Market Commentary

  • The Global Stock Market In One Chart

    In 2021, we looked at the (then) $94 Trillion Global GDP. 

    Today, I found a chart focusing on the $109 Trillion Global Stock Market.

    While there are certainly still fears about recessions, downturns, and more, nonetheless, it's good to see some growth. To understand more about the market-cap-to-GDP ratio, check out this link. 

    AC_The-109T-Global-Stock-Market-in-2023_Sept25

    Unsurprisingly, the U.S. and China dominate the list, accounting for over 50% of the global market themselves. Even less surprisingly, emerging markets saw the most growth last year. 

    Visual Capitalist points out that U.S. stocks have often outperformed other wealthy nations over the past several decades. 

    If an investor put $100 in the S&P 500 in 1990, this investment would have grown to about $2,000 in 2023, or four-fold the returns earned in other developed countries.

    The U.S. has been the leader in this space for as long as I can remember, but as emerging countries start to gain their footing, it's likely our percentage of the pie will decrease. Hopefully, the pie gets bigger as that happens. 

    What do you think will happen?

  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – October 1st, 2023

    278728

    Here are some of the posts that caught my eye recently. Hope you find something interesting.

    Lighter Links:

    Trading Links:

  • How To Build A Business 101

    My son attended Russell Brunson's annual Clickfunnels conference.  They produce some of the most accessible marketing content we've found.

     

    IMG_0123
    Me and Russell at the Cowboys V. Texans Game in 2016

    When attending a conference, the main goal is to extract one key insight and an actionable item to boost your business … even if you're well-versed in the subject.

    After events, we conduct debriefing sessions to distill our most significant takeaways and get alignment.

    This year's central theme was integrating disparate elements (in this case, "funnels") into a cohesive system and cyclical approach to drive sustainable growth.  Russell made a compelling point: many so-called "businesses" are really just a string of promotions.  According to his definition, a true business requires recurring revenue and continuity.

    Aspiring entrepreneurs often impulsively shift from one idea or product to the next.  They hastily launch their ventures, make a modest profit, and swiftly move on to the next endeavor, trying to stay on top of trends.  Unfortunately, they neglect product development and fail to maintain their existing promotions in their haste to get to "next."  Consequently, their businesses become incredibly fragile, susceptible to external shocks such as the unexpected disruptions of events like COVID-19, sudden market crashes, or social media platform crackdowns, which can ultimately lead to their demise

    Like most great lessons, it's fractal.  If you've been paying attention, you'll see how we've shared this idea before.  So, I want to tell the same story from those other perspectives. 

    Selling Picks and Shovels

    Most of us have heard the old adage about selling picks and shovels during the gold rush.

    During a gold rush, many people rush to the goldfields to strike it rich by finding valuable gold nuggets.  However, most gold rush participants do not find gold.

     

    Why mine for gold when you can sell picks and shovels?

    Often, the people who make the most money are the ones selling picks and shovels (goods and services) to the speculators.  Said a different way, profits often flow to people who provide the systems and infrastructure that enable others to dream of a bigger and better future. 

    It's not sexy, but it's reduced risk, consistent demand, and a long-term perspective.  When the mine dries up, you move on to the next mine and patiently stack your gold nuggets. 

    And, there's a plethora of opportunity that isn't selling picks and shovels.  You can build temporary lodgings, open a bar, and of course, you can't forget the world's oldest profession … trading. 

     

    Leveraging AI

    It's easy to compare the AI race to the gold rush, but it's much more than that.  Both the AI race and the gold rush generated significant hype and excitement.  In both cases, there's a sense of a potentially life-changing opportunity, which attracts a herd of energized early movers looking for their big break.  Just as gold prospecting was a risky and uncertain endeavor with no guarantee of success, the AI race is characterized by uncertainty and fear.  Many are afraid, not just of losing their jobs, but of how to best use the technology. 

    As a result, you see a sea of people adopting every new app they can find, all to continue treading water in their business. 

    This occurs because people forget that AI is simply a tool – not the goal.  They get blinded by the bright shiny objects, those glitters of gold near the top, that they don't do the hard work to find the bigger nuggets below the ground.  All those tools are great, just like the promotions Russell mentioned.  However, they're often distractions from building or buying something custom to your needs and focused on your bigger future. 

    To raise the stakes a bit, one of the biggest difference between the AI race and the gold rush, is the lasting impact.  While the gold rush did lead to some lasting economic and infrastructural changes in certain areas, the AI race is going to significantly transform entire industries, economies, and societies over the long term.

    The Capitalogix Advantage: A Solid Platform For Success

    In our office, we think of this idea as the difference between a capability, a prototype, a product, and a platform.  Building a platform (and a community) is how you become an institution and a game-changer.

    When you start with that mindset, you can be the picks and shovels, you can be the hotels and hospitals, but you can also be the miner looking for the next big thing.  That's what Capitalogix does for ourselves and our joint venture partners. 

    Continuity and recurring revenue create the bandwidth for innovation and ideation. 

    We have developed a fault-tolerant infrastructure because we have experienced fires, floods, Internet failures, the Snowpocalypse, bad data, missing data, and human error … not to mention Trump Tweets or COVID-19.  That means our tools are built on a solid infrastructure supported by extensive experience. 

    And, while we've pivoted since inception, our vision and our "why" haven't.  Joint ventures and new technologies are steps on our journey to our vision, not short-term promotions and distractions. 

    It's a small distinction with a massive impact. 

    When you're exploring the Wild West, whether it's in a gold rush, an AI boom, or in the world of e-commerce, your chances of success rise rapidly with a goal, a why, and a plan. 

    Hope that helps.  

  • Industrial Automation: Back To Robots

    We talk a lot about automation – but tend to focus on the less tangible robots.  Meaning, we talk about algorithms and AI, quantum computing, and how entrepreneurs can benefit from these new technologies.

    However, a significant segment of automation is industrial (and often robotic process automation).  Henry Ford and the assembly line revolutionized the world when they took the time to make a car from over 12 hours to just over 90 minutes. 

    It's interesting to think about more classic automation, and how different it is today from 1913 … Of course, the level of machinery has grown exponentially, but so have the processes and the capabilities we expect.  I flashback to Kanban and Toyota and what that did not only for the automobile industry … but for corporations and small businesses around the globe. 

    Who's Winning the Robot Race?

     

    MSCI_Impact_Robotics-and-Ai-Impact2

    MSCI via visualcapitalist 

    Unsurprisingly, this is where China thrives.

    In 2021, China installed more industrial robots than all other countries combined… Crazy.

    Industrially, it's primarily automobiles and electronics that drive those numbers up.  Japan also makes massive investments in those two industries. 

    Interestingly, America is more evenly distributed with metals, plastics, and food, each seeing over 10% allocation. 

    Something To Think About 

    One of the fears I often hear is that AI will take our jobs, and what do we do when that happens?  Here are my thoughts on that from a blog post called, Will Robots Take Your Job?

    New industries are also creating new jobs.  With that said, recognize that people are increasingly resistant to doing the work we tend to automate.  That is part of why it got automated in the first place.  Another reason is that birth rates are dropping globally, and we always strive to do more with less. 

    Think about countries like Japan – which rely heavily on manufacturing … but are seeing their already small populations decline.  What do they do when their plants sit empty due to labor shortages?

    Or, what about agriculture?  We've already seen an exodus of youth who don't want to be involved in farming due to the long hours and grueling work… How do you keep up with the production necessary to feed the world?

    We often think about robotics as taking our jobs, but the reality underpinning today (and the paradigm that will drive the future) is that automation sustains industries. 

    When labor can't keep up with demand, robotics fills the gap, whether it occurs in manufacturing, agriculture, or medicine.

    As robotics get more capable, it won't be long before that's robotic surgeons are a normal part of a hospital's medical suite. 

    The same is true for AI.  It will supplement gaps in countless industries. 

    These technologies are coming to your industry.  It's inevitable.  If you fight it, you'll feel strife and stress about the changing workforce.  If you get ahead of it, you'll find endless opportunities to pursue your passions.  As society shifts, I hope we see an influx of entrepreneurs to help drive the next era of innovation. 

    What do you think will happen?

    P.S. Do you get my weekly round-up of links and thoughts on AI, exponential technologies, markets, and other interesting stuff?  Or my new AI-curated newsletter? I believe you'll find them useful and fun.  Happy to add you or anyone else you want to get it. Click here for the sign-up link.

  • A Fun NFL Statistic, and an AI GM?

    I love football.  As such, it is fun for me to watch the games.  But I also like the business of the game as well. 

    Over time, I've become a fan of the league … and how deliberate they are about building teams and developing players.

    Last week, I got to give a series of talks to a high-level entrepreneur group called Breakthrough Mastermind.  Some of the other speakers included NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary and a starter on the league-leading Dallas Cowboys Defense, Osa Odighizuwa.  Here is a picture of us from the event. 

    IMG_5737

    Let me know if you want a link to the actual presentations.  I talked about AI and how it frees you to be your best.  Osa spoke about what it takes to be a Pro, and Mike talked about teamwork and building teams.

    It is Football Season.  And, if you know me, then you know I'm a Cowboys fan (despite being raised in Philly, with season tickets to the Eagles – and Boston, with season tickets to the Patriots).

    So, the week one 40-0 victory over the NY Giants was fun to watch. 

    It was even more fun after I saw some stats about this loss. 

    According to ESPN Stats & Info:

    • The 40-0 win was the largest shutout victory in Dallas's history.

    • Dallas is the fifth team in NFL history to open their season with a 40-plus-point shutout on the road, and the first since the 1999 Steelers.

    • The Cowboys are the first team in NFL history to open the season with a 40-plus-point shutout of a team that made the playoffs the previous season.

    But feeding my occasional need for Schadenfreude … the stats get worse for the Giants. 

    In this game, they lost 40-0, got sacked seven times, to the Dallas Cowboys zero, they also lost the turnover margin 3-0, and had their opening drive field goal attempt blocked (and then returned for a touchdown), and their QB, Daniel Jones, then threw a pick-six. 

    Supposedly, no team has done that in a single season – let alone a single game. 

    377986325_1671679623312657_1266856846558813814_n

    via The Athletic

    See, math can be fun!

    Week Two was similar for the Cowboys against the NY Jets.  My friend and lifelong Jets fan, Brian Kurtz, attended and wrote this well-thought-out blog post on the experience.

    And for some additional contrast and dynamic tension … ponder this!

    Jerry Jones Is Going to Live Forever.

    As if the Cowboy's experience wasn't enough to bring people in, Jerry has now immortalized himself as the mirror from Sleeping Beauty, excuse me, I mean as a virtual AI screen at AT&T Stadium. 

    It's a truly interactive experience where you can ask Jerry questions, and get responses in his voice – from an AI trained on the real Jerry Jones. 

    And this is only the beginning. 

    People joke that new technologies are always adopted by porn first, gambling second, and then the entertainment industry after.  These technologies have made their way to the NFL which means they are on their way to much broader adoption sooner than you might expect. 

    We do live in exciting times! 

  • Media Bias and You in 2023

    Information is Power.

    Consequently, your choice of information source heavily contributes to your perceptions, ideas, and worldview.

    Coincidently, news sources are a lightning rod for vitriol and polemic.

    I am still somewhat surprised by the abject hatred I hear expressed toward a particular news source by those who hold an opposing bias.  This often leads to claims of fake news, delusion, and partisan press.  Likewise, it is common to hear derision toward anyone who consumes that news source.

    Perhaps the reality is that most sources are flawed – and the goal should simply be to find information that sucks less?

    It's to the point where if you watch the news, you're misinformed, and if you don't watch the news, you're uninformed. 

    News sources aren't just reporting the news … they're creating opinions and arguments that become the news.  Moreover, many consumers don't care enough to think for themselves or to distinguish facts from opinions.

    Here's a chart that shows where news sources rank on various scales.  It has default options and over 1400 sources you can add to the interactive version.  You can click the image to go to an interactive version with more details.  It gets updated every year, and this year's just got released.

    Media-Bias-Chart-11.0_Aug-2023-Unlicensed-Social-scaled
    via Ad Fontes Media

    I once spent fifteen minutes arguing about how you know whether the information in this chart is accurate.  If you're curious about their methods, click here. 

    The "new normal" is to distrust news agencies, big companies, the government, and basically anyone with a particularly large reach. 

    Perhaps even more dangerous is the amount of fake news and haphazard research shared on social media.  Willful misrepresentations of complex issues are now a "too common" communication tactic on both sides … and the fair and unbiased consideration of issues suffers.  

    Social media spreads like wildfire, and the damage is done by the time it has been debunked (or proven to be an oversimplification).  Once people are "convinced," it is hard to get beyond that. 

    In reality, things aren't as bleak as they seem.  People agree on a lot more than they say they do.  It is often easier to focus on "us" versus "them" rather than what we agree upon jointly.  This is true on a global scale.  We agree a lot.  Most Democrats aren't socialists, and most Republicans aren't fascists … and the fact that our conversation has drifted there is intellectually lazy.

    This idea that either side is trying to destroy the country is clearly untrue (OK, mostly untrue).  There are loonies on the fringes of any group, but the average Democrat is not that unlike the average Republican.  You don't have to agree with their opinions, but you should be able to trust that they want our country to succeed. 

    I don't know that we have a solution.  But there is one common "fake news" fallacy I want to explain at least a little. 

    It's called the Motte and Bailey fallacy.  It's named after a style of medieval castle prioritizing military defense.

    Launceston_Castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_22242

    Launceston Castle via Chris Shaw, CC BY-SA 2.0

    On the left is a Motte, an artificial mound often topped with a stone structure, and on the right is a Bailey, the enclosed courtyard.  The Motte serves to protect not only itself but also the Bailey. 

    As a form of argument, an arguer conflates two positions that share similarities.  One of the positions is easy to defend (the Motte), and the other is controversial (the Bailey).  The arguer advances the controversial position, but when challenged, insists they're only advancing the moderate position.  Upon retreating, the arguer can claim that the Bailey hasn't been refuted or that the critic is unreasonable by equating an attack on the Bailey with an attack on the Motte. 

    It's a common method used by newscasters, politicians, and social media posters alike.  And it's easy to get caught in it if you don't do your research. 

    Conclusion

    As a society, we're fairly vulnerable to groupthink, advertisements, and confirmation bias. 

    We believe what we want to believe … so it is hard to change a belief (even in the face of contrary evidence). 

    But, hopefully, in learning about these fallacies, and being aware, we do better. 

    I will caution that blind distrust is dangerous – because it feels like critical thought without forcing you to think critically.

    Distrust is good … but too much of a good thing is bad. 

    Not everything is a conspiracy theory or a false flag.

    Do research, give more credence to experts in a field – but don't blindly trust them either.  How well do you think you're really thinking for yourself?

    We live in a complicated world that is getting more complex. 

    Hopefully, knowing this encourages you to get outside your bubble and learn more about those with whom you disagree.

    Who knows … Something good may come from it?

  • The Illusion of Choice

    What happens doesn't matter nearly as much as what you make it mean … and what you choose to do. 

    For example, Dallas has been 100+ degrees almost all summer, and nothing stops.  You'll see people running outside, dogs walking, sports being played.  My son plays 8+ hour rugby tournaments in that heat, and no one bats an eye. 

    Growing up in New England, we were woefully underprepared for that heat.  The world would stop.  On the other hand, 8 inches of snow was nothing, but a little bit of ice … and Texas shuts down. 

    Snow isn't 'good' or 'bad' … and neither was the change of plans.


    Perspective.

    Fund managers recognize the importance of sensibly diversifying risks and opportunities.

    Be that as it may, as Mother Jones reported in the wake of the 2009 financial crisis, the nation's ten largest financial institutions held 54% of our total financial assets (compared to the 20% they held in 1990).  Meanwhile, the number of banks has dropped from almost 15,000 to barely 4,000. 

    Infographic: U.S. Banking System: The Great Consolidation | Statista

    via Statista

    Many people are shocked by a chart like this.  It must be 'bad' to have so much controlled by so few, right? 

    But it isn't hard to find a version of this story playing out in other industries:  Print Media,  Music,  Broadcast Channels, and Consumer Products … this type of consolidation happens for a reason.

    A firm that marshals more resources gains a competitive advantage and has more ways to win.

    They benefit from economies of scale, transactional leverage, better distribution and partners, and more ways to diversify risks.  In addition, if they work to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate their actions (and data), they can unlock opportunities that others don't have (or can't see).

    Here is a Chart Showing Some of the 'Winners' at that Game.

    The following chart highlights our "Illusion of Choice."  A surprisingly significant portion of what you buy comes from one of these ten mega-companies (Kraft, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kellogg's, Nestlé, Proctor & Gamble, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, General Mills, and Unilever).

    It's amazing to see what these giants own or influence.  Click the picture to see a bigger version.

    The Illusion of Choice in Consumer Brands

    via visualcapitalist

    Here is a more specific example.  You probably think you are familiar with Nestlé.  It is famous for chocolate.  But did you realize it was an almost $300 billion corporation … and the biggest food company in the world?  Nestlé owns nearly 8,000 different brands worldwide and takes a stake in (or is partnered with) many others.  This network includes shampoo company L'Oreal, baby food giant Gerber, clothing brand Diesel, and pet food makers Purina and Friskies.

    Kind of cool?  Mostly terrifying…

  • Gartner’s 2023 Hype Cycle For Emerging Technologies

    I share an article about Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies each year.  It does a great job of documenting what technologies are reaching maturity and which technologies’ ascents are being enhanced by the cultural zeitgeist (hype, momentum, great timing, etc.).

    Creating a report like this requires a unique mixture of technological analysis and insight, an acute understanding of human nature, and a lot of common sense.

    Identifying which technologies are making real waves (and thus will impact the world more) is a monumental task.  Gartner’s report is a great benchmark to compare with your perception of reality.

    A quick look back at past reports shows that 2021 saw the inclusion of NFTs and advancements in AI.  It also focused on the increasing ubiquity of technology.  2022 built on those trends, recognizing that we were moving towards immersive experiences, faster digital transformations, and the adoption of exponential AI capabilities.  For reference, click here to see what Gartner predicted last year.

    Meanwhile, let’s look at the 2023 version of Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies report.  2023 has some meaningful changes – and is best understood by where things are placed on Gartner’s framework called the “Hype Cycle.”

    What’s a “Hype Cycle”?

    As technology advances, it is human nature to get excited about the possibilities … and to get disappointed when those expectations aren’t met. 

    At its core, the Hype Cycle tells us where in the product’s timeline we are – and how long it likely will take the technology to hit maturity.  It attempts to tell us which technologies will survive the hype and have the potential to become a part of our daily lives. 

    Gartner’s Hype Cycle Report is a considered analysis of market excitement, maturity, and the benefit of various technologies.  It aggregates data and distills more than 2,000 technologies into a concise and contextually understandable snapshot of where various emerging technologies sit in their hype cycle.

    Here are the five regions of Gartner’s Hype Cycle framework:

    1. Innovation Trigger (potential technology breakthrough kicks off),
    2. Peak of Inflated Expectations (Success stories through early publicity),
    3. Trough of Disillusionment (waning interest),
    4. Slope of Enlightenment (2nd & 3rd generation products appear), and
    5. Plateau of Productivity (Mainstream adoption starts). 

    Understanding this hype cycle framework enables you to ask important questions like “How will these technologies impact my business?” and “Which technologies can I trust to stay relevant in 5 years?”

    That said – it’s worth acknowledging that the hype cycle can’t predict which technologies will survive the trough of disillusionment and which ones will fade into obscurity. 

    What’s exciting this year?

    Before focusing on this year, it’s important to remember that, in 2019, Gartner shifted towards spotlighting new technologies at the expense of technologies that would normally persist through multiple iterations of the cycle.  This change helps account for the increasing number of innovations and technology introductions we are exposed to compared to the norm when they first started producing this report.  As a result, many of the technologies highlighted over the past couple of years (like Augmented Intelligence, 5G, biochips, the decentralized web, etc.) are now represented within newer modalities or distinctions. 

    It’s also worth noting the impact of the pandemic on the prevalent technologies. 

    For comparison, here’s my article from 2019, and here’s my article from 2015.  Click on the chart below to see a larger version of this year’s Hype Cycle.

     

    Hype-cycle-for-emerging-technologies-2023

    via Gartner

    Last year’s themes were:

    1. Evolving/Expanding Immersive Experiences,
    2. Accelerated Artificial Intelligence Automation, and
    3. Optimized Technology Delivery (digital businesses)

    This year, the key technologies were bucketed into four major themes.

    • Emergent AI represents the technologies that increase workforce productivity and differentiation from competitors.  The hallmark technology of this theme is Generative AI, but another exciting one is AI Simulation – where environments and people can be replicated virtually to run simulations and ask questions.  Imagine being able to create a digital replica of yourself (or a specialist in different disciplines) to bounce ideas off of … or to create a virtual advisory board to help process tough issues or test the response to various situations, opportunities, or challenges.
    • Developer Experience (DevX) is precisely what it sounds like.  Enhancing the developer suite of technologies not only enhances your engineering team but also helps attract and retain high-level employees.  Value Stream Management Platforms (VSMP) is a good example of this.  VSMP is intended to optimize product delivery from end to end. 
    • Pervasive Cloud focuses on how cloud computing is evolving.  This theme is also focused on creating an end-to-end use case.  In an ideal world, this enables easy and automated operational scaling, lots of cloud-native tools, and stability improvements.  A sample technology under this umbrella would be WebAssembly, a lightweight virtual machine and binary code format that would enable secure, high-performance applications on your web pages. 
    • Last but not least, we have Human-Centric Security and Privacy.  In response to growing security concerns, this theme recognizes the pressure companies face to create cultures and systems that value and protect security.  AI Trust, risk, and security management (AI TRiSM) is the culmination of this effort and represents a holistic approach to governance, reliability, efficacy, and more.  This will be an important frontier to develop as we innovate faster. 

    Last year, the main focus was on the spread of emerging technologies.  Last year’s themes focused on the ubiquity of AI in all facets of life – and the increasing immersiveness of these technologies. 

    This year, the focus seems to be on responding to that increasing ubiquity.  It’s about building systems that help adopt these new technologies efficiently … while also protecting yourself from making mistakes at lightspeed. 

    Of course, I’m always most interested in the intersection of AI and other spaces.  Last year, AI became a lighthouse for businesses to work toward.  It’s continued to shine a light this year.  In my opinion, this points towards the increasing maturity and adoption of AI.  The opportunity cost of adopting AI into your business is continuing to decrease.

    Meanwhile, these systems are also becoming more autonomic, self-managing, and self-learning.  I’m excited to see Gartner emphasizing what this does for humans – not what it takes away from them.  Remember, the heart of artificial intelligence is human – and it continues to free us up to be more human.  

     

    The Heartbeat of AI is Still Human_GapingVoid

    As we reach new echelons of AI, you’ll likely see increasing examples of over-hype and short-term failures.  You often miss a rung on the ladder as you reach for new heights, but it doesn’t mean you should stop climbing.  More importantly, it doesn’t mean failure or even a lack of progress.  Challenges and practical realities act as force functions that forge better, more robust, resilient, and adaptable solutions that do what you want (or something better).  It just takes longer than you initially wanted or hoped.

    To paraphrase a quote I have up on the wall in my office from Rudiger Dornbusch … Things often take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could. 

    Many of these technologies have been hyped for years – but the hype cycle differs from the adoption cycle.  We often overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in ten years. 

    I say it often … we live in interesting times!

    Which technologies do you think will survive the hype?

    Let me know what you think.

    Onwards!

  • Camp Kotok: Back Again!

    I was just in Maine at Camp Kotok, a private gathering of economists, fund managers, and other financial industry professionals. 

    There was limited phone service or access to the Internet… so people had to talk with each other.  And unlike most of my schedule, almost everything happened outside.  Discussions, while vigorous, often take place while fishing or grilling. 

    At a past Camp Kotok, I did this interview with Bob Eisenbeis, Cumberland Advisors' Vice Chairman & Chief Monetary Economist.  Check it out. 

     

    Cumberland Advisors via YouTube

     

    Camp Kotok is an interesting place. The event transformed from a simple retreat after 9/11 … when many attendees experienced the WTC collapse and came together for some fellowship and to discuss their experiences.  From then on, attendance grew, and the gathering evolved. 

    As a side note, before the gathering became known as Camp Kotok, it was referred to as the “Shadow Fed” (in part because of the people who attend).

    Attendees are bound to “Chatham House Rules” (participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed).  However, general thoughts, ideas, forecasts, and comments can be discussed and published.

    On this trip, I talked with David Kotok about the event, what it means, and how it’s grown.

    The intent of the participants (and the environment) helps create a platform for meaningful and productive conversations about the opportunities and obstacles facing America and the world. 

    Every year, I come back with new ideas and fresh perspectives on things I forget to think about. 

    AI was on everyone's mind.  The financial industry is changing quickly, and I’m confident that advanced technology will become an even bigger driver. 

    In general, economically, the mood was cautiously optimistic to bullish. 

    Remember, it is an election year!

  • Social Media Is Changing Everything … 10+ Years Later

    In 2009, I wrote an article highlighting the audacious amount of texts and data my then-16-year-old son was using compared to the rest of the family … It's funny to look back on.

    Here is an excerpt from that post. 

    _______

    My son won't use e-mail the way I did. So how will people communicate and collaborate in the next wave of communications?

    091019 Getson Family 240p

     Here is a peek into the difference that is taking hold.  I was looking at recent phone use.  The numbers you are about to see are from the first 20 days of our current billing cycle.

    • My wife, Jennifer, has used 21 text messages and 38 MB of data.
    • I have used 120 text messages and 29 MB of data.
    • My son, at college, used 420 text messages, and is on a WiFi campus so doesn't use 3G data.
    • My son, in high school, used 5,798 text messages and 472 MB of data.

    How can that be?  That level of emotional sluttiness makes porn seem downright wholesome. 

    But, of course, that isn't how he sees it.  He is holding many conversations at once.  Some are social; some are about the logistics of who, what, when, where and why … some are even about homework.  Yet, most don't use full sentences, let alone paragraphs.  There is near instant gratification.  And, the next generation of business people will consider this normal.

    Is social media a fad? Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?

    _______

    Fourteen years later, I send more text messages than my son, and we both use multiples of that amount of data a month. 

    I also remember scoffing at my son having his phone on hand at meetings – that it was a distraction. And yet, here I am, phone on my desk at meetings. But, e-mail is just as important as it was in 2009. 

    One of the things we miss in discussions about generations is that the trends of the younger generation are often adopted by the previous – even if they're not as tech literate. 

    Technology changes cultures for better or worse … but it's hard to look at the impact of social media and believe it hasn't been deleterious. 

    The promise and peril of technology!