibilities it has in store? can keep her hits and likes, while I keep wondering if it’s already time to swipe left on the three blockchain generations that have made an appearance over these ten years. The fourth generation of blockchain is coming our way, and while the details are still somewhat vague, I can’t help but be excited. Ariana Grande What will blockchain 4.0 look like and will it be worth moving on from the other three that came before? The questions are endless but I am determined to find an answer. Before delving into the details of what lies ahead, it is imperative to have a look at what came before. Not doing so would be great disservice to the ongoing legacy of the blockchain. While necessity might be the mother of invention, innovation is rooted in the labour of those who came up with the earlier versions of any technology. Blockchain 1.0: Where it All Began Photo by on Dmitry Moraine Unsplash Roughly a decade ago, the first practically applicable blockchain made a subtle, almost unnoticed entry into our world. Developed to be the technology underlying , the first ever cryptocurrency, blockchain was far more niche than it is today. Back then, if you interrupted a business executive at a meeting and asked him what blockchain was, he’d likely be clueless about it. Today, even if every person walking up and down the street might not know about it, a large section of business executives, entrepreneurs and governments definitely do. Bitcoin , developed by Bitcoin’s anonymous founder , was that of a distributed ledger of information, simultaneously validated by a large number of nodes spread out all over the world. Promising transparency, immutability, accountability and security, this blockchain began to gather speed as more and more cryptocurrencies (mostly forks of ) like and started coming to the fore with blockchain at their respective cores. The idea of the first generation of blockchain Satoshi Nakamoto Bitcoin Litecoin.Com Bitcoin Cash The first generation of blockchain was characterized by the consensus mechanism, which necessitated the use of heavy mining hardware and expenditure of significant resources. It was a good start but soon problems started emerging in terms of scalability, interoperability, sustainability and speed. Till date, Bitcoin is one of the slowest cryptocurrencies out there, taking about 10 minutes to confirm a transaction. Proof of Work Blockchain 2.0: Finding New Functionality Image by from Miloslav Hamřík Pixabay Nakamoto’s blockchain was mostly limited to facilitation of payments, at slow speeds and high costs. The promised security and immutability were often suspect as well, collapsing in the face of possible 51% attacks. The second generation of blockchain led by in 2013, sought to overcome a few of these limitations. ethereum The new blockchain offered a world of expanding functionalities: from hosting blockchain smart contracts to decentralized applications, from tokenizing assets to supporting DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations). These still used the Proof of Work algorithm and continued to have high network fees and less-than-optimal speeds but fueled by the availability of new functionalities, quickly became the darling of businesses, the go-to blockchain for enterprise use. , , BAT quickly followed suit. Ethereum NEO Waves Blockchain 3.0: Fixing the Flaws Image by from Immersion Imagery Shutterstock The third generation of blockchain is still the new kid on the block, trying to fix the failings of the versions that have come before. Focusing on scaling up, the third generation blockchain networks are also trying to introduce greater interoperability and boost network speeds. Promoting cross chain transactions, using techniques such as sharding (particularly in the case of Ziliqa) and establishment of parallel chains are only some of the approaches being taken by these 3rd generation blockchain solutions. Using mostly and other new consensus protocols, the third generation blockchain networks include notable examples like , , and so on. Proof of Stake Cardano IOTA Nano So, what does the fourth generation of blockchain seek to achieve? Considering the fact that the third generation of blockchain is still finding its footing, trying to attain popularity and higher adoption, it can sound a little unnecessary to consider a fourth generation of the technology right away. However, in the world of tech, change is the only thing that is constant and some visionary firms have already gotten moving, before the space gets too crowded. Ask an expert, you will probably find an answer. Ask another, and you will end up with two. The reason is that the fourth generation of blockchain is not here yet and we do not have a crystal clear picture of what it looks like. Some writers feel that a combination of third generation blockchain and AI will spawn Blockchain 4.0 but honestly, I believe that it can be so much more than that. What is the fourth generation of blockchain? Photo by on Craig Cooper Unsplash A few projects have already come out with their whitepapers, suggesting the wide variety of changes the new blockchain can incorporate. The defining characteristic of Blockchain 4.0 seems to be that it does not just seem to improve, like the third generation does. Instead, it seeks to innovate. In all these years of its existence, blockchain has accomplished much but has hit a major roadblock when it comes to mass adoption. While big businesses, a few governments and some individual entrepreneurs may be riding on the blockchain hype, the technology is yet to permeate to local institutions, the common people, schools, colleges, small businesses and the likes. The fourth generation of blockchain should seek to break that very divide, by making the technology accessible to institutions and industries, governments and common folks. While there are a few projects trying to take the proverbial leap into the future, a couple of them happened to catch my eye with their innovative propositions. One of them is , a new blockchain platform being created, with the aim of mass adoption in mind. While existing blockchains would perform poorly with complexly organized data, this fourth generation blockchain solution offers to adapt to the hierarchical and multifaceted nature of real life organizations. Establishing relational databases, that can make connections between the various pieces of information stored on the ledger, the new offering hopes to meet the needs of organizations and governments more effectively. Multiversum Interestingly, this project also attempts a spin on the oft-lauded trait of immutability in blockchain. It suggests an operational rollback feature to make edits and changes, without affecting the transparency and dependability of the blockchain network in question. The incorporation of biometric information to hashes and cryptographic keys also presents an intriguing solution to the issue of security, and might be used for this particular blockchain project. Even as the project aims to focus on novel features to facilitate widespread usage, it also tries to improve upon what has been an enduring failing of blockchain technology: low scalability. Perhaps a little too ambitiously, it claims to be working on “unlimited scalability”. Including validation, the speed is supposed to be 0.2s, with throughput being capable of reaching 1000 Tps per core. This means that a 64-core server is automatically able to reach up to 64,000 Tps. A unique consensus mechanism is expected to bind this all together. Proof of Integrity Another fourth generation blockchain project, quite simply named the 4th Blockchain, is trying to take simpler route to achieving higher efficiency and adoption. According to its whitepaper, it is trying to incorporate the element of space into the usual configuration involving blockchain and time. A new grouping algorithm is meant to divide the nodes into groups for maximised efficiency, while another algorithm takes care of mobile-mining opportunities. SOOM Basically, the 4th Blockchain is being developed as a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform to cater to a plethora of industrial needs. Each peer-to-peer transaction is made by cells, each cell having 512 nodes grouped together based on space and time factors by the unique grouping algorithm. It is an interesting way to approach the efficiency and scalability problem, introducing brand new innovation to tackle existing issues and cater to mass requirements. Some other projects like and are also in the making, as far as fourth generation blockchain is concerned. Insolar is designed as a BaaS platform offering compliant, governance-friendly hybrid blockchain networks. It also promises to execute smart contracts using data from cloud-based domains. Aergo, for its part, offers to have around 1 million Tps and sidechain solutions to solve existing scalability issues. Aergo Insolar Clearly, for the fourth generation blockchain projects, the possibilities seem to be enormous. Even as previously unseen solutions to the scalability issues keep emerging, some new projects promise to transform the very terrain of blockchain by coming up with mass-friendly, more pragmatic features. The fourth generation of blockchain, whatever it may look like, will not be monotonous. It will be variegated, radical, exciting and unique. As new doors open up and whitepapers give us more food for thought. I, for one, cannot wait.

What Will The Fourth Generation of Blockchain Look Like?

It has been almost five years since the last big-scale Fiverr's marketing campaign that rubbed freelancers the wrong way. I consider myself to be a fair player. That's why I have to mention an honorable exception - Other than that one, to the best of my knowledge and good intentions, nada! Fiverr Super Bowl ad "Opportunity Knocks. Now, before I shed more light on a story about how , we need a quick reminder of the notorious "In Doers We Trust" 2017 marketing campaign. Fiverr Just Made a Whole Ad Campaign About Nothing What Were You Thinking, Fiverr? I let ad posters for this campaign do (most) the talking here. Here's the most "popular" one: What an interesting choice of words, don't you think? You know that things have become serious when . While we're at it, here's my favorite one: The New Yorker writes about the so-called gig economy WTFiverr? Seriously? What's this even supposed to mean? Long and unpleasant marketing story short, here's one of many articles to illustrate how people, freelancers, gigsters, or however you want to call or label them, felt about these ads - pretty vocally: . People are not pleased with Fiverr’s deeply depressing advert Let's wrap it up with an "artwork" from the NYC subway advertising jungle, if I'm not mistaken, which I found on : JORGE RODRIGUEZ NIETO BLOG We are done with Fiverr doers. Moving on. Turn Nothing Into Something - by Fiverr Here's a . Spoiler alert: it's only sixty seconds long! link to the official Fiverr's "Nothing" commercial on YouTube Here's the explanatory text that goes with it: Every successful something started from nothing. All you need is an idea that excites you and the desire to make it happen. Because with help from our freelancers—thousands of professionals across hundreds of different fields—everything is possible. Since October 27, this video has got 578,871 views, 79 likes, 8 dislikes, and 11 comments. For the official Fiverr YouTube channel with 38.5K subscribers, that is - symbolic. When you hit on one of the links, you get this message: That's deep, isn't it? I checked out Twitter too. Fiverr has 362.3K Followers on Twitter, so... Honestly, I didn't check what's the situation on Facebook and Instagram. I am a writer, not a doer. What's the "general reception" and feedback? I don't know; I'm not sure. I think we should give this campaign at least a month before making some definitive conclusions. The Digital Alchemy for Remote Dummies According to here's how Fiverr came up with their Something-From-Nothing-Win-Win formula: BusinessWire's article about "a New Brand Campaign to Inspire People to Turn Their Dreams Into Reality," In a recent study Fiverr conducted in partnership with YouGov that asked U.S. adults about starting a business, 25% of respondents revealed they had a business idea in the last 18 months; however, of the nearly 60 percent (59%) who never pursued their business idea, 58% said it was due to lack of resources. The new campaign addresses this issue, showing freelancers on Fiverr can help kickstart business ventures, and drives home the concept that anyone can take “nothing” and, with help from Fiverr talent, “do something” to bring that idea to life. Well, I don't know about you, but if you want me to write you "something," you have to pay me "something." The last couple of lines are open to interpretations, to say the least: "...anyone can take “nothing” and, with help from Fiverr talent, “do something” to bring that idea to life." So, the whole concept relies on Fiverr talents or as once used to call them - doers. They're supposed to take "nothing" and make "something" out of it. “We’re really flipping the script with this new campaign. While our last few campaigns showcased real businesses, this is focused on how Fiverr freelancers can support any business to grow, innovate, and succeed. All you need is to do something,” said Duncan Bird, Vice President of Brand Marketing & Digital at Fiverr. OK. I get this part "all you need is to do something." But again, the emphasis is ONLY on Fiverr freelancers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Fiverr hasn't changed their fees, one of the highest in the industry, since day one. It's . Right? Fiverr's clients pay the service fees too. still 20% Published by Milton Malone What do I know about thermodynamics, marketing, and freelancing? I'm just a humble and overweight . And, this is exactly what I did with this story; I shared my critical thoughts about Fiverr's marketing campaigns, no more, no less. Vote for me to relieve stress. God Bless! Noonies2021 nominee for the Critical Thinker of the Year

A Brief History of Fiverr's Out-of-Tune Marketing Campaigns

Distributed ledger technology in the light of GDPR compliance Last week I met with the blockchain startup , which promises to solve the blockchain vs. GDPR conflict on a technological layer. Why should you care about what they have to say? Lition These folks cooperate with the largest German software company SAP They launched a consumer-ready decentralized energy market place They have the recently discussed STO regulations with the German government Icons by Freepik and Smashicons via Flaticon Let’s just jump into the expert contribution of Lition’s CEO Richard Lohwasser about (A) , (B) to make blockchains GDPR compliant and . the background of GDPR four existing compliance solutions a fifth solution proposed by Lition A. Background of GDPR In May of 2018, near the peak of blockchain mania, the European Union (EU) rolled out the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in an that had become commonplace by internet giants like , , and . attempt to prevent the gross exploitation of data Facebook Google Amazon The GDPR protects individuals by laying down strict rules for data use and management by companies, including the “ ” and requiring data to stay within the borders of its native country. The “right to be forgotten” forces companies to delete user data after an individual leaves the network. right to be forgotten Violating GDPR can lead to , which can be hundreds of millions of dollars for large corporations. fines of up to 4 percent of a company’s global annual revenue The GDPR helps combat an incredibly pressing issue in our digital world. Companies have profited off of user data without curtail for far too long. Facebook has, at some point, with nearly every tech company you can think of to circumvent its own privacy policies. conspired But the GDPR comes with a catch. The legislation is in direct conflict with another effort to empower users to take back control of their data: blockchain. With the rampant abuse of user data in the last decade or so, the EU seems unlikely to back down and amend their legislation any time soon, but how can blockchain technology move forward and comply without destroying the systems that make it so useful in the first place? B. Existing compliance solutions Let’s take a look at several possible solutions… This tactic keeps sensitive user data off the blockchain, allowing a continuous blockchain record and the ability for data to be deleted. Unfortunately, off-chain systems largely defeat the purpose of blockchain by storing data via traditional methods, meaning data is more vulnerable to hacks, edits and other trickery. Deleting encrypted keys keeps sensitive data on the blockchain but throws away the ability to access the information. This method deletes the data by rendering it inaccessible, but does not technically erase it. The GDPR explicitly calls for the deletion of data, and while the deletion is not clearly defined in the legislation, making something inaccessible and destroying it all together are not the same thing. essentially While there are a couple different ways to go about anonymizing data, most solutions involve the same version of our already defunct off-chain storage method. On-chain pointers connect mainchain information to sensitive off-chain information. Once the off-chain data is destroyed, the link is broken and the on-chain information is anonymous. However, this method still leaves data on the mainchain, and while tough, identifying information could still be obtained from the blockchain. Another proposition is to completely overhaul the concept of blockchain and create centralized back end systems, that allow data to be anonymized without interrupting any chains. While this would allow GDPR and blockchain to peacefully coexist, you have basically gutted the fundamentals of blockchain by doing so. Centralized back-ends give data control back to companies and require users to once again trust companies with their information behind closed doors. That worked great the first time? A better solution? . Public-private deletable blockchain infrastructure Public-private deletable blockchain infrastructure could remedy blockchain and GDPRs incompatibility by preserving blockchain functionality while protecting user data in accordance with the GDPR. Software giant ’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Juergen Mueller, has been advising , a German tech startup, in the development of their blockchain platform with true deletability through the use of private side chains that stem from the mainchain. The team was presenting their at the SAP Data Space in Berlin. SAP Lition MVP on February the 21st Lition’s MVP launch event Lition’s network tracks metadata in the mainchain to ensure network functionality. This is where things like consensus are maintained, token balances are tracked, and transparency is provided. Smart contracts are executed on the main network, but invoke private permissioned sidechains where sensitive data is kept. These side chains can be deleted, destroying the information contained with in them, while preserving the block hashes to maintain network integrity. Source: What Does Lition’s Blockchain Architecture Look Like? The public private infrastructure is the first protocol that both allows true deletion of data and abides by the fundamentals of blockchain. The GDPR and blockchain initiatives were both attempts to reclaim our information and put an end to the rampant abuse of data Silicon valley’s top dogs have orchestrated for too long. Although they emerged from different ends of the ideological spectrum, permanent deletion versus un-tamperable transparency, the end goal was mostly the same. Through the use of public-private deletable platforms, we will be able to diversify our tool set for the fight to take back our digital identities. The GDPR doesn’t cripple blockchain, rather, it challenges it to innovate and incorporate all the best strategies to ensure our data is secure and protected. Want to dive deeper into the topic? Get in touch with Lition’s CEO Richard Lohwasser on or follow him on . Linkedin Twitter Let’s stay in touch

Blockchain Needs to Remember the Right to Forget

A. Brief Overview of the Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Space: The digital asset space needs novel regulation to account for novel applications, software, technologies, utility, and burgeoning economic frameworks. For this reason, among others, to be explored in later papers, cryptocurrency and blockchain are inextricably linked and should be (self-)regulated as such. Among the key value propositions of the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector is the ability to serve as an engine for continuous innovation and disruption. It also serves as a meaningful opportunity to empower citizens of the world with self-sovereignty over their assets and facilitate a higher quality of life by reducing economic friction caused by a massive network of intermediaries. This has rippled across all sectors of business from logistics to finance (including but not limited to investment, banking, cross-border payments, peer-to-peer transactions, self-sovereignty and self-custody of digital assets, real estate, and more), legal, artificial intelligence, network communications, media and entertainment, and more. Arguably, the expansive reach of innovation and disruption which has spawned from the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry should speak volumes to the need for self-regulation. B. Introduction to the Topic of Self-Regulation: Self-regulation by FINRA and other SROs within the US securities market has been essential to developing one of the world’s largest and healthiest capital markets. This same approach has been used in the US trade finance and commodities markets. The digital asset space is primed for self-regulation and the ability to generate similar outcomes at scale, in a fully-interconnected, global economic environment. Statement of Position: I posit that this same approach of self-regulation is vital to developing a fully-globalized economy in which interconnected, digital assets of all types can be created, innovated upon, disrupted, and transacted. An alternative to consider for “true” self-regulation would be regulation by a novel regulatory body. Having one regulator (e.g., the SEC, or the CFTC) at the helm of burgeoning technological markets appears to have created agenda-driven regimes, leading to irresponsible and ineffective oversight at a critical time in global development. One such novel body may, perhaps, be staffed half by SEC appointment, half by CFTC appointment, and chaired by seven experts, Three of these experts are appointed on a two-year rotation by congressional vote, and Two are appointed from each of the SEC & CFTC. Failure to recognize and respect the importance of this need will likely result in the US being left behind, as numerous . other experts have already stated II. Argument 1: The Unique Nature of Cryptocurrencies and Tokenized Assets While various tokens, tokenized assets, and cryptocurrencies can mirror securities, commodities, or some blend thereof, they can also exhibit fully unique characteristics. One such example is bitcoin. Since the , it can deploy a broad range of code-driven utilities, such as “ ”, or on-chain artworks and tokenized representations. Taproot Upgrade ordinals Taking the underpinning technology a step further, “ ” represents only one of many that have emerged from this industry which provides a novel utility that cannot be contained within the securities and commodities classifications, or even within a split definition or overlapping definition of these terms. Ordinals Theory technological innovations Broadening these terms (securities, commodities) stands to cripple innovation within the US and force a vibrant ecosystem of innovation overseas, thereby placing the US further behind in economic and technological innovations. Underlying code innovations are being pioneered which leverage the use of blockchain and distributed ledger technology, for use in creating novel artwork types, such as “living” artwork and evolving artwork. Other innovations that are being tackled, like , stand poised to revolutionize both the creator and global economies in ways never seen before at scale. automated royalty distributions For these reasons and many others, I posit that cryptocurrencies and other digital assets deserve to be classified within a separate category that does NOT include securities and/or commodities. I do expect that some cryptocurrencies and digital assets will be disqualifiable from this separate category, however, and would likely then fall into the definition as either a security or a commodity. This separate classification should remain sovereign and include rules that govern taxation, identity, transparency, interoperability standards, and other vital definitions. III. Argument 2: The Inappropriateness of Backward-Looking Analysis in Cryptocurrency Regulation Some digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies have been used as fundraising vehicles, leading to the SEC’s notion that users who purchased such digital assets beyond a certain date have had an expectation of profitability. I posit that we cannot reasonably define an expectation of profitability “after a certain date” when that date falls well beyond the point that the underlying digital asset was available on secondary markets. This scope stands poised to enable a gross overreach and abuse of power on the SEC’s part, particularly as a NON-ELECTED body. Ecosystems, such as $MATIC (collectively the Polygon Ecosystem), are built by a wide range of third parties and promoters. The technology has grown to scale due to a burgeoning need in a novel digital ecosystem. It doesn’t make sense to stifle the ability of innovators to create decentralized and/or decentralization-oriented solutions as a result of archaic decision-making systems that, when applied at the highest government level (US Supreme Court), feature defining tools that compare all elements with the term “employee” (see Supreme Court definition of common enterprise as applied in legal precedent.) It can readily be argued that the (and likely other “Digital Asset Securities”) could have been built, albeit more slowly, without any required investment of funds. Ecosystems have emerged which have built their codebases and communities without an external investment of funds, such as the ecosystem and the initial launch of Bitcoin. Polygon ($MATIC) ecosystem Pi Blockchain Currently, the US is evaluating new legislative avenues to properly regulate and oversee cryptocurrency markets. The European Union recently passed its as well. MiCA framework Startlingly, CoinBase was approved for before any spot markets or ETFs were approved. In an environment built to “protect” investors, it just doesn’t make sense to approve leveraged financial products before approving regulated spot market product availability. bitcoin and ether futures products IV. Counterargument: Cryptocurrencies as Securities and Commodities Some cryptocurrencies and digital assets are readily definable as securities or commodities. Many of these have been named, marketed, and sold as “Security Tokens” via “Security Token Offerings (STOs).” Meanwhile, other “Asset-Backed Tokens” (ABTs) have been marketed and sold as being backed by commodities, such as silver, gold, oil, etc. I do think that . NOT should fall outside of securities and/or commodities registration and regulation all cryptocurrencies and digital assets I DO, however, think they should be evaluated for their provisional qualification as novel (or non-novel) asset(s) that are exempt from registration and/or regulation as a security or a commodity being classified as commodities or securities. BEFORE either V. Rebuttal: The Need for Novel Classifications for Cryptocurrencies Commodity: “ Commodities are most often used as inputs in the production of other goods or services. A commodity, thus, usually refers to a raw material used to manufacture finished goods.” A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type. Commodities are, traditionally, things like oil, natural gas, gold, silicon, diamonds, salt, produce, etc. One common facet among all of these goods: The ability to interchange them. They are fungible—purity Under “Ordinals Theory”, not every bitcoin is the same and is therefore not able to be classified as a commodity. Each bitcoin contains 100,000,000 satoshis (the smallest unit of bitcoin, one one-hundred-millionth of one bitcoin), which are now being used to “inscribe” data onto the bitcoin blockchain. This removes the fungibility of the underlying currency. Bitcoin is just ONE example from among many which exist that evade classification along these means. VI. Recommendations A. Proposal for a quantifiable test for qualification as a security that can apply to cryptocurrencies at scale and adapt as new characteristics of cryptocurrencies emerge. To this end, I propose a test, the NDADT, which should be applied to digital assets before any securities or commodities-based tests, which would seek to prove that a digital asset IS NOT justified in classification under a separate asset class. This test would be a five-pronged analysis, based on the pre-existing best practices of blockchain and cryptocurrency as an industry that is beginning to show meaningful signs of maturity at a global scale. Tentatively to be named the “ (NDADT)”, this test is intended to spark conversation and curiosity from regulators, market participants, experts, and other people that might be able to help collaboratively reason through the process of bringing this from a position to a viable concept, and finally, evaluating it at the legislative stage. Novel Digital Asset Test Disqualification Utility Test: Does the asset lack a clear utility or function within its native platform or ecosystem? Novel digital assets should provide some unique functionality or use within their respective systems. Innovation Test: Does the asset fail to present a significant innovation or advancement compared to existing digital or traditional assets? Novel digital assets should offer something new or different that is not present in existing asset classes. Interoperability Test: Is the asset unable to interact with or be utilized by other systems, platforms, or technologies? A defining feature of many novel digital assets is their ability to operate across multiple platforms or systems. This may include interoperability via cross-chain atomic swaps, Inter Blockchain Communication (IBC) Protocol, Arbitrary Virtual Machine (XVM), or other means of interoperability. This should not be taken as an exclusion to novel Layer 1 blockchain protocols. Decentralization Test: Is the asset controlled by a centralized entity, without any mechanism for distributed consensus or decentralized governance? A key characteristic of many novel digital assets is their decentralized nature. Transparency Test: Is there a lack of transparency regarding the asset's creation, distribution, or operational mechanics? Novel digital assets typically employ blockchain or similar technologies to provide an immutable, transparent record of transactions and changes. If this “NDADT” test is failed, then I propose that the digital asset be evaluated for CLASSIFICATION as: A Security (regulated by the SEC) A Commodity or Future (Regulated by the CFTC) A Separate, “Non-Novel” Digital Asset to be regulated under the purview of a self-regulatory organization that has been built and developed from within the global industry and that can therefore account for and properly administer rules and regulations for the industry at large. That second test should be a five-pronged test, which either: Fulfills the “Howey Test” for an investment contract (and therefore a security); Fulfills classification as a commodity or futures; Fulfills the three prongs of a non-novel digital asset; AND Fulfills : The Howey Test; OR Classification as a commodity or future simultaneously. neither Fulfills : The Howey Test; AND Classification as a commodity and/or future. both That test is as follows: Purpose Test (Non-novel, yet differentiated asset prong #1): Evaluate the primary purpose of the token: Does it serve a functional purpose within a platform (utility token)? Is it primarily used as a store of value or a medium of exchange (currency)? Is it used to represent an underlying asset (asset-backed token)? The purpose test can help establish the basic nature of the token. Howey Test: Apply the Howey Test to determine if the token qualifies as an investment contract. This includes looking at whether there is: An investment of money, With an expectation of profit, Derived from the efforts of others. If the token fails to meet of the Howey Test, it is likely not a security (under the classification of investment contracts, which have been the primary vehicle for pursuing crypto regulation by enforcement.) all conditions Governance Test (General Securities Disqualification prong): Evaluate the governance model of the token. Does the token allow holders voting rights or a say in the project's direction (similar to shareholders in a company)? If not, this may suggest it is not a security. Economic Realities Test (Commodity vs Non-novel, yet differentiated asset prong): Consider the economic realities surrounding the token. Does it behave more like a commodity in the marketplace? Does it exhibit significant price volatility? Is it bought and sold primarily for speculative investment purposes or for its use value? Novelty and Differentiation Test (Non-novel, yet differentiated asset prong #3): Finally, evaluate whether the token demonstrates unique properties not covered by existing asset classes. Does it combine aspects of securities and commodities in a novel, innovative, decentralized, or disruptive capacity? Does it leverage blockchain technology to provide for expected forms of value or interaction? If so, it might constitute a non-novel, yet differentiated asset class. VII. Conclusion I believe that the proposed tests and theories create sufficient space and differentiation to justify the classification of “digital assets and cryptocurrencies” in a separate and sovereign category that does not overlap with either securities or commodities. I further believe that “ ” is an inappropriate term that has begun circulating due to a lack of efficient regulatory oversight and communication, despite repeated (sometimes multi-year long requests) for such clarity by the SEC which remain unanswered. Digital Asset Securities I fear that the use of such terminology is yet another overstep of the regulatory directive of the SEC, which will lead to further gross and unjust misclassifications of assets in the name of expanding regulatory regimes. I call upon regulators, policymakers, and key industry stakeholders (executives & directors within key companies in-industry, subject matter experts, consultants, and other “knowledgeable” parties) to review this position paper and provide feedback based on their insights and expertise.

Advocating for Self-Regulation in the Global Digital Asset Space

One of the main functions of Crypterium will be granting access to dApps for our users, from gambling and gaming apps like CryptoKitties to fully decentralized exchanges ( ) like . wallet dex IDEX In some weird way, dApps is like your first day in the United States — you have freedom, democracy, and opportunity to create. And while the US reference is a subject for a whole political debate on FoxNews, dApps truly can revolutionize the way apps, in particular, and the Internet, in general, works. This revolution can be to benefit of the regular users rather than big corporations, and we, at Crypterium, want to participate in the popularization of dApps. But what exactly they stand for? What is the purpose of dApps? Decentralized applications (dApps) are applications that run on a P2P network of computers. They are a type of software program designed to exist online in a way that is not controlled by any entity. Every day, most of us share some sort of data online, but the truth is that we have no control over it. To some, it is a problem and a serious one. Online we are exposed to the increased cases of the personal data leak, identity theft and dangers to become a victim of a scam or a hack attack. These problems that needs solving, and the likes Ethereum and EOS, attempt to do it via the tech. The goal is to create something like a “decentralized app store” where anyone will have a right to publish their ready-made decentralized apps (dApps). blockchain These apps, unlike modern Airbnb or Amazon, won’t require a middleman to manage user’s data or to function. DApps will be able to connect users and app providers/developers directly. What are must-haves for dApps? First of all, apps must be fully open-source. It must work only autonomously, and no entity can control the majority of tokens. Only the consensus of the users can decide on any changes and/or improvements. Second of all, all data and records of operations must be stored cryptographically and in public, decentralized blockchain. This is done in order to avoid any central points of failure. Additionally, dApp can use only a cryptographic token. It can be , Ethereum or token native to app’s own system. The token must be a prerequisite for accessing the application and a form of reward inside it. Bitcoin What Crypterium and dApps have in common? So why are we talking about dApps? The answer is simple: Crypterium is aiming for dApps integration which can provide a wider functionality and a better user experience for our mobile app. And Crypterium mobile app will act as an access point to the dApps with an opportunity of automatic user’s wallet connection. If we get back to the controversial reference to the freedom in the US at the beginning of an article, Crypterium would have a role of an American embassy in your country that grants you a green card. Crypterium’s relation with dApps can be characterized mainly by 2 strong words: potential and value. We will make sure that access to the dApps will be simplified and comfortable for common users. Besides, It will be possible to create our own dApps and easily integrate it in Crypterium mobile app. That means limitless expansion of functionality for our community members. What are some examples of dApps? There are several kinds of dApps, the most popular ones are related to exchanges, games, gambling and collectables. Top-50 dApps have about 100 000 active users in a month at current market state. Examples include IDEX, CryptoKitties, Hold’em Poker King and Epic Dragons. Some of them like CryptoKitties enjoyed an enormous popularity, whole ethereum network was down for some time because of the hype over it. is a one of working decentralized exchanges, dex’s make absolute security of cryptocurrency exchange between participants possible. The exchange process is anonymous and is controlled by the participants themselves. Hold’em Poker King is an example of online gaming, which gives users the right to interact with each other without 3rd party influence, while Epic Dragons is a gaming app about battles between “fierce dragons” combined with secure blockchain verification and investment simulation. IDEX These examples say just a little about the massive potential dApps can have. DApps have evolved with exceptional features as they provide their users with the ability to invest in their development. Observing their popularity and use-cases, it can be established that in the near future, dApps for multiple purposes such as payments, storage, cloud computing, etc. can surpass the currently available traditional applications. Imagine a fully decentralized Internet where you are free to create, buy, sell and exchange on your own terms and without 3rd parties. More than that, some apps focus on the voting system and decentralizing government. DApps can innovate and make better all aspects of our life from education to shopping. Crypterium wants in and wants you in as well. About Crypterium CCrypterium is one of the most promising fintech companies, according to KPMG and H2Ventures. We are building a mobile app that meets the banking needs of the digital assets era. Our goal is clear: with Crypterium, whatever you can do with traditional money you will able to do with digital assets. This idea is supported, among others, by the co-founder of TechCrunch Keith Teare and over 400,000 registered users, and the number is growing every day. The team is led by former General Manager of Visa Central & Eastern Europe Steven Parker, and C-level executives from global financial institutions, like Renaissance Insurance, London Derivatives Exchange, American Express etc. Join our or other social media to stay updated! Telegram news channel ๏ ๏ ๏ ๏ ๏ ๏ ๏ Website Telegram Facebook Twitter BitcoinTalk Reddit YouTube LinkedIn

A Reader-friendly and an Easy-to-understand Guide to dApps

Being an entrepreneur ain't for the weak. You need some serious guts to start a business, take risks, and put yourself out there. But what if that one thing we sometimes take for granted is exactly what we need to focus on even more? Now, I know some of you might be like, "Scott, come on, I've got courage—I started my own business, didn't I?" But trust me, there's always room to step it up a notch. For us entrepreneurs, courage is the key to success. We need to have the balls to take risks, try new stuff, and keep grinding when things get tough. And just imagine—boosting your courage by an extra 30% could be a total game-changer. That's what separates the good from the great. I recently chatted with David Wood, the founder of focus.ceo, and we talked about his killer coaching business, how he helps companies double their revenue, and why courage is the foundation of it all. Today, we're going all-in on courage—what it means to be truly brave, how to amp up your courage by 30%, and how doing this will not only level up your business life but your personal life too. What is Courage Alright, let's kick this off by getting crystal clear on what we mean by "courage." When you hear "courage," you might picture a firefighter charging into a blazing inferno or a scene with the badass Spartans from the movie 300. But let me tell you, courage ain't just about physical bravery—it's also about having that mental and emotional toughness. Courage is facing your fears, pushing through pain, standing up to danger, and staring uncertainty right in the eye. It's the fire inside that lets you stand up for what you believe in, even when it's freakin' hard. It's the drive to keep grinding through those challenges and setbacks that come with the territory of being an entrepreneur. Being courageous means owning up when you're wrong, asking for help when you need it, and taking those calculated risks. It's having the guts to try something new, go all-in on a risk, and persist when the odds are stacked against you. In a nutshell, courage is the willingness to be unapologetically you, put yourself out there, and chase your dreams, no matter what obstacles you face. Why You Need to Focus on Courage In the business world, courage is essential. It's that fuel that drives you to make those difficult calls, embrace calculated risks, and bounce back from setbacks. Without courage, you might find yourself trapped in a loop, playing it safe and never moving forward. But when you harness that courage, you'll have the power to catapult your business to new heights and crush success beyond anything you ever imagined. Take Risks Courage is what empowers you to embrace risks. In the business world, risk-taking is essential for growth and success. If you can't take risks, you'll end up stuck, never reaching your full potential. I know, taking risks can be scary as hell, and figuring out which ones to take ain't always a walk in the park. But when you've got courage, you'll make those hard choices and go for the calculated risks that'll unlock new opportunities and growth for your business. Courage helps you see the big picture, assess the situation, and make a decision—even if it's not the comfiest option. When you dive into risk-taking, you're opening up a world of possibilities. You're tapping into new markets, connecting with fresh customers, and sparking innovative ideas. It's by taking risks that you'll find new ways to revolutionize and level up your business. Be Resilient Next up, courage amps up your resilience. Let's be real—being an entrepreneur ain't easy, and you're gonna face setbacks and failures. But when you've got courage, you'll bounce back faster and keep charging ahead. Courage helps you deal with those setbacks and failures like a champ, not letting them bring you down. You'll navigate the rough patches, knowing you'll power through to the other side. This ability to face the tough times and come back even stronger is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart from the ones who throw in the towel. With courage, you'll turn those failures and setbacks into learning experiences, never letting them knock you off course. Be a Leader Third, courage levels up your leadership game. Being an entrepreneur often means leading a team and making critical decisions. As a leader, you're responsible for steering your crew towards a shared goal and making the tough calls when needed. That's when courage really kicks in. Without the guts to stand up for what you believe in and make those difficult choices, it's tough to lead. You’re most likely going to end up doing a half-ass job and a disservice to everyone. Courage is one of those qualities that fires people up. When a leader can take risks and make hard decisions confidently, it builds trust and faith in the team. Your team will look up to you, and when they see that courage, they're more likely to follow your lead. Leadership is all about inspiring and motivating others. Innovate Having guts is a major key to unlocking innovation. Entrepreneurship is all about whipping up something new and delivering a one-of-a-kind solution to a problem. Without the courage to think outside the box and shake things up, it gets tough to cook up new ideas and products. In today's business scene, standing out and being different is more important than ever. With courage, you'll stay true to yourself, chase your passions, and embrace your uniqueness. And that's what'll make you rise above the rest. Playing it Safe is The Most Dangerous Thing As entrepreneurs, we're often told to play it safe, dodge risks, and stick to what we know. But let’s be real for a second… playing it safe is the riskiest move you can make for your business. When you play it safe, you're capping your potential for growth and success. You dodge the necessary risks that open doors to new opportunities and breakthroughs. You get complacent and stop pushing yourself to level up. That's when your business hits a wall. But when you're ready to take risks and step out of your comfort zone, you unlock a universe of possibilities. You can explore fresh opportunities, test new ideas, and learn from your mistakes. It's by taking risks and screwing up that you grow and become a better entrepreneur. Playing it safe means dodging failure, but failure is a key part of the entrepreneurial ride. Failure teaches us priceless lessons and toughens us up. It's through failure that we learn and grow, setting ourselves up for success in the long haul. Playing it safe also means shying away from the uncomfortable and unknown, but it's those exact unknowns that lead to the most epic breakthroughs. The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who dare to take risks, dive into the unknown, and power through the discomfort. How To Be More Courageous Here's the deal: courage ain't something you can just flick on and off like a switch. You have to actively nurture and work on it. You need to flex your courage muscles regularly to grow and improve. If you don't develop this skill, you'll never gain the ability to take risks confidently and bounce back from setbacks. Let's dive into six steps to unlock that extra 30% of courage and propel your business to new heights. One of the best ways to grow courage is to set small, achievable goals. Kick off with a goal that's a little scary, but still doable. Once you crush that goal, aim for another one that's a bit more challenging. This'll help you build your courage and boost your confidence. 1. Set small goals: Courage ain't just about thinking—it's about doing. When fear creeps in, take action, even if it's just a baby step. The more you act, the more confident and in control you'll feel. 2. Take action: Failure is part of life, and it's super common in the entrepreneurial world. The more you learn to hug failure and see it as a learning opportunity, the more courageous you'll become. 3. Embrace failure: The people around you make a huge impact on your life. Make sure you're backed by folks who support, encourage, and push you to be your best. 4. Surround yourself with supportive people: Sometimes, when fear strikes, it's easy to forget all your past wins. Take a moment to reflect on your past successes and remind yourself that you're capable of achieving greatness. 5. Reflect on your past successes: Mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga can help you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions. This can make you more resilient when facing fear and uncertainty, and also help you stay focused and clear-headed when making decisions. 6. Practice mindfulness: Focus on What you Can Control When it comes to courage, fear and uncertainty usually play the role of the biggest roadblocks. But here's the secret sauce to overcoming these obstacles: focus on what you can control. Entrepreneurship is a wild rollercoaster, packed with unknowns and unpredictability. It's super easy to stress about things beyond your control, like the economy, competition, or even your customers' actions. But let's be real—you can't control everything. What you can control, though, are your own actions and decisions. By zooming in on what you can control, you'll take action and make strides, even when uncertainty looms. This sense of empowerment and control will fuel your courage. Here are some examples of things you can control: Your attitude and mindset Your level of preparation and planning Your effort and dedication Your communication and relationship with your team Your marketing and sales strategy Your ability to adapt and pivot Focus on what you can control, and watch the magic happen. When you concentrate on what you can control, you'll take action, make progress, and crush your goals. This sense of empowerment and control will help boost your courage. Wrap Up Here's the bottom line: as entrepreneurs, we need to zero in on boosting our courage. It's the fuel that lets us take risks, bounce back, and lead effectively. You don't need to be sprinting into burning buildings—just an extra 30% of courage is all it takes. That's the game-changer that sets the great apart from the merely good. Remember, it ain't about being fearless—it's about facing your fears and pushing through them. It's about setting small goals, taking action, and embracing failure. Focus on what you can control and let's crush it! If you want to dive deeper into this and snag some killer wisdom from the legend David Wood himself, don't miss out on our full conversation. That's a wrap for this week—thanks for reading! I'll be back next week with more success stories. Now let's go be courageous, successful, and level up our lives. If you enjoyed this article, I’d love to hear from you. Also published here .

ALLO INNOWARE

alloinnoware.com

-- employees

Since n.d.

COMPANY RANKING

ALLO INNOWARE

EVERGREEN INDEX #1352

Representing this company? Click here to claim and customize this page!

Allo Innoware WIKI

Apply to get your Tech Company News Page live on HackerNoon.com today!

ALLO INNOWARE

alloinnoware.com

-- employees

Since n.d.

COMPANY RANKING

ALLO INNOWARE

EVERGREEN INDEX #1352

RELATED COMPANIESRANK

STORIES ABOUT ALLO INNOWARE

Representing this company? Click here to claim and customize this page!

Allo Innoware WIKI

Apply to get your Tech Company News Page live on HackerNoon.com today!