When a person dies, the mark the individual left on the world represents that individual's legacy. While a person's legacy can involve money, the concept of legacy is much larger than the value of an individual's estate. It is about the richness of the individual's life, including what that person accomplished and the impact he or she had on people and places. Ultimately, the story of a person's life reflects the individual's legacy. - Love To Know

I think this does a much better job helping change our thinking and refocus our attention on what truly matters and what is truly important in life…and in death.

So, now for the quick thought.

Legacy is fundamental to what it is to be human. Research shows that without a sense of working to create a legacy, adults lose meaning in their life. Exploring the idea of legacy offers a glimpse not only into human relationships and building strong communities, but also the human spirit. - The Legacy Project

Pretty strong language and pretty clear result - your legacy is important, your legacy defines who you are, how you live, and what you leave behind, in every sense.

Are you thinking about your legacy?

I call this attitude the Woulda Coulda Shoulda mindset. (I had to look up the order for this phrase and have determined this to be the most trusted.) I found this word order to also be the most fitting. These people hate change and yet bemoan (dare I say acrimoniously) those who did take action (or follow advice).

Now of course this is most evident to see in the world of FinTech, and in the fluctuating markets of stocks and cryptocurrencies. There are often common sentiments in these markets across assets and this correlation would be considered overall market sentiment, sometimes this market sentiment is described as bearish, often times bullish in nature. But for the Woulda Coulda Shoulda’s (going to call them WCS) the market is always negative.

The WCS’s of the world maintain a persistently negative outlook regardless of the market direction. If the market sentiment is bullish, the WCS will talk of not getting in early, of not being “already in position”, or perhaps you’ll hear them whispering, “I wish I’d been able to get in earlier, but now…” If however, the market is bearish and the market is lower than the anticipated value of the underlying asset, the WCS will persist in their mental block only this time they reject the advice to “enter a position” or do the very thing they claimed they wished they had done!

Be careful to not be a WCS. Don’t maintain a persistent negative outlook, don’t begrudge those who find success, and be neither quick nor slow in following trusted advice. Above all else, be positive minded. Acknowledge losses and lows, celebrate the highs (be they yours or another).

#bullish

I couldn’t help but pause this morning to consider this 40 year timeframe. How much has changed in the last 40 years. How has the world changed? How have I changed? And then I am compelled to consider the next 40 years. Looking 40 years ahead. Where will the economy be then? Where will the world be as a whole? Where will I be?

We are quick to discuss losing the forest for the trees when we try to bolster ourselves and strengthen the anxious heart. But often even in the midst of this self-reassurance there’s a pervasive underlying fear. And sometimes, there’s value in simply hearing the words from someone else and a different source.

Hi. I’m here to remind you to consider the big picture. Take a deep breath. Find your quiet and safe space where you are able to slow down, and really consider the future (as well as the current state). Don’t let your emotions rule your intellect. Appreciate your feelings, recognize their purpose (self-preservation and survival) and use these emotions to move forward with confidence on the roadmap you’ve defined. I’ve heard the phrase, “Bear markets are for building”, shared many times and I couldn’t agree more enthusiastically. And now I’ve made you aware.

“Awareness is the greatest agent for change*.”*– Eckhart Tolle

So breathe deep, and build on. I’ll be sharing some of what I’ve been working on in the posts ahead. I’m really proud of it and we’re moving faster than ever before. It’s a wild ride. The next 40 look incredible.

#bullish

Perhaps you’re wondering why I am caught up thinking about the sinking of the Titanic on this particular evening. It’s quite simple really: The Otherside

I won’t bore you with the details as you’d really have to be quite oblivious to not be aware of the exciting “minting” event going on this evening. And yet…as the hype built for the 9PM ET release window - the crypto market as a whole began to collapse. The prices for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and all of the cryptocurrency market began to decline, 1%, 2%, eventually nearly 5% down. Another huge leg down and the entirety of the market continuing to show signs of weakness, and yet, what does the general social sentiment do?

They laugh, they scorn the cautious, they quickly part with their own funds. Have no doubt in your mind…their party is alive and well. Yet I can’t help but think…are they possibly enjoying the band a bit too much?

Or maybe, we should look for the web3 lifeboats to sustain this overall market; identify these types of failures and then solve real problems for our future metaverse.

Now, there’s probably no less than a thousand different viewpoints, and ways in which this situation could be broken down and analyzed for context and clarity. We could think about the possible motivation behind the initial purchase offer. We could analyze the offer price (either per share or in total). Or maybe we want to discuss the impact of this purchase on the overall net worth of the individual…Or the power, or the ego, or the convictions, or …. the list goes on and on for topics of discussion.

Instead I’m highlighting a thought somewhat different and potentially of far less importance than these mentioned above. My mind is drawn to think about Neuralink. The “other” company Elon is instrumentally involved in and deeply motivated to see succeed.

This old article from 2017 offers a nice overview of the company’s purpose and tech. While the company has come quite a long way since these early years I think its helpful for context to read something older related to the overall tech and goals…before they become too refined or polished.

Now, consider the opportunity presented with a network of connected individuals, already authenticated as legit humans.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1517215736606957573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1517215736606957573%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxbusiness.com%2Ftechnology%2Felon-musk-vows-to-defeat-the-spam-bots-or-die-trying-if-twitter-bid-succeeds

You can begin to see a global communication network of connected “real humans” evolving into a future where your is irrelevant, a future built with Neuralink. Whatever your thinking is on the current news, be sure of one thing. Elon is an incredibly intelligent, highly calculating individual. He’s not one to alter his plans based on public sentiment, response, or opinion. And he’s often thinking far beyond the point where mainstream media stops to tweet.

Today this scene was ringing in my head as I browsed Twitter, due to the following graphic catching my eye as I scrolled down the page.

Today, Infura was proclaimed the weakest link. Now, while the immediate result is a disruption to service for many users, the deeper and far more concerning issue is of course the realization of just how true the graphic actually might be.

Now, you may read this thought and see a problem, or you may be struck with the deep and lasting conviction there’s a solution here waiting to be unleashed. Whatever your personal response; speak up about it. Draw attention to the problem or start formulating a solution. Bottlenecks like this should not exist in a decentralized future and we will all be better served to be thoughtful about how we build a decentralized infrastructure.

If you’re like me, dealing with both the stocks and the crypto markets, then you’re probably less shocked by an over-30% drop in a single day. (In fact, you may likely shrug your shoulders and say, “Only 30? sounds like Tuesday!”) Regardless, the volatility introduced into the stock was notable and the result was fear for many. But it is in these moments of mass mania when you may find longterm value.

[Side Note: This is not advocating for a catch-the-knife mentality in trading; this strategy is both stupid and dangerous for your trading account balance.]

Rather, I’d encourage you to remember to zoom out, consider longterm projections for companies and their value, consider your own personal longterm goals, and then capitalize on those opportunities when they are made available due to the unfounded fear and overreaction of others.

And I don’t know maybe rather than panicking…just chill. 😎

Instead, I’m thinking much more deeply in this moment. Ripples across time. Or rather, how our actions taken at a singular point in time are forever and unstoppable in their advancement into all of time in the future. Sure, we might be able to redirect, or possibly reflect those ripples but we will forever see their effect. Each decision, each choice, a ripple in your timeline.

Examine your ripples. Are you creating the circles you want?

If the decision were mine I would be consumed with the weighty decisions; with other worldly thinking. This is required for achieving wild dreams. Hopefully this thought reaches someone considering the effects of peer pressure. Don’t sacrifice your vision, your dreams, and your aspirational life goals for anyone else’s popular opinion. Be bold.

The heavens await.

I’d like to propose a thought: Uber was nothing new. In fact, the concept existed long long ago. You see, I am struck with the similarity to an ancient story told in Greek mythology. I refer of course to Charon’s ferry. Now perhaps, I’ve buried the lede here and kept the suspense as long as possible, but surely you can appreciate as I share now more details.

As many probably know, and as the image associated with today’s thought suggests. There is a widely well-known story told of the journey each soul must take once they have died. Some customs attribute the more common funeral biers pushed into the water. In ancient Egypt, there was the journey across the river Styx. However, Charon, is the most familiar of the underworld ferryman. Any soul wishing to enter the Underworld must pay the ferryman for safe passage.

The story of Charon and the token to be paid for safe passage to navigate safely through the Underworld is a fascinating one and a thought I have been particularly focused on lately.

I constantly watch the fluctuating “floor price” (the cheapest price for which I can purchase something) for these various metaverse NFT’s representing a different amounts of digital $LAND; and I am burdened with this perpetual question…

In the physical world there is a very definite and clear “limit” to the availability and quantity of LAND. 🙃 This, combined with location (the age old realtor’s battle cry) creates demand, desirability, and dictates the value. Now, in a digital metaverse with infinite “space” in which to work the “demand” can ALWAYS be satiated. There will never be scarcity as new “worlds” can always be created.

Thus all metaverse real estate value is temporally tied into the current social pressures of the “hot neighborhood” (“location”) and there exists no long-term asset appreciation as you might find in traditional real estate simply on the value of scarcity.

There should not be a general public logomisia towards death, or departure.

Someone recently suggested the word “departure” as an alternative. I’ll be honest I’m not sure how I feel about it. My first response is a bit of a cyber elevator ding upon hearing the word. But perhaps the concept of a departure does in fact represent this particular point in a life’s journey quite uniquely well. And perhaps this is merely another point to recognize my own aversions to a word.

I said a couple of thoughts, the second was not so much shared with words, but shared with an image. I’ve used this graphic as the image for this thought. All credit goes to Jack Butcher, a true artistic genius. His minimal, succinct, yet exceptionally insightful art is truly inspired. This piece focuses on the difference between an ERC-20 token, representing a fungible asset; and an ERC-721 token, or a non-fungible asset.

Considering his art, along with the previous thought, I hope you will join me in considering and appreciating your fellow humans today. Praise them for their value, and in those quiet moments alone…find your own beauty as well.

Reminds me of the moment Apple introduced an iPhone with a genuine, digital sewn-leather note-taking app.

Our financial future is clearly different, and better in every way - shouldn’t the statue be also?

I listen to pundits on mainstream news or hop into a Twitter Space and listen to the latest rantings of a self-proclaimed NFT degen. The actual source is irrelevant to the outcome. All this communication generates emotions and feelings, passion. The result is a lack of analytical thinking, not by intentional rejection, but through a systematic crushing beneath the weight of the many stormy waves of the crypto media. This can be overwhelming and drowning.

Those who are able to stand atop the beacon of fact and rely on truth over emotion will prevail in this new world. They’ll cut through the noise to identify the signal which remains and find both the confidence and assurance to build something amazing.

1. United States — 35.4%

2. Kazakhstan — 18.1%

3. Russia — 11.23%

4. Canada — 9.55%

5. Ireland — 4.68%

Now I suppose, many others, like myself do not find this to be all that surprising of a fact when considering the actions China has taken to stop all crypto mining. But an interesting idea occurs to me as a result of this news factoid. The country who controls the hash controls the chain. This brings about a very different meaning to a 51% attack. And quite honestly suggests a much more realistic threat to the longterm, decentralized, success of Bitcoin.

Also, as a bonus thought for the day…the ability to identify the bottleneck, the chokepoint, or the potential lynchpin in a process or business often yields a position of power. Be smart as you approach problems, identify alternative points of success, and you’ll get ahead every time.

In this post I want to share with you what I've found to be one of the greatest personal revelations on this topic. I was talking about this with a friend the other day and the notion dawned on me mid-sentence. After I finished I went home and I mulled over it for a while. I rolled the idea around and I played with it, massaged it, worked on it. What follows is my first pass at articulating it. Is it complete? Absolutely not? Is it perfect? Far from it. But perhaps the act of writing my ideas down and sharing them will trigger your thoughts. Maybe it will start a conversation. Maybe the future starts right here.

**Side note: **If the sentiment in that paragraph above appeals to you, then you might love one of my favorite books of all-time. Before you think I'm going to recommend a 600 page tome for your weekend reading assignment, listen closely. The book is called simply, "*What do you do with an idea?" *I've shared this book on my blog in the past, used it as motivation when speaking at conferences, shared it at Mautic more than a few times, and I recommend it to everyone. If you don't have a copy - buy one. Today. In print.

Examining software's historical progression

Now, I always hesitate before sharing some of these thoughts because I fully recognize what is about to occur is a gross generalization of the fully history. And I also hesitate knowing the vast knowledge and personal experience many of my reader's have in this space. Many who have knowledge far beyond my own. To quote another, "I speak as a fool" or at least suppose myself to do so. With that very strong word of caution, here is a rough generalization of a thread of continuity I can see occurring as we explore the historical progression of software development over time.

The Personal Computer Era

Things began on a computer, a single computer. Systems were stabilized, functions formed, and programs proliferated. All within the box of a single machine. Advancements were made to increase the CPU, the RAM, the motherboard, but all the software was created to live and run within the beige box sitting atop a desk in front of the user. This was single location software.

But this environment did have a few benefits as well. In addition to being easy to update (usually a floppy disk with the latest version), the user had full control over their information and their data. Nothing left their computer unintentionally and very little left intentionally. This meant these single-location software systems were private. The user data was stored locally and used locally. This closed data system was by its very nature private.

There's an additional benefit to single-location software. Usually (of course there are exceptions to the rule) **this software is secure. **Whether this comes from the environment as a forced, by-product the outcome is the same. Software in this stage was typically considered more secure. Hack attempts existed, but they took different and more complex forms with higher level of effort.

Three Word Summary: Single, Private, Secure

The Server Era

The next step in our software evolution saw the migration from single-location software based on a user-computer, to a many-location software based on a server, or server cluster. I realize we've taken a giant step forward, we've passed by the smaller step of single-location software in the days of the early internet. This was transitional phase (to use the evolutionary term). And although unlike evolution we still see very clear examples of this transitional phase living today, they are far-and-away the minority. As a result, I suggest this next step in modern software progression is the creation of a many-location software system.

Just as with the original, box, single-location software we started with; here to there are a few benefits and detriments which accompanied this shift. While the highlights are evident (faster processing time due to volume and access of high-end compute power, immediate global accessibility, instant updates, constant availability, etc...) I will focus on two other factors which represent shifts from the previous stage.

In juxtaposition to the single-location computer-based software from the early years, server-based software is at best considered to be semi-private. In most cases you might even argue this software is less than semi-private and inclined more to be semi-public. The user's data is *available to the user, ***but, **owned by the software system. This is a major shift from previous. If the data is no longer the users' then it is by definition no longer fully private.

Finally, in our current stage we are also seeing these many-location server-based software systems are considerably less secure. One need only look to the headlines within the last month to hear multiple stories of data breaches. As the software systems in this era continue to hoard data they exponentially increase the size of the target for malicious attacks on their software. Even though these companies attempt to provide constant fixes and updates and improved security, the bottom line is evident: This server software is semi-secure.

Three Word Summary: Many, Semi-Private, Semi-Secure

The Decentralized Era

Finally, this allows us now the opportunity to begin to explore the future. Currently we are living in the end of an era. We are watching the archaic SaaS dinosaurs of today's data-driven economy falter. I would be so bold as to suggest we are on the cusp of an event. I believe we will soon see the software equivalent of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. This is a bold statement, but consider this: if we lived in the age of the dinosaurs, would we have seen it coming? More likely we would have scoffed in the face of such mass extinction! Who could imagine this destruction given the sheer size, considerable strength, and ultimate dominance of such magnificent creatures! (And yet here again, history appears to repeat itself.)

Two PathsThe exact path we take remains to be seen. However, I believe there are two potential paths, but both lead us to the same outcome. First, we may see, as in the age of the computer to the age of the server, a transitional step form to bridge the gap from here to the future. Or we may have some event dramatically shift the landscape overnight. I can't say for certain which will occur but I'll share my opinion as I alluded to earlier. I believe given the size, dominance, and control exerted by the existing server-based software companies who are enjoying life as is and don't see the value of a further evolution (again, this can be identified based on what motivates or drives them - aka, how they make money) the only logical path involves a cataclysmic, seismic shift in the landscape and the economy.

Regardless of the exactitude of the path, I believe the outcome remains consistent. Based on our history as we've defined it below we can extrapolate what the idealized future might look like. In this case we'll start with the three word summary and work backwards.

Three Word Summary: Many, Private, Secure

The next logical progression of modern software takes the best of every past iteration and era of software. This means we should expect to see a **many-location software platform, both private and secure. **And if that definition doesn't immediately strike a familiar chord then I'd recommend reading more on the subject of the decentralized web. These are just a few of the core tenants of this software philosophy.

Many-location refers to an expanded and improved upon implementation of the current age of SaaS server-software. This is the natural next step in the following progression: single computer, single server, single-provider cloud, multiple-provider network.

Private refers to the location and storage of the data. This can be done separately and distinctly from the software provider. This point also includes a multitude of encryption possibilities, blockchain stored sovereign identities, and so much more.

Secure refers to the trustworthiness of the software, a decentralized software allows for trusted, verifiable software solutions. Smart contracts and immutable ledgers add an unprecedented layer of security to this decentralized software future.

To be continued...

I did it again, and I apologize. I didn't mean to go this long and the hardest part is I'm at exactly halfway through the explanation of this theory. I believe there's a second piece to the puzzle. An equally satisfying piece which fits perfectly into the picture and reinforces the original thesis statement. I hope this has intrigued you and caused you to think about what this future looks like.

What do you disagree with? What do you find compelling? Have I missed anything which might further substantiate this line of thinking? Let me know! I'll post the next installment soon!