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How Not To Die In 2025: Advice From the Graveyard of Failed AI Startups

እ.ኤ.አ. በ 2025 እንዴት መሞት እንደሌለበት፡ ከተሳናቸው AI ጅምሮች መቃብር የተሰጠ ምክር

Cómo no morir en 2025: consejos del cementerio de startups de inteligencia artificial fallidas

Como non morrer en 2025: consellos do cemiterio das startups fallidas de IA

2025年に死なないために: 失敗したAIスタートアップの墓場からのアドバイス

Ndenge Nini Kokufa Te Na 2025: Toli Ewuti Na Cimetière Ya Ba Startups AI Elongi

2025 දී මිය නොයන්නේ කෙසේද: අසාර්ථක AI ආරම්භකයන්ගේ සොහොන් පිටියේ උපදෙස්

Sida Aan Loo Dhimanayn 2025: Talo Ka Soo Baxaysa Qabriga Fashilmay Bilowga AI

Si të mos vdesësh në 2025: Këshilla nga varrezat e startupeve të dështuara të AI

Чӣ тавр дар соли 2025 мурдан мумкин нест: Маслиҳат аз қабристони стартапҳои нокоми AI

ኣብ 2025 ከመይ ጌርካ ዘይትመውት: ምኽሪ ካብ መቓብር ፍሹላት AI ጀመርቲ

Paano Hindi Mamatay Sa 2025: Payo Mula sa Graveyard ng Mga Nabigong AI Startup

Làm thế nào để không chết vào năm 2025: Lời khuyên từ nghĩa địa của các công ty khởi nghiệp AI thất bại

Imagine trying to build a sandcastle without a bucket and spade, or trying to bake a cake without a recipe or ingredients. You're left fumbling, frustrated, and without a clue how to start. That's how it feels for many digital artists, businesses, and collectors when it comes to creating and trading Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). NFTs are like unique digital collector's items, each with its own special value, but the process of creating and selling these pieces can be like trying to catch a cloud: nebulous and complex. The Digital Art Dilemma Imagine you're an artist, not just any artist, but a digital artist. Your mind is teeming with fantastical concepts, each a potential masterpiece. However, digitizing your ideas isn't as easy as putting pen to paper or brush to canvas. There's a myriad of software to choose from, each with its own complex interface and unique set of tools. It's like trying to build a LEGO castle without an instruction manual, with thousands of different pieces to fit together. Tokenizing Troubles: Decoding the Cryptic Language of NFTs Once you've braved the stormy seas of creation, the tempest of tokenization awaits. Turning your digital art into a tradable NFT can feel like trying to decipher hieroglyphics without a Rosetta Stone. Tokenizing your work means converting it into a digital asset - a unique piece of code that represents your artwork on the blockchain. It's like claiming ownership of a star in the night sky. But where do you start? Which blockchain do you choose? How do you ensure that the token you create truly represents your artwork and retains its value? The numerous unanswered questions make the process seem like trying to find your way out of a labyrinth in the dark. The Costly Cross-Chain Crisis Then, there's the challenge of cross-chain payments. Different NFTs exist on different blockchains—think of them as different islands in a vast sea. Trading between these islands requires a robust, reliable bridge. Currently, these bridges are rickety and unstable. Some even charge a hefty toll fee, making it more expensive for creators and collectors alike to trade their NFTs. It's like being at an international marketplace, where every stall uses a different currency, and the exchange rates are sky-high. Meet Atriv and Flare: The Dynamic Duo of the NFT World Now, imagine a world where creating, tokenizing, and trading NFTs is as easy as snapping a selfie or making a TikTok video. Where artists and collectors of all stripes can freely exchange unique digital creations, powered by the limitless potential of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. Sound like a dream? That's where Atriv and Flare come in. : Vested Interest Disclosure This author is an independent contributor publishing via our . Be it through direct compensation, media partnerships, or networking, the author has a vested interest in the company/ies mentioned in this story. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR brand-as-author program Atriv, an AI-powered platform for digital art, has teamed up with Flare, a data-focused Layer 1 blockchain, to make the creation and trading of NFTs as simple as sending a text message. Think of them like the dynamic duo of the digital art world, combining their powers to unlock the full potential of NFTs. Atriv + Flare = A Game Changer for NFTs is like a master key that unlocks the world of NFTs for anyone and everyone. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it simplifies the entire process, from creating digital art to tokenizing and trading it. And, like a trusty hero, brings powerful blockchain capabilities to the table. Its technology will enable cross-chain payments, so you can mint an NFT on one blockchain and pay with another, like Bitcoin, Doge, or Litecoin. Atriv Flare Together, Atriv and Flare are tearing down the barriers that have kept the wider adoption of NFTs at bay. They're like superheroes, swooping in to rescue artists, businesses, and collectors from the clutches of complexity and technical challenges. The Future is Here: Welcome to the NFT Revolution So, buckle up! The revolution in the world of digital art is here. With Atriv and Flare joining forces, the creation and trading of NFTs will no longer be the exclusive domain of the tech-savvy. It will be a playground for all artists, businesses, and collectors. The future of digital art is here, and it's as vibrant and accessible as we've always dreamed it could be. Get ready to turn your words into unique, one-of-a-kind NFTs. And the best part? You won't need a cheat code to unlock this level of the game. Don’t forget to like and share the story!

Revolutionizing Digital Art: Atriv and Flare Join Forces to Simplify NFT Creation and Trading

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) Provide Reliable Location Tracking in Emergency Situations With the release of the highly anticipated iPhone 14 and its enhanced SOS feature, there has been a surge in discussions regarding its viability as a primary location device during emergencies. However, experts caution that while the iPhone 14 SOS feature offers convenience, it should not be solely relied upon for accurate location tracking. Instead, traditional Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) continue to be the preferred choice for ensuring precise location information in critical situations. The which integrates advanced GPS technology and emergency services, has undoubtedly revolutionized the way individuals seek assistance during emergencies. iPhone 14 Emergency SOS Activating the SOS feature on the iPhone 14 allows users to quickly call emergency services and share their location with trusted contacts. While this can be a valuable tool in certain scenarios, it is crucial to recognize its limitations. PLBs, on the other hand, are specifically designed to provide reliable and accurate location information in emergency situations. These handheld devices utilize a satellite network to transmit distress signals to search and rescue teams, enabling them to locate individuals in remote areas or during maritime incidents. PLBs have a proven track record of success, often making the difference between life and death in critical circumstances. The Significant Advantage of Plbs Is Their Ruggedness and Durability They are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and impacts, ensuring they remain operational in challenging environments. Conversely, relying solely on smartphones, like the iPhone 14, may leave individuals vulnerable to battery drain, damage, or signal loss due to unforeseen circumstances. But let us not be blinded by the allure of the iPhone's sleek facade. For there lies a treacherous path, fraught with perils, for those who dare to rely solely on their handheld wonders. The iPhone, though a marvel in its own right, reveals its vulnerabilities as the tale unfolds. Behold the siren song of the short-lived battery life, a cruel mistress that abandons you in your hour of need. As the desperate moments stretch on, your trusted companion falters, leaving you stranded in a digital wasteland. But that is not all, for the iPhone's fragility betrays it in the face of nature's fury. As the winds howl and the rains pour, it withers, unable to withstand the tempest's wrath. It also reveals its mortal form, easily shattered in the grip of harsh conditions, rendering it a mere relic in the struggle for survival. And in the darkest of narratives, where tragedies unfold upon the unforgiving sea or near treacherous bodies of water, the iPhone's fateful flaw emerges. Its failure to remain buoyant, its inability to withstand prolonged exposure to the relentless waves, diminishes its very essence. In this realm of life and death, its promises of rescue crumble like sandcastles in the tide. Choosing Safety Over Convenience: Why a PLB Triumphs Over iPhone 14's SOS Function : When emergencies strike, the last thing you need is a device with a short-lived battery. PLBs are purposefully designed to operate independently of battery life, making them a dependable choice in critical situations. 1. Independent of Battery Life The iPhone 14's SOS function heavily relies on battery power, leaving you vulnerable if your device runs out of juice. : Harsh environments demand rugged devices capable of enduring extreme conditions. PLBs are built to withstand the elements, ensuring their functionality even in the face of rain, snow, heat, or strong winds. 2. Enduring Harsh Conditions In contrast, the iPhone 14's vulnerability to water damage, overheating, and fragility makes it ill-suited for rigorous use in challenging terrains. 3. Buoyancy in Water Emergencies: When accidents occur at sea or near bodies of water, every second is critical for survival. PLBs, specifically designed to stay buoyant and withstand prolonged exposure to water, excel in aiding rescue efforts in such scenarios. The iPhone 14, lacking buoyancy and water resistance, poses a serious limitation in water-related emergencies, potentially compromising your chances of rescue. 4. Global Coverage PLBs offer a global safety net, as their distress signals can reach rescue coordination centers anywhere in the world. This comprehensive coverage ensures that help is just a signal away, regardless of your location. 5. Minimal Risk of User Error In high-stress situations, simplicity is key. PLBs are designed with user-friendly interfaces and straightforward activation mechanisms, minimizing the risk of user error during emergencies. The iPhone 14's SOS function, embedded within a complex smartphone interface, may lead to confusion or accidental activation, wasting precious time when every moment is critical. 6. Complementary to Smartphones: PLBs and smartphones can coexist harmoniously, serving distinct purposes. While smartphones offer an array of features, communication options, and convenience, PLBs ensure an added layer of safety specifically dedicated to emergency situations. In the pursuit of safety, it is imperative to prioritize purpose-built devices over the allure of smartphone features. While the iPhone 14's SOS function may provide a semblance of security, Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) emerge as the undisputed champions in critical situations. With their unwavering reliability, independence from battery life, resilience against harsh conditions, and specialized capabilities, PLBs prove themselves as indispensable companions for those venturing into the unknown. So, when it comes to your safety, choose the device that truly has your back — choose a PLB, and don't rely on your iPhone.

The iPhone 14 SOS Service Should Not Be Relied Upon as a Primary Emergency Location Device

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been out for over two years! At this point, every player has probably reached a moment where they want to flatten their island (or restart the entire game) and try something new with their decoration choices and overall island theme. Players also want something fresh and original when thinking up new ways to decorate their island. Let's face it, a lot of themes have been done a thousand times over. But don’t worry about creating a forestcore island for the millionth time or become discouraged at the thought of playing a game that appears to have nothing new to offer. I have compiled several unique Animal Crossing island ideas that contain that extra flair that players can make their own. List of Animal Crossing Island Ideas to Spruce Things Up a Bit Space & Ocean Mountain Mythical Desert Coastal Town Meadow Kawaii Maze & Mini Games Archipelago Let the Villagers Decide! 1) Space & Ocean This theme is great for those who are huge fans of the space and ocean theme, most commonly associated with fantastical settings. It can be combined for a fairycore-inspired look or simply have a space and ocean aesthetic. The video above showcases an island that features items and small area ideas to use for the best effect. That’s the beauty of this theme: it can be anything you want, and there are many items to choose from that make it highly customizable. Also, the variety of water terraforming, such as moon-shaped lakes, can add a special touch to the island. 2) Mountain A mountain-themed island really gives players a chance to turn land terraforming into an art. Like the space and ocean island idea, this theme can be combined with other ideas to create beautiful islands. A lot of players use terraforming to create “lookout” areas, where a hiking trail up a mountain leads to a beautiful view or a place to stargaze and admire the ocean. Flower fields, waterfalls, and goat villagers really shine with this theme as well. 3) Mythical This one is perhaps the most unusual Animal Crossing island idea on the list. Adding a mythical touch to any island is worth a shot for those who love to tell stories, and the game offers a wide array of mythical items to craft or buy. There can be different areas on the island to display a well-known myth, book, movie, etc. or the whole island can depict various scenes of the same story like one big popup book. There are endless exciting options with this one, and you don’t have to stick with just myths: this idea can expand to the overall genre, too. I’ve seen many well-made horror-themed islands. 4) Desert Feel like using the sand path tool? Why not use it on the whole island? This idea is great for those who want something much different from the usual forestcore or junglecore islands, for sure. Creating a desert island is great for those who want a western town or those who want to recreate one of the beautiful African habitats full of gazelle, lions, and bonsai trees. Or maybe you just want to have a huge sandbox to place sandcastles everywhere, that’s fine too - all Animal Crossing island ideas are awesomely customizable. 5) Coastal Town I’ve seen some gorgeous towns based on this theme. And if you have the DLC, you can change the villagers’ houses to fit whatever coastal aesthetic theme you’re aiming for. Since the game is all about living near water, it contains many coastal-related items to use, like the lighthouse, for example. Also, there are many seashell-related recipes that offer some nice furniture to use, from a seashell rug to a clam music box and more. 6) Meadow Players usually take the meadow theme and use it in the “no terraforming” challenge, which is a great place to start if you’re out of ideas. If that’s not your thing, that’s okay too; that’s how flexible this theme is. A meadowcore island can be absolutely anything, from huge sparse areas of land to a small field full of flowers (say that three times fast) or even just glowing moss. Those pesky weeds also come in handy for this one and add their own touch to the meadow vibe as they grow taller. Luckily, the game has several deer villagers that would go well with this theme, too. 7) Kawaii Needless to say, the common kidcore islands inspired this Animal Crossing island idea. If you’re not familiar with the term “kawaii,” it means “cute” in Japanese and has spawned an adorable aesthetic that many people use in just about anything nowadays, especially gaming. It’s the perfect theme for an island since a lot of items in the game are cute and can be customized in a cutesy pastel color that the aesthetic is widely-known for. This theme can be combined with kidcore to make for a beautiful and colorful island overall. There are also a lot of adorable and creative designs found in the custom design library, which can only be accessed if you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. 8) Maze & Mini-Games This theme idea is pretty self-explanatory. There are players out there that have used this theme in some neat ways to create surprisingly difficult mazes and timed mini-games. Maze and mini-game islands are meant to be temporary, I’m sure, but it does mix up gameplay for a while. If you’re into contests, it can be great to host a maze or game day that gives away highly valuable prizes, such as Nook Mile tickets or star bits. 9) Archipelago Ever wanted to incorporate more water terraforming on your island? This idea is worth a try. Creating neat water-surrounded pathways to villagers’ houses and cleverly placed bridges (in-game or custom designed) can make for a gorgeous terraformed island overall. I’ve seen some players combine this theme with mountaincore and it turned out nicely. Some island area ideas include custom boat docks, fishing spots, picnic areas, and more. 10) Let the Villagers Decide Your Animal Crossing Island Idea! Maybe the best idea is to let your villager lineup decide your overall theme, or maybe this will lead to a “mixed bag” of ideas for different areas of an island that has no overarching theme. If you have vastly different villagers to cater to, like Judy, Fauna, and Stitches, all at the same time, it can create some interesting visuals for your island. For instance, Judy could live in a fairycore or kawaii-themed mountain spot, Fauna could live in a flowery meadow, and Stitches could live in a kidcore forest. Their designs and personalities leave room for a lot of creative island areas! Use Whatever Animal Crossing Island Idea Your Heart Desires To sum it all up, no island theme is set in stone and can be customized to any player’s liking. There are so many ideas out there that make for some awesome and stunning islands. These ideas showcase what creative pursuits are possible in the game; it’s just a matter of picking one and adding your own personal flair to it. What will be your next Animal Crossing island idea?

10 Best Animal Crossing Island Ideas for When You’re Stuck

What Can We Learn From WordPress To Boost the VR Content Market? Content Management Systems today look nothing like they did several years ago. They have completely changed the world of websites, and because of them creating online content is no longer a magic power exclusive to developers. We are about to experience the same changes for more immersive technologies such as VR, AR, and MR. The ingredients are all there for the new market to surge, but it lacks structure: there are game engines like Unity and Unreal, dozens of platforms for VR/AR creation without programming skills like , and platforms for quick and easy VR management like . What doesn’t exist (yet) is one clear approach that allows anyone to create VR/AR content. This is exactly what Content Management Systems have enabled with the growth of . BrioVR Varwin WordPress WordPress’s mission statement seems clear today, but back in 2003 it sounded wild: “WordPress provides the opportunity for anyone to create and share, from handcrafted personal anecdotes to world-changing movements. People with a limited tech experience can use it “out of the box”, and more tech-savvy folks can customize it in remarkable ways.” This is essentially the same mission as VR/AR today. The opportunity for absolutely anyone, from a geeky developer to an old farmer, to create VR/AR projects using the same platform sounds a bit crazy. How Can We Apply the Concept Of CMS To VR/AR Content Creation? The VR/AR/MR market is evolving quickly. While most people don’t ever think about the differences between these technologies, experts have already united these abbreviations with the term XR (Extended Reality). Some experts predict that soon we’ll get rid of these abbreviations and will just have one Reality, which will augment, mix, and show the virtual world in a novel and seamless way. Once we have that, welcome to the era of Reality Management Systems, where anyone will be able to create their worlds, games, and professional projects using 3D templates and virtual scenes. Today’s VR content market is in the same place that the website market was years ago: when only developers could produce decent sites with great design and structure while common users could barely create a simple landing page with clunky design. There are some VR CMS tools on the market today. At this point, most of them allow managing 360 videos and using 3D objects. They give some flexibility, but not enough freedom to create complex scenarios and interactive stories. Most of the VR CMS or drag-n-drop tools today are just like landing page tools from years ago: they give a taste of how the future could look, allowing you to dip your toe into the innovation pool but preventing you from diving deeper. Unlike VR CMS tools, Reality Management Systems will allow creating projects with complex logics in both VR and AR, or whatever these will be called in a few years. How Can We Repeat the CMS Success Story With RMS Tools? So what do we have to do to boost the market further and make RMS as revolutionary and game-changing for XR as CMS was years ago for websites? Let’s look for the secret sauce in the CMS ecosystem and how its ingredients caused the market to change. A typical Сontent Management System has two components: the front-end user interface (a content management application that allows users to add, modify, or remove content even without the help of a webmaster) and a content delivery application which compiles that information and updates the website. The same strategy can easily work with RMS: one side is for non-programmers, another one does the magic and brings these creations to life. The most popular content management system today is WordPress. It is used by more than 30% of all websites on the Internet. In layman’s terms, WordPress is a website playground where everyone can create anything from a simple sandcastle (landing page) to a huge megacity (complex websites). The main features of WordPress include plugin architecture and a template system. The closest tool to WordPress in the XR world is the Varwin platform. Just like in WordPress, it has an interface-like template system, where users can manage content without writing a single line of code - only instead of web themes Varwin houses VR scenes and objects. Plugin architecture in WordPress enables extended features and functionality for websites. Instead of this, Varwin has a plugin for Unity, which allows for adding new logics, interactivity, scenes, and objects that can be used in the future. This part usually requires some code as it creates the basis for non-coding users. The WordPress plugin architecture also enables users and developers to share their own plugins with the rest of the community, thus expanding the functionality of WordPress. The Varwin VR platform also grows and expands its functionality thanks to the community: developers can contribute and reuse objects, logics, and scenes. This makes VR creation a much easier and quicker process. The Power Of Community WordPress has pushed forward thanks to a huge community of contributors that made it the most popular solution for website creation. Just like websites, the VR world needs its developers and community to push the ecosystem forward and make it open for everyone. The story of WordPress tells us how open source communities collaborate to make something huge and complex and then make it work smoothly. The WordPress project is driven by a community of dedicated developers, users, and supporters. When WordPress developers started the project, they hardly expected that they were about to start a journey that would eventually help millions of users around the globe, create thousands of jobs, and boost a whole industry of developers, designers, writers, bloggers, and web publishers. “We believe great software should work with minimum set up, so you can focus on sharing your story, product, or services freely” — says the WordPress mission statement. This statement is more than applicable to the XR ecosystem. Once we have an engaged community and a good user interface for VR platforms, everything else will work automatically. Sharing stories in VR and AR just like you share your Instagram stories, creating VR business projects in minutes — this all is just around the corner. Reality Management Systems are already here to boost the XR market. Now is your chance to become part of this revolution.

WordPress Lessons: Applicable for VR?

It will crush every single idea we have of what value exchange mediums are all about. David Bowie predicted the essence and impact of the internet in 1999. He was a visionary and regarded as one of the greatest artists of our time, but little do people know, he was also a genius in more than just music. In this interview in with The BBC’s Jeremy Paxman, he captures the essence and the power contained within what was then skeptically viewed as “just” a message-delivery system. He accurately predicted the unimaginable potential of the internet not just as a conveyor of information, but a conveyor of rebellion. Jeremey also perfectly represents the other side of the story, the skeptic everyday person who resists change. I want to explore that analogy and compare it to today, 20 years later, in the nascent world of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency along with the significance of Bitcoin’s emergence just ten years after that video came out. In the entire video, you can see the struggle on the face of the interviewer, the pained expression of trying to grasp something beyond his comprehension as he tries to get into that same headspace as Bowie. That, or he thought David was on some real strong trippy shit. Rock and Roll and Rebellion When asked about being a musician, specifically Rock and Roll, David Bowie had a very interesting analogy to make, one that most people have already forgotten in this new millennium: . And even more interesting was how he jumped from Rock and Roll to the Internet as the new flag-carrier for the spirit of revolution. that Rock and Roll was originally about rebellion David said: “…it had kind of like, a call to arms kind of feeling to it, like this is the thing that will change things, a dead-dodgy kind of occupation to have. It still produced signs of horror from people when you said “I’m in rock and roll.” Now it’s a career opportunity, and the Internet now carries that flag, for the subversive and chaotic, nihilistic and…” The interviewer then makes a face that says “how the hell did he connect those two random things like that? Is he high?” But before he can say anything, Bowie interrupts and says: “Oh yes it is! Forget about the Microsoft element, the monopolies do NOT have a monopoly… maybe on programs.” A Call To Arms Against The Monopoly Some of the smartest people in the world have compared Bitcoin and the technology that has emerged from its wake as , and I completely agree. The parallels are pretty obvious. something as significant as the internet itself Anyone working in Bitcoin or the broader blockchain technology industry will understand what David was talking about. Just like with the first Rock and Rollers, that call-to-arms feeling was exactly what attracted most of us to work with Bitcoin in the first place. That feeling that something had to change in the existing system, in this case, in the world of money and finance, was a common denominator among the first movers in this industry. He couldn’t have been more accurate in describing it as a “dead-dodgy” kind of occupation to have. It took my own mother over three years to understand and believe that this was a real industry we were trying to build, that I wasn’t going to go to jail for what I did for a living. To this day, we get looks of skepticism from most people when we tell them that our business is built on Bitcoin and blockchain technology platforms. The world is only starting to see this as a career opportunity, and not something subversive or chaotic. In many ways, it is still as chaotic as anything can be. David also talks about how the monopolies have lost their monopoly. This is a perfect analogy with the complete destruction of the monopoly on money creation by nation states and central banks brought upon by the Bitcoin protocol. When , that monopoly suddenly became a sand castle in a fast-rising tide. the first person other than Satoshi Nakamoto started running Bitcoin Hal Finney was the first user of Bitcoin other than Satoshi Nakamto. RIP, Hal. Interviewer: “What you like about it is the fact that anyone can say anything? Or do anything?!” This was the biggest argument against the Internet back then — everyone can say anything or do anything or be anything, therefore, it won’t work. It is a great underestimation of the power of the individual when expressed through a collective network. David Bowie responds: “From where I am, by virtue of the fact that I’m a pop singer and writer, I really, like, I embrace the idea, that there is this demystification process going on between the artist and the audience. Now it’s a communal kind of thing , it’s about the community, it’s becoming more more about the audience, because the point of having somebody who “led the forces” has disappeared! Because the vocabulary of rock is too well-known, as a currency it is not devoid of meaning anymore. It’s only a conveyor of information, not a conveyor of rebellion. — And internet has taken on that, as I say, and so I find that a terribly exciting idea, so from my standpoint being an artist, I’d like to see what the new construction is between artists and audience. It’s almost like the artist is to accompany what the audience is doing, and that feeling is very much permeating the internet. A Demystification Process Let’s analyze that statement for a bit. Bowie talked about the demystification process going on between the artist and the audience due to the Internet’s ability to breakdown the importance of the artist versus that of the audience, where the audience now becomes as important, if not more important, than the artists themselves. When the world of money and finance started to become global, the rise of institutional financial gatekeepers have become personified and glorified in the role of banks and bankers. Banks were the most revered institutions of the new industrial era, providing credit, savings, and safekeeping of our wealth and assets. If you wanted a good and stable job, find work in a bank. Up until the 80s and 90s, this was a common narrative. In this context, banks are the artists (and maybe the record label), and everyone else is the audience. Big banks “led the forces” and had vast amounts of power and influence over society. They still do to this day, but the coming of age of the internet and the vast improvement in the interface between the user and the network is rapidly changing all that. Fintech, Insuretech, Regtech, mobile payment platforms and the like have come out strong in the last decade, and the customer is now as important, if not more important, than the institutions themselves. New applications using technology have begun to show us that these revered institutions have been sleeping on the job, and that they have been too slow to adapt to the changing needs of their audience. Going back to the interviewer, he again mentions what he believes to be the absurd idea that “anyone can say or do anything”: “But what is it specifically about the internet? Anybody can say anything… but it all adds up to what? There is nothing cohesive about it in the way there was something cohesive about the youth revolution in music…” Here we go again, that same narrative. “If anyone can say anything, it must be worthless, it will be meaningless.” If anyone can say or do anything then nothing will come out of it except chaos. This could not be further from the truth, and David knew that, with conviction. in a way that it becomes censorship-resistant, with permission-less access, Bitcoin’s invention allowed anyone in the world to “say anything” in the context of commerce and value exchange, the same way the internet did in the context of communication and information exchange. David responds: “Oh but absolutely! Because I believe that, at the time, up until at least the mid-70s, we really felt that we were still living under the guise of a single and absolute creative society where there were known truths and known lies, and was no kind of duplicity of pluralism about the things that we believed in. That i started to breakdown rapidly in the 70s and the idea of a duality in the way that we live, in there are always two, three, four, five sides to every question that the singularity disappeared, and that, I believe, has produced such a medium as the internet and it absolutely establishes and shows us that we are living in total fragmentation.” The Breakdown of the Singularity Up until 2008, we were still living under the guise of a single and absolute financial society where there were known truths and known lies, and nothing can be questioned. This started to break down in the midst of the confusion caused by on of the biggest financial meltdowns in modern history and the house of cards that fell along with it. Suddenly, we realized that there are two, three, four, five sides to every question, and that monopoly disappeared forever. It produced an entirely new medium in the form of Bitcoin, as a new kind of software, a new kind of network, a new kind of money, and a new subversive idea that came out of nowhere and completely demystified the relationship between the gatekeepers of money and the consumers of money. Things like blockchains, consensus algorithms, and peer-to-peer networks showed us that the emperor had no clothes, and that we are living in total fragmentation because of all the trust we gave to these institutions. Interviewer: “You don’t think that some of the claims that are being made for it are hugely exaggerated, I mean, when the telephone was invented people made amazing claims for it — David interjects: I know! The President at the time, he was outrageous! He said he foresaw the day in the future when EVERY TOWN in America will have a telephone. Now that, how dare he claim that, absolute bullshit (Sarcasm). So, no, I don’t agree, I think the internet — I don’t think we have even seen the tip of the iceberg. “I think the potential of what the internet is going to do to society, both good an bad, is unimaginable! I think we are actually on the cusp of something exhilarating AND terrifying.” he says. Interviewer: (Still looking exasperated) It’s just a tool isn’t it?! Some would argue that David was an alien. Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom… ( Image from Google images) “No, it’s not. No, it’s an alien life form… Is there life on Mars? YES, and it just landed here.” Says David. Bitcoin, The Alien Life Form Right now, some of the claims about the potential of Bitcoin as a new decentralized global monetary standard or how blockchain technology will change our fundamental understanding of trade, ownership, and trust seems hugely exaggerated, and rightfully so. Just like the early days of the internet, there is a lot of hype in the industry today. But, like David, we believe that what we are seeing today is not even the tip of the iceberg. We believe that we are on the cusp of something both exhilarating and terrifying, like an alien life form landing on Earth. Bitcoin’s impact has barely made a ripple in the coming wave of innovation and disruption in the world of finance, yet here we are, only ten years in and moving trillions in value on a global scale, enabling millions of people to transact with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Interviewer: “It’s simply just a different delivery system there. You’re arguing about something more profound…” To which David says: “Oh yeah, I am talking about the actual context and the state of content is going to be so different from anything we can envisage at the moment, where the interplay between the user and the provider will be so in sympatico_,_ it’s going to crush our ideas of what mediums are all about.” Something More Profound Isn’t Bitcoin just another payment system like VISA or Paypal? Isn’t it just another delivery system for money? No, we argue that it is something much more profound, just like David argued for the Internet in 1999. We live in a world of digital commerce and value exchange that was severely limited by the restrictions placed by gatekeepers, where every action is monitored by a middleman, every participant is vetted by a process that excludes two-thirds of the world’s population from participating in the global internet economy, because it was the only solution to a problem we could not solve — the double spending problem. The release of Bitcoin in 2009 gave the world a better practical solution based on cryptographic proof instead of trust, and it has opened a pandora’s box of possibilities that cannot be undone. The actual context of transactions and the state of the content being exchanged, not just money, but entire classes of value both tangible and intangible, will be so different from anything we can envisage with our limited perspective today, where the interplay between the two parties in a transaction, between the user and provider, senders and receivers, become perfectly in sync with little to no friction. It is going to crush every single idea we have of what mediums of value exchange are all about. RIP David Bowie, a real legend.

Bitcoin is the New Rock and Roll

How technology made me less of a man and more of a machine 9 lbs, 4 oz Firmly into the 95th percentile, I was the heaviest newborn in the hospital by a comfortable margin. In fact, that trend continued until quite recently. With the help of an assortment of new food brands and technologies though, I lost 45 pounds this year, prompting countless questions about about how someone so clearly to food suddenly turned the tables. addicted On the surface, I followed a tried and true method: eat healthy, eat less, and workout. Behind the scenes, I waged an all-out war to lose weight in the digital age. It was expensive, exhausting, and controversial. I can’t say if the approach I took is for everyone, but perhaps it’s helpful to someone. Welcome to the battlefield. Motivation Every meaningful journey – adversity yields heroics. That’s true for dieting, but not in an obvious way. Being overweight in and of itself isn’t an adequate catalyst since it’s difficult to perceive yourself as the enemy to overcome. All the new health and fitness technologies made possible by the digital age are frustratingly inaccessible without an initial spark of motivation. needs a villain Motivation for me unexpectedly struck as I sat through what I thought would be the least interesting of the seminars at an economics forum last year. The speaker, a researcher named Gary Taubes, had just published his latest work, . Instead of lecturing about health or biology, he zeroed in on the industrial complex that perpetuates misinformation about the supposed benefits of carbohydrates and the harms of fats. The Case Against Sugar …if you create a new market with a brand-new manufactured food, give it a brand-new fancy name, put a big advertising budget behind it, you can have a market all to yourself and force your competitors to catch up. You can’t do that with fruits and vegetables. It’s harder to differentiate an apple from an apple. Taubes explored a between private and public sectors that anyone who dares question the food pyramid orthodoxy. Despite repeatedly gaining favorable placement in government-produced nutrition guides, processed carbohydrates are likely the primary cause of obesity. The ramifications have infiltrated every aspect of American culture, inside and outside supermarkets. It turns out that while no one else can lose weight for you, . Knowing that was just the impetus I needed. I had found my villain. decades-old collusion marginalizes almost everyone is trying to make you fat Mindset Zoomed out, my weight loss chart today looks like a steep slope downward, perhaps the result of some sudden shift in lifestyle. But zoom in and you’ll observe that weight loss is a series of ups and downs — the latter consisting of battles that I lost for any number of reasons. The very notion that weight loss can be summarized with a ‘before-and-after’ picture is just one of many misconceptions. In fact, I discovered that much of the ‘expert advice’ and ‘conventional wisdom’ about dieting was unhelpful at best or counterproductive at worst. For example, deliberately planned ‘cheat days’ tend to be unnecessary within an urban lifestyle. Vacations, social events, and an assortment of other activities essentially guarantee that they happen with or without planning. My road to svelte frequently involved losing the same pounds over and over. Each plateau left me legitimately wondering if that was the end of the road, the most I could lose within reason. The ‘body positivity’ movement, frequently present in conversations along the journey, repeatedly proclaimed ‘you did it — great job!’ But I wasn’t happy when I looked in the mirror, so I kept pushing. The key for me at first was to continually refocus on the Goliathan nemesis – that nameless, complex system of harmful incentives designed to make us eat unhealthfully. But as anyone who has failed at dieting before knows, motivation alone only gets you so far. Without permanently changing my underlying lifestyle and perspective, I was betting on no more than fleeting willpower and a string of lucky days to continue. At any given moment, I was a misstep away from going back to my old ways. I needed air support. By ruthlessly experimenting with different technologies and foods, I assembled a personalized counter-system of routines and habits which helped me gain a sustainable advantage. Eating Dieting for me was like building a sand castle, with processed carbohydrates being the nearby rising tide. Before I could achieve any meaningful results, I was forced to internalize how mind-numbingly impossible it was to lose weight whilst mentally and physically . dependent on sugar ‘Everything in moderation’ proved to be yet another dieting fallacy. Any amount of processed carbs threatened to disrupt weeks of progress. Sugar has a special place in dieting Hell: the slightest taste of it of eating, craving, and obesity. It seems obvious to say now but triggers a flywheel if you aren’t capable of feeling full, you aren’t capable of dieting. I remember feeling angry, especially about all the people who seemed to be able to eat processed carbs without negative ramifications. I imagine that every dieter has at some point wished obesity upon people with whatever genetic predisposition lets them blissfully eat pizza while maintaining their waist size. But I was tired of excuses. Eventually I picked a month and removed all human contact outside of work and home from my calendar. I used to do the Whole30 challenge and eliminated processed carbs and gluten from my diet. It was one of the most difficult aspects of my journey. Kettlebell Kitchen I added a recurring event to my calendar at 3pm that said “I am going to have a migraine and I am going to survive.” Anticipating the pain was cathartic — a piercing reminder that my biology had been exploited. One afternoon, the migraine didn’t come. Food began tasting different and keeping me full longer. I had a lot more physical and mental energy. I realized that ‘normalcy’ had in actuality been a state of constant bloat. Bread suddenly looked and smelled like plastic. I may be the only New Yorker who didn’t have a bagel in 2018. By the time I reached my target weight, my diet looked like this: (~200 calories) Breakfast Super Coffee Two hard-boiled eggs (~160 calories) Late-morning 1 cup mixed berries Almond-milk cappuccino (~400 calories) Lunch salad 2 cups spinach 4 oz of chicken breast 1/3 cup red onion 1/3 mango 1 oz goat cheese 3 egg whites Lemon juice, salt, & pepper (~200 calories) Late-afternoon 1 apple Macadamia-milk matcha latte (~350 calories) Dinner salad 6oz turkey meatballs 2 cups spinach 1/3 cup red onion 1 cup butternut squash (~270 calories) Snack 1oz Turkey Perky Jerky 1 cup mixed berries 1 container Good Culture Cottage Cheese Meticulous tracking and optimization enabled me to rotate in and out alternate foods, testing and learning like a mad scientist while maintaining sanity on a daily budget of 1,600 calories. Optimization Even within the constraints of a Paleo diet, there is a lot of optionality. Eliminating the guesswork of what contributed to weight loss was a critical next step. For $39.99, I bought a premium annual membership to for calorie counting. Why the premium version, when the free option was more than adequate? Because, despite how behavioral economists mischaracterize it, is a strong motivator to continue behaviors you’re mentally committed to before being physically committed to. Tricking myself into utilizing past purchases became one of my favorite dieting techniques and was a recurring theme throughout my journey. LoseIt sunk cost fallacy I then purchased and connected an and . I weighed myself at the same time every morning and evening to pinpoint causes of short-term and long-term fluctuations. I didn’t start out as obsessive regarding weigh-ins, but there were few aspects of dieting more discouraging than feeling like you had a good day but still gained weight the next day. It made me want to throw the scale out the window because the whole process felt like an exercise in futility. The sooner I understood my body’s reactions to foods, the sooner I could avoid those experiences. Apple Watch Withings Body Scale By carefully cross-referencing LoseIt with the data from my scale, I categorized the impact that a comprehensive list of foods and brands had on my weight. Aside from those listed in my average daily diet, some of the best contributors to my weight loss included: , , , kelp noodles, seaweed salad, and coconut aminos. PB2 Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi From the Ground Up cauliflower crackers Then there are the traditionally-considered ‘healthy’ foods that I primarily avoided because they either weren’t filling or routinely led to weight gain: nuts, seeds, avocado, açaí bowls, peanut butter, yogurt, and hummus. I’m still on the fence about popcorn. Without working out, here were roughly the total amount of calories I could eat per day to still lose weight: 1,950 calories at 200 pounds 1,900 calories at 190 pounds 1,825 calories at 180 pounds 1,725 calories at 170 pounds 1,600 calories at 160 pounds As you might expect, losing weight got progressively more difficult. It is far more difficult to construct a flywheel to lose weight than it is to fall back on our biological flywheels fine-tuned to help us gain weight. Attaining aggressively lower calorie ceilings increasingly involved appetite suppressants like caffeine along with a variety of ‘hacks.’ Travel hacks Over time, I discovered that travel and vacation were the biggest obstacles to weight loss. I couldn’t depend on my go-to routine outside of my usual environment. In fact, I gave up on trying altogether and instead went into ‘maintenance mode.’ I relied on a few techniques specifically designed for travel: Energy bars instead of hotel breakfast: and Thunderbird GFB Bites to mitigate jet lag and reset my 💩 schedule Senna Tea Booking early morning coffee meetings to prevents myself from partying and drinking too heavily the night before Insatiable hunger hacks Every now and then, endless bouts of hunger struck. As the late Mitch Hedberg explained about the phenomenon: Rice is great if you’re really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something. Unfortunately, given its calorie count, rice wasn’t an option when I wanted to eat two thousand of something. But three foods were, in a way: Cauliflower rice: so low calorie that it was hardly worth logging in LoseIt. A large head of it, which is a preposterous amount to eat, is just 200 calories. In addition to cauliflower rice, I often roasted it, sautéd it, or dehydrated it and turned it into ‘cauliflour’ for pizza (with more cauliflower on top). I sincerely believe cauliflower is the future as it is the most versatile food in the world. Jalapeños: What was better than eating 2,000 of something? Eating a bunch of sliced hot peppers and then wanting to eat 0 of anything else, because my palette was wrecked. And if that didn’t work… Super salty jerky: With my , I perfected a mango habanero jerky that was so salty and spicy that I got full from one piece because it made me drink two cups of water immediately afterward. Excalibur dehydrator Weekends are for working, working out, and jerky. Psychology hacks As I mentioned earlier, utilizing the sunk cost fallacy was a critical and reusable psychological strategy for weight loss. Beyond that, I found the following two approaches to be thoroughly effective: Aspirations: I woke up every single day and told myself that obesity was a mindset. To turn aspirations into reality, I regularly purchased clothes a size too small. They hung in my closet, continually mocking me until I could fit into them. Versioning: On the flip side, I sustained momentum by eradicating the previously heavier version of myself. The moment I shrunk a size, I got rid of everything I owned that was the size above. There’d be no going back after that. Fitness Once I had a reliable system in place for ruthlessly cutting caloric intake, I began working out. I think doing so earlier would have added too many variables simultaneously, thereby complicating optimization. Not only that, but I have always hated working out, and making it a part of the process too quickly may have created an adverse effect. About 15 pounds into my journey though, I yet again tapped the magical powers of sunk costs. At “noon on Monday,” I joined thousands of people who raced to reserve their bike for the week’s quickly-filling available classes. Class at 8am on Saturday? Sure, I’d be up to to spin then. Going on vacation? Spin classes booked for every morning. So long as I paid ahead of time, I showed up. Soul Cycle Spin or get off the bike. Eventually, I graduated to , a sunk-cost-as-a-service with a superbly defensible breakeven analysis (especially when you reach 100 rides in 120 days as I did). Then came , , , and who knows what’s next. Peloton boxing rowing lifting All I know is that something always has to come next. Because something both fantastic and awful happens now if I miss a day of working out, hunger hacking, or counting calories: I go through signs of withdrawal. Addiction That brings us to today, and perhaps the rest of my life. There’s a prevailing assumption that weight loss is purely about motivation, as though I didn’t really want to be thin until now. Over the years, I broke countless promises to myself about eating right and still can’t be trusted anywhere near a plate of cookies. At any moment, a switch could go off and I’ll again be impulsively eating. Motivation was the ignition, but I have only been able to lose weight thanks to an emerging field of health and fitness technologies that enabled me to from ‘food’ to ‘something other than food.’ Becoming neurotic about a literally insane web of techniques is by no means what I expected to happen or something I advocate for, but it’s the reality. redirect my addiction In one sense, technology made me less of a man and more of a machine. In another, it made me realize just how human I am, albeit 45 lbs and thousands of dollars less than the one I was before. If you’ve always been overweight but truly want to diet, I can’t offer a silver bullet. It’s not about throwing money at the problem — many others have spent countless more than myself on surgeries, personal trainers, meal replacements, and weight loss communities, all without sustainable success. You can bookmark every technology and brand I mentioned, but they won’t lose weight for you. Neither can I and neither can anyone but yourself. If there’s one thing I hope you take from my story, it’s this: so long as it works, do . you you I owe so much gratitude to my girlfriend who recognized my pseudo-anarchist skepticism of authority and leveraged Taubes’ talk into full-blown action. She continues to push me every day.

Losing weight in the digital age

[Image: ] freddie marriage Not every lesson in life can be learned — some have to be lived. — Rumi “Every moment I shape my destiny with a chisel — I am the carpenter of my own soul.” We repeatedly find ourselves in stormy waters, strong tides, and facing fierce winds. But that elemental energy can be harnessed and converted into productive, sustainable, and positive relationships and outcomes. Navigating our journey requires the constant adaption of our path. And adaption in the face of adversity often requires unorthodox, vivid imagination. We often refer to these unique paths as our . authentic paths Imagine to Manifest William James, the father of American psychology, said, “The power to move the world is in your subconscious mind.” And the Da Vincis of the world have manifested their futures with their ability to repeatedly imagine and then design innovative successes. Author Charles de Lint in writes: The Onion Girl People who’ve never read fairy tales, the professor said, have a harder time coping in life than the people who have. They don’t have access to all the lessons that can be learned from the journeys through the dark woods and the kindness of strangers treated decently, the knowledge that can be gained from the company and example of Donkey skins and cats wearing boots and steadfast tin soldiers. I’m not talking about in-your-face lessons, but more subtle ones. The kinds that seep up from your subconscious and give you moral and humane structures for your life. That teaches you how to prevail, and trust. Ever since I was a child, I have always been drawn to fairy tales and epic stories. They help me create impossible realities in my mind and envision possible outcomes. Shakespeare said, “Assume a virtue if you have it not.” Meaning act the part and you will realize who you want to be. When we imagine ourselves in the final stage (of our goals, our products, our companies, our personal life, etc.), it is much easier to lead ourselves through our journey. Our Devotion Matters A few years ago, as I was walking on the boardwalk in Valencia, Spain, my eyes became fixated on an old man who was intensely building a sand castle. I don’t think I have ever seen such an elaborate effort to create a spectacular sand castle on the beach, only for it to be washed way before you know it. The expression of devotion to one’s virtue comes in many forms, I suppose. This particular old man was no less than Hemingway’s old man Santiago, and his quest to repeatedly struggle to achieve something impossible, regardless of the outcome. It gives a whole new meaning to “life’s journey.” His devotion to that endeavor was for its own sake and was his only focus. I have always been of the opinion that there is great honor in one’s struggle for “his devotion” regardless of how vain it seems to others. On that quiet afternoon on the shores of Valencia, that old man only reaffirmed my innate belief in “sticking to one’s devotion.” The Last 10 Percent Is the Hardest Most authors will tell you that writing a book often forces you to reflect upon your own life’s journey (personal and/or professional) — your successes and failures, your trials and tribulations, and your regrets and celebrations. In our book , we wrote: : (McGraw-Hill, February 2014) Everything Connects How to Transform and Lead in the Age of Creativity, Innovation, and Sustainability There’s an old Chinese saying that when you’ve made it 90 percent down the path, you’re halfway to your destination. The frustration you feel from the statement’s oddly true logic reflects the frustration inherent in completing any major project: The last little bit is always the most difficult. The last few steps are where our faith may falter and we may lose what we set out to do in the first place — like Orpheus of Greek legend losing his love for lack of trust. Each one of us is on a unique journey. I don’t know about you, but throughout most of my life, for whatever little successes I have had, it has been about putting most of my energies toward that last 10 percent. Over the years, I have learned to accept just how damn long it takes to do anything worthwhile. Author Paulo Coelho in his most famous book writes: The Alchemist “Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor being severely tested. The boy remembered an old proverb from his country. It said that the darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn.” Not every lesson in life can be learned — some have to be lived. Like many others before me, only now am I beginning to internalize what it means to truly accept that life is a series of journeys. [Featured Image: ] freddie marriage Copyright © 2014 by Faisal Hoque. All rights reserved. I am an . Founder of and other companies. Shadoka enables entrepreneurship, growth, and social impact. Author of “ ” (McGraw Hill, 2014) and “ ” (Motivational Press, 2015). Follow me on Twitter . entrepreneur and author SHADOKA Everything Connects — How to Transform and Lead in the Age of Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability Survive to Thrive: 27 Practices of Resilient Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Leaders @faisal_hoque Use the Everything Connects leadership app for free .

Manifesting Our Destiny With Imagination, Devotion and Courage

I often cringe at such listicles but here I am writing one. I cringe because humanity keeps finding the same principles to be true and yet every time we discover it, it feels new. Perhaps we enjoy reading life lessons other people share as a way to make sure we’ve found the same things to be true. I know that a younger version of me wouldn’t care about this because she thought she knew better and the future me would think I still had so much to learn. I won’t tell you anything you don’t already know. I’m writing this as a self-reflection, as a thinking-out-loud kind of thing. And I hope that some things will resonate. 1. If my thinking is black-and-white, it means I don’t know enough about the topic I probably saw something in passing and tricked myself into thinking I had an opinion. Black-and-white thinking doesn’t work in the real world because everything in life is context-dependent. 2. Judging is easier than empathy It requires less mental effort to condemn than to think. — Emma Goldman Even though there are evolutionary reasons for judgment, in terms of subjective experience it creates a sense of separation — either more or less than someone else. “A man who judges himself inferior superior or even equal to another does not understand reality.” — Buddha 3. I‘m (mostly) not rational I live in a world that requires me to pretend I’m rational alongside everybody else. But most of my decisions and opinions are cognitive biases, crony beliefs, mimetic desires and unconscious processing of info appearing in my conscious mind that I then rationalize. 4. The inner processes are ever-shifting Don’t expect to arrive there or get stuck on the right way to think/do/be. Life is fluid. There’s more than one way to deal with everything. Practice saying I’m changing my mind instead of I changed my mind. Minor detail, major mindset difference. 5. Quality over quantity friendships To foster a friendship, you need to invest time. Because friendships get built on shared experiences, investing time in random people takes away resources from friends you do care about. “Remote relationships cost you real relationships. Every minute you spend cultivating relationships with people through a screen is a minute you’re not deepening relationships with people you can actually see, touch and smell.” (Nat Eliason) 6. Travelling is fun until you wake up to realize you don’t have stability I spent the last 5 years travelling/living in SE Asia with short trips back to Europe. But that cost me stability and building a network. I have family here, friends over there, community somewhere else entirely. It’s too scattered. Quality life requires both stability and adventure. 7. Be wary of fake dopamine hits There are many things masquerading as doing that waste time. Avoid mental masturbation. 8. You can’t earn self-worth because it’s free It’s like trying to earn oxygen. You can’t, oxygen is. Don’t spend time earning what’s inherent. 9. Most advice is too sanitized to work. I already talked about it here. Less reading vague advice from people online and more of finding mentors or community who are going through the same thing you are. 10. Serendipity masquerades as a skill Risk and luck are doppelgangers. NOTHING in life happens solely due to individual effort. The world is too complex for all of your actions to dictate 100% of your outcomes. - Morgan Housel I see many successful people preaching how hard they worked. I believe them. The part they struggle to acknowledge though is 100s if not 1000s of factors that had nothing to do with them. Life is a dance between you and the Universe. Don’t be too delusional to acknowledge that. 11. No one’s thinking about you Not quite true because the higher you rise, the more people feel obliged to have an opinion about you. Don’t waste time on bullshit that are other people’s opinions. If you wouldn’t ask for their advice, don’t take the criticism. 12. Stay in touch with your body In a world run by talking heads, listen to yourself/intuition/your body. I don’t care what diet, exercise routine, investment vehicle or productivity hack is trending. You can’t think your way into a better life. Doing as ‘thought leaders’ advice will make you temporarily happy because your actions will be socially accepted by the tribe but you get further from yourself. 13. Be careful when giving advice Not just unsolicited advice (nobody cares what you think unless they ask). Most people ask for advice to shift responsibility onto you or pretend (for themselves) that they want to do something about their situation. If someone keeps asking for advice but doesn’t act on it, stop giving advice. In the same vein — do not take advice from people who haven’t done the inner work. They will push their narrative and beliefs on you. There isn’t enough self-awareness and empathy there to advise well. 14. Life is a paradox “Life is not a problem to be solved. It’s a paradox to experience. You can believe one thing and also believe its opposite.” — Derek Sivers Two or more things are true at the same time. 15. People are not what they show, but what they don’t show Everybody’s hiding something. Fear, insecurity, secrets… As the , humans have 3 faces: CIA found Public self (how we want to appear to others) Private self (what your closest confidants know about you) Secret self (side to you you almost never share with anyone). When you judge someone as successful, you’re looking at their public self whilst comparing your private or secret selves to them. That’s why you feel bad — the gap feels too large. I used to work with successful people and I will reiterate — EVERYONE has a private and secret self they don’t show. And there’s some really fucked up stuff in there too. 16. Taking responsibility “There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, the responsibility lies with you.” — J.K. Rowling This is hands down the best decision I’ve made in my early twenties. Take responsibility. 17. Do therapy and coaching “You can’t read the label from inside the jar.” — Jordan Gray You can’t fully see yourself. Finding a good therapist or coach will help you see your blind spots. 18. Meditate to inspect reality Nothing is what it appears to be. Everything is made up of consciousness and there’s no separation between you and the outside world. This isn’t a religious or philosophical statement. You don’t need to believe it, you only need to see it for yourself. The greatest crime is
The overlooking of
Who you really are
In favour of
The story of
Who you think you are.
This preoccupation with
Your personal drama is
The cloud that masks
The sun. -Wu Hsin 19. Anyone can give you what you want Can anyone else give me what I want? Yes, if I accept what works for me and leave the rest, I always get what I want. Take what works and move on. 20. Humanity is insane My thoughts and confusion about humanity have already been described best by George Bernard Shaw: “The longer I live, the more convinced am I that this
planet is used by other planets as a lunatic asylum.” 21. Regularly evaluate the people in your life You really are the average of people you’re surrounded with. They pass their mental model to you. Spending time with someone = downloading their software into your brain. 22. Everything you consume or experience affects you Like building blocks, every seemingly irrelevant or little bit of information creates your experience. “Everything you ever sense, in touch or taste or sight or thought, has an effect on you greater than zero.” - Gregory David Roberts Be diligent and discerning in what you consume. 23. Health is your first wealth Best health decisions: Quit drinking alcohol at 22 Stayed active Prioritised sleep Ate according to my body’s needs not society’s standards Started eating meat after being a vegetarian for 8 years 24. This too shall pass Ancient wisdom, modern cliche — but it’s true. Think of the worst thing that ever happened to you and tell me — where is it now? Think of the best thing that ever happened to you — where is it? Even your experience reading this disappears the moment it arises. You can’t hold on to anything. Life too shall pass — be flexible. 25. Know your values If you don’t know why you live or what you want, someone else will decide for you. “If you don’t choose what you worship it will be chosen for you. Because everybody worships something.” – David Foster Wallace 26. Have older friends They’ve seen more, understood more and are wiser (does not apply to everyone). Another bonus is that they aren’t your parents so you may be more open to their advice even if they say the same thing your parents would (I’m guilty as charged). 27. Don’t complain Because nobody cares. The sooner you realize this the better it will be for others around you. Plus complainers attract complainers. 28. Intuitions about happiness are wrong I will be happy when… is the biggest illusion. The goalpost once you achieve something just keeps moving. Our predictions about how happy we’ll be (winning the lottery) are not as high as we think they would be and our predictions about unhappiness (a car accident) are not as low as we think they would be. “You can’t get happy, you can only be happy.” — Werner Erhard 29. Believe in yourself It’s one of the few things that can’t be taken away from you. Spend time cultivating trust and confidence. Train to be supportive, reliable, trustworthy and appreciative of yourself. Respect yourself Be kind in self-dialogue Listen to your inner, authentic voice Trust that you will figure it out and bounce back even when you fail. 30. Everyone is your mirror How we think of and treat other people is a reflection of how we think of and treat ourselves. Further observations When making a decision, big or small, ask: ‘Do I want to have done this?’ You really don’t know what someone is going through so be kind. Being honest with yourself and others brings you closer to the truth, connection and authenticity. You don’t owe anything to anyone — choose to give from love not obligation. Think about death more to put things into perspective. I feel compelled to say that living by all these lessons perfectly every moment of every day has happened 0 times in the last 30 years. Sometimes I act in a way closer to this and other times I’m as far off as you can get. I feel like a different person compared to a year ago. And wildly different to a 20-year-old me. I think that’s what growth feels like. You add a little grain of wisdom to the sand castle that is your life and then you die. It’s up to you what you do in between. Also published . here

30 Years, 30 Lessons: A Journey Through Life's Wisdom

30 বছর, 30 পাঠ: জীবনের জ্ঞানের মাধ্যমে একটি যাত্রা

30 Jahre, 30 Lektionen: Eine Reise durch die Weisheit des Lebens

30 años, 30 lecciones: un viaje a través de la sabiduría de la vida

30 ans, 30 leçons : un voyage à travers la sagesse de la vie

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