The WorldCoin

 "It has been said that an engineer is a man who can do for ten shillings what any fool can do for pound" -------Nevil Shute (British Novelist, 1899 - 1960)

Sam Altman and physicist Alex Blania are set on the mission to create a human-centric coin that can be distributed to every person on earth. This could be done by leveraging advancements in biometric technology and blockchain, they announced a $100 million round of funding at a $3 billion valuation.

“ A collectively owned global currency that will be distributed fairly to as many people as possible.”

The concept of a global currency is audacious, intriguing and a clear social agenda; away of distributing wealth outside of the control of nation states, directly to people.

The global currency ultimately leads to the future of human freedom - freedom from work.

This echoes classical economists. As automation is responsible for more and more of human output, the labor contained in products and services will shrink towards zero. As that happens, prices will also trend towards zero because the cost of production of everything will trend towards being free.

The concept concludes that the two dominant sources of wealth will be 

1) Companies with AI, 

2) Land, which has a fixed supply.

The projection is that Capitalism will have been superseded by a higher form of civilization, where production directly meets need. This collapse of prices driven by reduced labor will enable fundamental needs to be met extremely cheaply: food, care, education, housing, health, and more, would all move towards being free.

Worldcoin represents an encouraging, bold but challenging vision for the inevitable post-work society.

By the time it’s in full effect, both traditional forms of currency and digitally-native forms such as cryptocurrency, stablecoins and central banks digital currencies will be integrated into the economy.

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Crypto Adoption

"Every country has the government it deserves."

Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle merite .......... (Joseph de Maistre 1753-1821, French writer and diplomat)

War has significant and multifaceted effects on the economy of the countries involved. While the specific impacts can vary based on the scale, duration, and nature of the conflict. 

Here are some common effects.

Destruction of Infrastructure- War often results in the destruction of physical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities. The costs of rebuilding and reconstruction can be immense, diverting resources away from other economic activities.

Displacement of Population- War can lead to mass displacement of people, causing a strain on resources and services. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees may require humanitarian aid, affecting both the host country's economy and the economies of the countries providing assistance.

Impact on Human Capital- Loss of life, injuries, and psychological trauma during war affect the labor force. This can lead to a shortage of skilled workers, a decline in productivity, and increased healthcare and social support costs.

The current war shows different leadership style but similar crypto adoption pattern. Sanctions is crushing the economy and GDP is set to drop by 22% this year alone. The destruction of facilities is also affecting the agricultural exports and hence destabilizing the global food ecosystem.  

The above is a classic scene for an increasing demand in the economic possibilities of blockchain.

Blockchain technologies are the future, and any effort to ban them—or even excessively intervene in their operations—would meet the same fate as other state attempts to circumscribe behavior. Restricting cryptocurrencies at the moment, when they are facilitating innovations and brimming with potential, would undermine financing of critical sectors.

Top 10 Countries in Crypto Adoption Index:

1. Ukraine

2. Russia

3. Venezuela

4. China

5. Kenya

6. United States of America

7. South Africa

8. Nigeria

9. Columbia

10. Vietnam

Government should play a role; a tailored regulatory environment that allows for the live testing of innovative capital markets related products, solutions and services with the potential to deepen and develop the capital markets prior to launching into the mass market.

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The Coins in Blockchain

"Its the economy stupid".........(1992 Bill Clinton Presidential Campaign)

Blockchain technology is known today because of platforms like Bitcoin, which enable the peer-to-peer transfer of assets. On more advanced blockchains, like Ethereum, you can transfer assets, create other forms of assets, and also record votes as a point of coordination.

While many see Bitcoin as a store of value, most see Ethereum as a platform for launching new cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications.

Use cases of  Blockchain (Ethereum)

Smart contracts and dApps: A smart contract could reward a musician when a music dApp plays their song or grant a loan to someone using crypto as collateral in a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol.

Tokenize anything: Blockchain (Ethereum) allows users to create their own unique, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that can represent anything from virtual assets to real-world commodities. Users can then trade these tokens or use them to power other decentralized applications.

Create a new currency: Blockchain (Ethereum) lets anyone create their own cryptocurrency with a few lines of code. For example, USD StableCoin (USDC) runs on Ethereum.

Transaction fees. When you send an Ethereum-based token or use the network, you pay transaction fees in ETH.

Individuals will gravitate towards options that give them more flexibility or value.  So a currency that is accepted universally and preserves purchasing power will always be chosen over one that is limited to a region and prone to devaluation. 

If regulation does not keep up with innovation, many will start having parallel financial lives.

Scenerio 1:

Ngozi wants to rent a flat for N5mm - she says to the estate agent;

Femi, I will pay you N2mm in naira and N3mm in stablecoins.

The Owner is happy - He only books N2mm in revenue and a lower tax bill but he also 

has stablecoins that he can deploy to pay his Chinese supplier. 

This is how a shadow system will be built up over time.

Payment infrastructure will soon be built that is powered by crypto with the complexity hidden from the user. 

Scenerio 2:

Compare sending money to 0x23463959CFeC064f5e5aE68FB9bf5735D204d12 ( A blockchain address)- even if you copy and paste, there is no bank to verify if you make a mistake, the funds are simply lost.

But now you can send Ethereum to femi.eth and it will get delivered

Increased cross-border payments. 

Scenerio 3:

You want to pay your Chinese supplier in $. 

Your local currency will first be converted into USD then yuan. So you suffer transaction costs twice. Then the bank will put a fee on this. 

Now you can send your Chinese supplier stablecoins (USDT) 

1 USDT is instantly changeable for $1 via crypto-exchanges.

Every day, SMEs and individuals are making this choice not because they are economic saboteurs but because using stablecoins makes their life easier, and opens up opportunities that didn’t exist before.

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Celebrate Each Day

"I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me  "..........Abraham Lincoln 1809 -65 (letter to A.G Hodges)

Each day is an S Curve of its own. I encourage you to reflect of them this way. 

Take a few moments in the morning before engaging in any task. 

— even before reading emails 

— to meditate through the day to come. 

What is the most important objective today?  This is the mountaintop, the summit of the day’s S Curve. 

No matter what the day requires, keep this critical objective the top priority. The morning routine is your base camp to attack the climb. 

At the end of the day, celebrate the achievement, or your progress. 

B.J. Fogg says celebration can be as simple as looking in the mirror and claiming, “Victory.”

Feyzi Fatehi, CEO of Corent Technology said; “I always told myself when you feel too comfortable, you have to move….It’s like in climbing; you can’t just camp somewhere. You can rest. You can look around. You can take a deep breath, have a snack. But you’ve got to keep moving, otherwise you get complacent.”

Celebration is an Event, not a Destination. 

It’s the little pause where we survey the Journey. We can have a snack, with our colleagues or friends, rather than alone in our office. We rest, we catch our breath and we contemplate on the next opportunity ahead. 

The fact that the interval is brief doesn’t make it unimportant, or harmless if neglected. 

Celebrating an achievement great or small is a platform for further achievement. 

We don’t just celebrate the win; we celebrate to win.

Excerpt; Whitney Johnson, Author Smart Growth

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Seasons Greetings

 Enjoy Your Holidays

The debate between talent and character is a longstanding one, particularly in the 

context of personal and professional development. Each has its merits and significance, 

and their relative importance can vary depending on the context and individual goals. 

Let's explore both concepts and their differences:

Talent:

Innate Abilities: Talent refers to innate abilities or natural aptitudes that a person possesses. These abilities can encompass a wide range of areas, such as sports, arts, music, mathematics, or other skills. People often display talent from an early age, and it may come more effortlessly to them compared to others.

Potential for Excellence: Having talent can provide a head start and the potential for excellence in a particular field. It can make it easier to acquire advanced skills and achieve high levels of performance with less effort compared to those who lack that innate talent.

Limitations: Talent alone does not guarantee success or long-term achievement. It's possible to have talent but not capitalize on it through hard work and dedication. Additionally, talent in one area may not necessarily translate to success in other aspects of life.

Character:

Personal Qualities: Character refers to a person's moral and ethical qualities, including attributes like honesty, integrity, perseverance, resilience, empathy, and self-discipline. It encompasses how a person behaves, treats others, and approaches challenges and setbacks.

Work Ethic: Character is closely tied to work ethic and the determination to put in the effort required to develop skills and achieve goals. Even without natural talent, a strong character can lead to success through perseverance and dedication.

Long-Term Success: While talent can provide an initial advantage, character often plays a 

more critical role in long-term success. It enables individuals to navigate obstacles, 

adapt to changing circumstances and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Smart Tech and Adoption

The new electronic interdependence recreates the world in the image of a global village......(Marshall Mcluhan, The Gutenber Galaxy, 1962)

Smart technology and a sustainable framework is a necessity for every modern city

Three main factors are spurring acceleration in the adoption of IoT solutions:

• Technology. There has been a remarkable advances in technology with affordable sensors that enables deployment of IOT at scale. Sensors now cover the entire spectrum, from visual to sound. Computing is fast enough, storage is bigger; battery power has improved. AI and machine learning are faster for more granular insights for automated decision from sensors.

• Networks. Telecom companies with fourth-generation (4G) networks have spread to cover more people at higher performance and 5G networks are rapidly being deployed. There is visible improvements matched with connectivity options associated with capacity, speed, latency and reliability.

• Perceived value proposition. Cities see real value in deploying the IoT, a core enabler of the digital transformations and sustainability drives under way in companies and public institutions around the world. The $1.6 trillion in economic value generated from IoT solutions in 2020/21 exemplifies the technology’s ability to deliver value at scale.

All is not favorable for large-scale adoption IoT solutions. 

Three factors are acting to dampen growth:

• Interoperability. the IoT landscape contains numerous proprietary ecosystems. Many companies and public-sector bodies are struggling to get to scale without significant IT work to overcome the numerous system barriers.

• Installation. is one of the biggest cost issues in the deployment of IoT solutions at scale. every at-scale deployment requires customization, if not an entirely bespoke solution. 

• Privacy. is now the core issue for many consumers. 

Companies are grappling with what customers are willing to give up in return for lower prices or special offers in a retail setting.

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Perfect Waste of Electronics

Nothing, like Something, happens anywhere..........(Philip Larkin, English Poet, 1955)

Every device ever produced has a carbon footprint and E-waste is now the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. 

E-waste is defined as anything with a plug, electric cord or battery from toothbrushes to laptops that has reached the end of its life, as well as the components that make up these end of-life products. 

E-waste is also called waste electrical or electronic equipment (WEEE)

E-waste is often incinerated or dumped in landfills and sometimes pulled apart by hand or burned by the world’s poorest, to the detriment of health and the environment. E-waste can be toxic, is not biodegradable and accumulates in the environment, in the soil, air, water. 

E-waste may represent only 2% of solid waste streams, yet it can represent 70% of the hazardous waste that ends up in landfill.

One solution is Electronics as a Service;

The process/service called dematerialization, and is happening in many aspects of people’s lives. 

- In the Netherlands, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) sells lighting as a service, 

- In the UK, Rolls Royce sells airplane engine time rather than jet engines. 

Current leasing and rental models can also help with dematerialization;

With monthly contracts for smartphones, televisions, allow global consumers to access the latest technology, particularly products with short lifespans and without high up-front costs. Access to innovation and upgrades continues unabated, while barriers to usership have also lowered. With this new ownership model, the manufacturer has an incentive to ensure that all the resources are used optimally over a device’s lifecycle including recycling. 

There is also an incentive to keep the value in products for as long as possible, extend the life of devices, repair them when necessary, eliminate waste and reduce the impact that electronic products have on the environment.

Instead of a one-off transaction, the business model shifts to one of an ongoing service, and the subscription economy. This builds a much closer and stronger customer relationship. 

The rise of cloud computing has also helped with dematerialization, by moving the capability of devices away from hardware purchase and into remote data centers, hardware capabilities become less important relative to connectivity and services. 

In turn, this would increase product life cycles and decrease waste in the system.

This same e-waste represents a huge opportunity;

There is 100 times more gold in a ton of mobile phones than in a ton of gold ore. 

Furthermore, harvesting the resources from used electronics produces substantially less carbon-dioxide emissions than mining in the earth’s crust. 

Hence, all of the medals presented this summer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were extracted from old phones.

However; Working electronic goods and components are worth more than the materials they contain. Therefore, extending the life of products and re-using components brings an even larger economic benefit (including mining of digital currency). 

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Intangibles of Wealth

The central event of the twentieth century is the overthrow of matter. In technology, economics, and the politics of nations, wealth in the form of physical resources is steadily declining in value and significance. The powers of mind are everywhere ascendant over the brute force of things.............George Gilder

Our economies are getting richer despite using less physical material. Aluminium drinks cans, declined in weight six-fold between 1996 and 2011. A modern mobile phone is smaller lighter and more powerful than 1980s handset. The blockchain crypto currency is being adopted as a store of value over traditional Fiat money

In business, 2011 was the first time for decades that the world’s largest company was not an oil company. By 2016, six firms based on digital technologies – Apple, Tencent, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook – were among the top ten largest on earth.

The breakthroughs in solar and wind power ridding us of the shackles of barrels of oil and tons of coal

Tesla, the electric car company managed to reduce the amount of cobalt, a distressing mineral to acquire, in its batteries by about 60% between 2012 and 2018.

Rather than building a new car, we build a digital model of a new car and run computational simulations of the new car through the power of AI. Less cost and less energy-intensive 

AI also enables researchers to expand quickly by analyzing vast data sources, many diseases and treatments in order to encompass the complexity of biology. One reason for the early vaccine breakthrough for Covid19

AI is not a single technology or product, but rather a set of techniques, mathematical models and algorithms with the ability to extract insights from large datasets, identify patterns and predict the probabilities of potential outcomes of complex, multivariate situations. 

AI is often confused with automation, but the two are distinct but related: automated systems perform repetitive tasks following a programmed set of rules, while AI identifies patterns and insights in data and “learns” to do this more accurately and effectively over time.

AI can also be classified by the forms of input data: audio, speech, images, videos, data gained from sensors, data collected manually or robotically.

In summation; the value of your product is not in its tangible heft, rather it is in the intangibles, the know-how, the design, the engineering, the specification and the brand.

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A Second Life

Improvisation is too good to leave to chance...........Paul Simon (1990)

Preparing for the certainty of uncertainty is a plan for the guaranteed unforeseeable.

Products tend to flow through the path of least resistance, so you want to make the path which goes through formal channels of recycling less resistant

As the production of electric vehicles is expected in rise to combat green house gases, there is a potential environmental timebomb in their batteries.

The plan should start now:

Batteries that are no longer be able run vehicles could have second lives storing excess power generated by solar or windfarms.

The energy company Enel Group is using 90 batteries retired from Nissan Leaf cars in an energy storage facility in Melilla, Spain, which is isolated from the Spanish national grid.

The energy company Powervault partnered with Renault to outfit home energy storage systems with retired batteries in the UK

A data approach could be a digital “passport” – an electronic record for a battery that would contain information about its whole life cycle.

The battery lifecycle refers to the various stages a battery goes through from its initial manufacturing to its eventual end-of-life. The lifecycle of a battery is influenced by factors such as usage patterns, charging and discharging cycles, environmental conditions, and the type of battery chemistry.

It's important to note that the lifecycle of batteries can vary significantly depending on the type of battery. Common battery chemistries include lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), lead-acid, and alkaline, each with its own characteristics and performance attributes. Additionally, advancements in battery technology and recycling practices continue to shape the overall lifecycle and sustainability of batteries.

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Cyber Risk Challenge

Terror.......often arises from a pervasive sense of disestablishment; that things are in the unmaking......(Stephen king, American writer, 1981)

Governments and Businesses are struggling to cope with the scale and complexity

of managing cyber risk. Over the last year, remote working, rapid digitalization and

the need for increased connectivity have emphasized the cyber security challenge. 

One tool that has gained traction is cyber insurance. If it can follow the path of

other insurance classes, it could play a significant role in managing digital risk.

However; across government and business they have consistently stated that the positive effects of 

cyber insurance on cyber security have yet to fully materialize. 

If the benefits are to be crystallized, the insurance industry must overcome significant challenges.

Some challenges include: 

• The industry is struggling to collect and share reliable cyber risk data that can  inform underwriting and risk modelling. 

• The insurers and reinsurers are unable to accurately assess organization's risk profile or price policy premium.

•  The number of systemic incidents has limited the availability of capital for cyber insurance markets.

To overcome these challenges, a more coordinated action by government and regulators is necessary to help the industry reach its full potential.

Some coordination's include:

•     Developing guidance for minimum security standards for underwriting

•     Expanding data collection and data sharing

•     Mandating cyber insurance for government suppliers

•     Creating a new collaborative approach between insurers and law enforcement agencies 

Finally, It is important to note that a good cyber hygiene is still the responsibility of your organization, 

and the primary purpose of cyber insurance is to transfer residual risk

 

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Tech Train in China

 The world's civilization started from the day on which everyone received reward for labour (Andrew Carnegie Autobiography 1920)

20 years ago 41 of the worlds 100 most valuable companies were in Europe now down to 15 

• US and China grew by creating big companies (Tech Train) while No new firms emerged in Europe
• The rich are mostly entrepreneurs in China and US while The rich are mostly Heirs in Europe
• Policymakers in Europe promote mergers but not competitiveness while R&D is far less than China and US

China has a long history of entrepreneurship, dating back to ancient times with traders along the Silk Road and merchants in bustling marketplaces. In modern times, this entrepreneurial spirit has been reinvigorated, particularly after the economic reforms of the late 20th century.

China has produced numerous successful tech entrepreneurs and startups, particularly in the fields of e-commerce, fintech, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics. Companies like Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, Xiaomi, and Huawei have achieved global recognition.

“Here in China, many are willing to take high risks and live their entrepreneur dream to the fullest. They are working with a ‘try fast and fail fast’ mindset, and function within a more flexible legal environment than in the West in terms of data privacy and security,” said Charles Bark (CEO of Honaunau, a digital healthcare platform trying to help seniors live healthier lives)

• China's transition from manufacturing hub to tech hotbed has largely been driven by government policies.

• Collaboration between industry and academia in Zhongguancun, China’s Silicon Valley, has created a nurturing environment for start-ups.

• The country's immense domestic market is an environment in which competition drives success.

With a median age of 38, China is not as young as the other Asian demographic giant, India, whose median age is just under 27. The demographic picture in China is an inverted pyramid caused by China’s one-child policy, launched in 1979.

China has the 4-2-1 crisis: four grandparents for every two parents for every one child.

One child is the recipient of two generations of money, love, attention, dreams — and huge amounts of pressure result in generational spending power that is pretty astounding

According to both McKinsey and Bain, China will account for roughly half of all global luxury spending by 2025.

The Chinese government has actively supported entrepreneurship through various policies and initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth. This includes funding for startups, incubators, and technology parks, as well as favorable regulatory environments for certain industries.

Start a Tech Train

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Leadership Captured

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom” (Viktor E. Frankl,  1984 ).

The first layer of skills a good leader must master are internal: managing himself as an individual. This includes physical health, emotional balance, self-knowledge – everything that he brings along with him to each meeting, each decision, each public event.  

A good leader is vulnerable and knows that the best answers very often don’t come from the top officers, but rather come from individuals who are closest to the client, closest to the problems and opportunities. He activates a rewarding dialogue between these forces 

• A good leader knows that growth and efficiency can be allies, not antagonists. he Properly manages the push for efficiency to free up capital directed at revenue and strategic growth options that will increase his enterprise value.

• A good leader knows that the cheapest capital you can get is money that’s not tied up in bills you pay too soon, receivables you collect too slowly, and inventory you don’t need.

• A good leader understands the potential implications of technology on the company, the industry, the global market but he also understand how that technology will impact a single employee or task inside his organization

• A good leader send his words into battle as a sheild and sword, his shield becomes so effective that he rarely has a need for the sword

Albert Einstein admitted, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” 

Stay Curious and See You at the Top

The New Digital Era

 “We can’t only hire superstars. We also have to create them and enable them. It’s a huge leadership task and I see it as the number one priority.”................Wolf-Henning Scheider is the CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen

The Fortune 500 List; Since its inception in 1955 only 53 companies remain, that’s just below 11%. All of the others have either gone bankrupt, merged, or have just dropped off the list

We will succeed in the digital era only if we engage with enthusiasm and welcome the ideas and opportunities that digital tools, data analysis, and the concept of legitimacy bring. Technology and AI will free up our time and resources and allow us to focus on the people inside of organizations 

Take the case of Accenture; which automated over 17,000 jobs yet didn’t replace a single employee. Instead, these employees were upskilled and retrained to be more like strategic advisors to assist clients understand the numbers generated by AI.

Take Cryptocurrency; it is powerful because it lets us summon up large pools of capital by collective economic will, and these pools of capital are, at the beginning, not controlled by any person. Rather, these pools of capital are controlled directly by concepts of legitimacy.

The Concept of legitimacy:

In general, legitimacy arises because anything that gains legitimacy is psychologically appealing to most people. 

• Legitimacy by brute force: someone convinces everyone that they are powerful enough to impose their will and resisting them will be very hard. 
• Legitimacy by continuity: if something was legitimate at time T, it is by default legitimate at time T+1.
• Legitimacy by fairness: something can become legitimate because it satisfies an intuitive notion of fairness. 
• Legitimacy by process: if a process is legitimate, the outputs of that process gain legitimacy (eg. laws passed by democracies are sometimes described in this way).
• Legitimacy by performance: if the outputs of a process lead to results that satisfy people, then that process can gain legitimacy (eg. successful dictatorships are sometimes described in this way).Legitimacy by participation: if people participate in choosing an outcome, they are more likely to consider it legitimate. 

Note that legitimacy is a descriptive concept; something can be legitimate even if you personally think that it is horrible. 

Defining legitimacy:

Legitimacy is a pattern of higher-order acceptance. An outcome in some social context is legitimate if the people in that social context broadly accept and play their part in enacting that outcome, and each individual person does so because they expect everyone else to do the same.

With the successful debut of Coinbase the guardians of the financial sector are poised to greatly intensify their efforts to regulate the booming borderless cryptocurrency sector.

We must challenge the irresponsible use of technology undermining our societies and democracies.

As we move into a new digital industrial age, we have an opportunity to change course and usher in a more transparent, democratic era of technology. Global technology governance will not be achieved by political actors alone

 – it also requires a grassroots movement in the tech community.

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Creative Client Relationships

True and False are attributes of speech, not of things. And where speech is not, there is neither Truth nor Falsehood..........Thomas Hobbes (English philosopher 1588-1679)

The art of writing and speaking brings clarity, passion and vision to the act of living

Leverage your current client relationships to drive new business by creating a personal and human connection

We have learned that marketing messages need to be personally relevant, aligned to an individual’s situation and values, as opposed to just demographics, such as age and gender. 

EY has identified five different cohorts of consumers:

• Affordability first (32% of consumers): Living within their means and budget, focusing less on brands and more on product functionality.
• Experience first (12%): Living in the moment to make the most of life, often making them open to new products, brands, and experiences.
• Health first (25%): Protecting their health and that of their family, choosing products they trust to be safe and minimizing risks in the way that they shop.
• Society first (15%): Working together for the greater good, buying from organizations they find to be honest and transparent.
• Planet first (16%): Trying to minimize their impact on environment and buying brands that reflect their beliefs.

Utilizing customer segmentation and personas can bring deeper insights to media strategies and creative marketing approaches. Better still, these insights can be carried through to inform the full customer journey.

We must use data as the fuel yet respect the craft of storytelling to drive meaningful human connections. 

The data also suggest that the appeal of cash is decreasing as they are expensive to print, manage and store, eventually cash will be replaced by something in digital format. 

A marketing message that offers digital payment option including crypto will connect instantly with your clients

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Think...

I am not here to think but to be, feel, live............Johann Gotfried Von Herder (1744---1803) German critic and philosopher

As we enter a new decade, we must cultivate our culture and go forward with agility, creativity and a beginner’s mind  

Hope these Nuggets will help you Cultivate a New Normal and keep you Thinking:

• An immersive workspace is no longer limited to a desk in our Offices; the 9-to-5 workday and the employee experience of meeting rooms and snacks.

• In a matter of weeks, technologies that once seemed futuristic became part of our everyday lives. The pandemic turned the entire tech jargon into a catalog of solutions that would keep families and friends connected, businesses operational and health care running for patients. 

• Nations should launch a digital currency – and back it with digital gold. More broadly, champion decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum to attract international capital, strengthen monetary policy, deter financial fraud, accelerate technological development

• Technology capitals and financial centers like Switzerland and Singapore have taken positions that are highly favorable to cryptocurrency. The right crypto policy would not cause capital flight but capital landing.

 

• The World Bank: “Cryptocurrencies and blockchain protocols are part of a tidal wave of new technologies that is changing the way production and commerce are organized.”

• US Treasury Secretary: “Bitcoin is here to stay” and the “financial industry will adopt the technology underpinning bitcoin.”

• China is quickly closing the once formidable lead the U.S. maintained on AI research. Chinese researchers now publish more papers on AI and secure more patents than U.S. researchers do. 

• Any computer brings with it the risk of hacking. This is true of our computers and phones, and it’s also true about all of the Internet-of-Things devices, social media that are increasingly part of our lives. Unconnected options are increasingly hard to find including cars. 

• We must nurture our freedom every day, and defend our institutions against the corrosive power of hate speech, of disinformation, fake news and incitement to violence. In a world where polarizing opinions are the loudest, it is a short step from crude conspiracy theories

• While any form of exercise has been shown to activate the brain, when you weigh what activity you can do almost every day, with little preparation, minimal effort, no special equipment, and that can contract or expand to fit the exact amount of time you have available, it’s walking. It is a proven creativity booster

Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, William Wordsworth, and Aristotle were all obsessive walkers, using the rhythm of walking to help them generate ideas. 

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Thriving Thru Challenges

Coughs and Sneezes spread Diseases, Trap the Germs in your Handkerchief ....... World War 2 Health Slogan (1942)

Collaborations are increasingly between humans and machines while most assets and devices are now located outside the old “walls” of the organization. The cybersecurity mesh should enable any person or thing to securely access and use their digital asset, no matter where it is located. 

  A key question for your growth plan: 

• If you were a direct competitor to yourself, what would you do to steal market share? 

  Key Decisions around your Collective Organizational debt: 

• Social debt — Suboptimal activity or a sustained negative impact on the organization’s ability to address social, societal and community issues. 

• Process debt — Suboptimal activity or process that might have some benefits, but generates a sustained negative impact on cycle time, error rates, quality, consistency, complexity or customer experience. 

• Data debt — Lack of, or suboptimal access to, current or accurate data within the demand latency period. 

• Talent debt — Lack of talent (human workers, augmented humans or virtual workers) in either the quantity, quality or ability to scale to fuel optimization or growth. 

• Architecture debt — Suboptimal solutions from an optimized architectural construct. This may lead to security issues, latency and redundancy (in applications, infrastructure, instances, APIs, licensing or subscription costs). 

• Technical debt — Deviation of an application from any nonfunctional requirement. 

  Key information for your investment plan: 

 • London’s population is expected to decline for the first time in the 21st century; there could be fewer babies born in 2021 than in any year since records began. 

• Chip backlog/shortage for technology related industry, Taiwan and South Korea are the global leaders in computer chip production. 

• The Central Bank of Iran was the first central bank to publicly announce bitcoin purchases, In addition to institutional investors, other central banks may begin buying bitcoin 

 Organizations should resolve challenges around integration, security and privacy issues that prevent them from efficiently moving their AI practices from prototypes to production. 

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Extended 2020 Lockdown

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.............(Proverbs 9:17 King James) Lessons Learned in 2020 will be needed in 2021....Brace Yourself and Tarry with God to Thrive 

Lockdowns, which were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in many parts of the world in 2020 and 2021, had significant and far-reaching impacts on various aspects of society. These impacts varied in magnitude and nature but included both positive and negative consequences. Here are some of the key impacts of lockdowns:

Positive Impacts:

Public Health: Lockdowns were effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19, reducing infection rates, and preventing healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed. This helped save lives and protect vulnerable populations.

Accelerated Medical Research: The urgency of the pandemic led to rapid advancements in 

medical research and vaccine development. Multiple COVID-19 vaccines were developed and 

authorized for emergency use in record time.

Telecommuting and Remote Work: Lockdowns accelerated the adoption of remote work and 

telecommuting. Many companies and employees discovered the benefits of flexible work 

arrangements, leading to long-term changes in work culture and practices.

E-Commerce and Digital Transformation: Online shopping and e-commerce saw a significant 

boost during lockdowns as people turned to online platforms for their shopping needs. 

Many businesses invested in digital transformation to adapt to changing consumer behavior.

Environmental Impact: Reduced travel and industrial activity during lockdowns led to 

temporary improvements in air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in some 

regions, offering a glimpse of the potential for environmental conservation.

Negative Impacts:

Economic Downturn: Lockdowns resulted in widespread business closures, job losses, 

and economic recessions. Many industries, such as hospitality, tourism, and small 

businesses, were severely affected.

Mental Health and Well-being: Isolation, anxiety, and uncertainty during lockdowns 

took a toll on mental health. Reports of increased stress, depression, and substance 

abuse were common.

Education Disruption: School closures and the shift to online learning disrupted education 

for millions of students. The digital divide also became apparent, with unequal access to technology and resources.

Social Isolation: Lockdowns limited social interactions and gatherings, leading to 

feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, were particularly affected.

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse: Reports of domestic violence and child abuse increased during lockdowns, as victims had limited opportunities to seek help or escape abusive situations.

Use this Christmas and Newyear Holiday Season to Bond with Family and the Needy Amidst the Covid19 Lockdown......It's been a Tough Year for Many 

 Invest in some Crypto Currency, it should Witness an Upward Trend  

See You in 2021

Grateful Thanksgiving

Navita de ventis, detauris narrat avator, enunmerat miles vulnera, pastor oves

The seaman tells stories of winds, the ploughman of bulls, the soldier details his wounds, the shepherd his sheep...................Roman Poet 16BC Grateful Thanksgiving for all survivors of 2020 

The year 2020 was a highly significant and eventful year, marked by a range of global events that had far-reaching impacts on individuals, societies, economies, and geopolitics. Here's a review of some key aspects of the year 2020:

COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the year 2020. The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, emerged in late 2019 and quickly spread worldwide. By early 2020, it had become a global pandemic, leading to widespread illness, death, and major disruptions to daily life. Governments imposed lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing measures to contain the virus's spread. The pandemic accelerated trends like remote work, telemedicine, and e-commerce.

Economic Impact: The pandemic triggered a severe global economic downturn. Businesses closed, millions of people lost their jobs, and economies contracted. Governments implemented massive stimulus packages to support businesses and individuals, while central banks lowered interest rates to historic lows.

Black Lives Matter Movement: The killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by 

a police officer in the United States sparked widespread protests against racial injustice and police brutality. The Black Lives Matter movement gained global attention, leading to calls for police reform and social justice.

U.S. Presidential Election: The United States held a highly contentious presidential election in November 2020. Democrat Joe Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump, making him the 46th President of the United States. The election saw record voter turnout and numerous legal challenges.

Wildfires and Natural Disasters: 2020 witnessed an unusually active wildfire season in various parts of the world, including Australia and the Western United States. Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods also occurred in different regions, contributing to humanitarian and economic challenges.

Brexit: The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020, after years of negotiations. Transition arrangements lasted until December 31, 2020, when the UK fully exited the EU's single market and customs union, ushering in a new era for UK-EU relations.

Space Exploration: Space exploration made significant strides in 2020. NASA's Mars rover, Perseverance, was launched, and China's Chang'e 5 mission successfully collected lunar samples. Private companies like SpaceX continued to advance commercial space travel.

Technological Advancements: The year saw continued technological advancements, with developments in artificial intelligence, 5G technology, and breakthroughs in quantum computing. Remote communication tools and online platforms became essential for work, education, and socializing 

during lockdowns.

Vaccine Development: In record time, multiple COVID-19 vaccines were developed and authorized 

for emergency use. The global vaccination campaign began in late 2020, with millions of people 

receiving vaccines to combat the pandemic.

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The Leap of 2020

Woodman, spare that tree! Touch not a single bough. In youth it sheltered me, And I'll protect it now.............George Pope Morris (1802-64)

Spare 2020; It may have started tough but in the end it would speak good tidings. From little Wuhan came the Covid19 Pandemic that has ravage over 1 million homes, destroyed businesses and transformed our working/social life to a new zoom normal of social distancing. From Trump White House comes the alternative truth protocols revolving staff turnover and the evangelical/republican delusional bias that establishes John Updike 1932 observation; "America is a vast conspiracy to make you happy" perhaps unhappy. From Lekki Toll Gate comes a generation of youth protesting for a just cause, hugging the national flag, singing the national anthem then at twilight murdered by the national army.

Facts on Recession

Financial Theories:

Financial Crisis Theory: Some recessions are associated with financial crises, such as the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. These crises can occur due to factors like excessive risk-taking, speculative bubbles, or the collapse of a major financial institution. Financial recessions often lead to a severe credit crunch, impacting the broader economy.

Psychological Theories:

Consumer and Business Confidence: Sentiment and confidence in the economy can play a significant role in triggering or exacerbating recessions. A sudden loss of confidence by consumers or businesses can lead to reduced spending and investment, contributing to a recession.

External Shocks:

Oil Shocks: Recessions can be triggered by external shocks, such as a sudden increase in oil prices. Oil shocks can lead to higher production costs, lower consumer spending power, and reduced economic activity.

It's important to note that recessions are complex events often influenced by a combination of factors. The specific causes and dynamics of a recession can vary from one episode to another. Economists and policymakers continually study and analyze these theories to better understand the factors that contribute to recessions and develop strategies to mitigate their impact. Additionally, the global economy is interconnected, from Trump to Wuhan, 

Recessions in one country can have ripple effects across borders, making the study of recessions a global concern.

In 2020: One could say, the land has been so devasted, another could weep; so much death. Perhaps, at the end we could find solace in a vaccine, a reformed white house and a regenerated youth.

See You at the Top

AI and Developments

Even if strength fail, boldness at least will deserve praise: In Great Endeavors even to have had the Will is Enough............Propertius, Roman Poet (C50 - After 16BC)

Uses of mobile AI are multiplying, in phones and smart devices ranging from dishwashers to door locks to lightbulbs, as well as the millions of sensors making their way to cities, factories and industrial facilities.

Review the chip designer Arm Holdings—whose patents Apple, among many tech companies large and small, licenses for its iPhone chips. Would be worth the effort. 

Overview of ARM Holdings:

Company History: ARM Holdings was founded in 1990 as a joint venture between Acorn Computers,

 Apple, and VLSI Technology. It was headquartered in Cambridge, England. ARM's primary 

focus was on designing and licensing microprocessors and related technologies for a wide 

range of applications, including mobile devices, embedded systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Business Model: ARM was known for its business model of licensing its intellectual property 

(IP) and processor designs to semiconductor manufacturers, including Qualcomm, Samsung, 

and Apple. These manufacturers would then integrate ARM's technology into their own chips, 

creating a wide ecosystem of ARM-based processors.

Industry Influence: ARM's designs were highly influential and dominant in the mobile 

device industry. The vast majority of smartphones and tablets used ARM-based processors.

Acquisition by SoftBank: In 2016, ARM Holdings was acquired by the Japanese multinational 

conglomerate SoftBank Group for around $32 billion. This acquisition allowed ARM to continue 

its growth and expand into emerging markets like IoT and autonomous vehicles.

Technology and Innovation: ARM was known for its energy-efficient processor designs, which 

were crucial for the battery life and performance of mobile devices. The company continued 

to innovate in areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning as well.

Partnerships: ARM had numerous partnerships with technology companies, software developers, 

and semiconductor manufacturers, making it a critical player in the technology ecosystem.

Licensing Model: ARM's revenue came primarily from licensing its technology and receiving 

royalties from semiconductor companies that used its designs. This licensing model allowed ARM 

to have a widespread presence across various industries.

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