There have never been as many people alive as there are now. But have you ever wondered how many humans have lived on this planet, in total, over the long arc of history?
The number takes a lot of estimation, but you end up with approximately 109 billion people over the course of human existence.
That means almost 7% of all humans who have ever existed are alive today. It also means that for every person alive, nearly 14 people are dead. That number seems small to me as I think about how many generations came before us.
While this might be somewhat interesting, the more important question is what you will do with the time left in your hourglass? To learn more about what I think about that, here's an article I wrote on the time value of time and here's an article I wrote on the power of purpose and how healthy mindsets extend your life.
My wife is currently in Indonesia – and inflation is rising. What a perfect time to revisit the world’s most expensive coffee.
Indonesia is famous for coffee. For example, “Sumatra” is their biggest island – with “Java” coming in close behind (and both are synonymous with coffee).
They also make one of the most expensive coffees in the world … Luwak Coffee.
It is a very particular coffee, created using a very peculiar process.
In traditional coffee production, the cherries are harvested, and the beans are extracted, before being shipped to a roaster, ground into a pulp, and brewed by a barista at your local Starbucks.
In contrast, with Luwak coffee, something different happens.
The coffee cherries are harvested by wild animals.
Specifically, they’re harvested by the Asian Palm Civet, a small, cat-like animal that absolutely loves the taste of coffee cherries.
But,if the civets eat the cherries, how can they still be used to make coffee?
Here comes the gross part—the civets eat the coffee cherries, but their digestive tract can’t effectively process the beans, only the flesh surrounding them.
When the partially digested, partially fermented beans are eventually excreted, coffee producers harvest them. The beans are then cleaned, roasted, and used to make astonishingly expensive (“with retail prices reaching up to $1300 per kilogram”) coffee.
Now, is the coffee that mind-blowing?
No, not really. In fact, many critics will openly call it bad coffee, or as Tim Carman, food writer for the Washington Post put it, “It tasted just like…Folgers. Stale. Lifeless. Petrified dinosaur droppings steeped in bathtub water. I couldn’t finish it.”
To be fair, the Luwak coffee industry is not really about coffee ... it is about an experience. When I toured a plantation near Ubud, Bali, a smiling tour guide greeted and led me on an in-depth exploration of the forested property, where I was allowed to immerse myself in the various spices, roots, beans, and civets used to produce this one-of-a-kind coffee.
Here is a video I shot of the process.
If you think about it, I paid a premium to drink exotic cat poop coffee. Kind of strange!
I wouldn’t drink coffee made from people’s poop (or even domestic cat poop).
It’sthe story that allows this not-so-awesome coffee to fetch awesome prices. People are paying for the experience, not the commodity itself.
The same is true when you buy Starbucks. The coffee at 7-Eleven is cheaper – and Consumer Reports tell us that McDonald’s coffee is better.
I was just in Arizona, at a Genius Network event. Listened to some interesting speakers, spent time with some great friends and business partners, and also got to share some ideas with them as well.
My big takeaway for the weekend was on the power of contests and competition not just for attracting customers, but for hiring and as a catalyst to adoption and experimentation.
Unfortunately, my flight coincided with the first half of the Super Bowl.
Luckily, the Cowboys avoided conflicting with my schedules. I’d hate to think how I’d feel if I had to decide whether to attend the Super Bowl.
Conveniently, being on a plane didn’t limit my ability to watch.
Essentially every other person had the game on their device - so Zach and I could watch the game we don’t really care about while thinking about what could have been.
Do you think the Rams really have home-field advantage?
About a month ago, I shared visualcapitalist's 2021 predictions to check how well they fared at the end of the year.
Honestly, the list was pretty good. It wasn't perfect, but you wouldn't expect it to be.
In that article, I asked this question:
What's going to happen as a result of the continuing pandemic, inflation, interest rates, the ongoing supply chain issues, and the growing anxiety and unrest brewing underneath the surface of the new normal? In January, we'll get to see VC's predictions. Before that, what do you expect to happen in 2022? - How'd These 2021 Predictions Fair?
Let's be clear - most predictions are either vague and easily guessed (and therefore not helpful) or random conjecture.
But, there's value in prediction, and there's value in analyzing the data before you. The caveat is that prediction is better when it's applied to human nature and not the machinations of fate, and data can be a distraction if it's not being carefully curated and analyzed to remain relevant to your goals.
For example, I agree with their general direction for technology. Tech is continuing to grow in influence, and as Web 3.0, the blockchain, and AI mature as platforms for sub-technologies, I think their importance is only going to skyrocket.
Prediction can also be entertainment. I certainly catch myself looking for patterns and differentiators for everything from whether my meal is going to come to the table correctly, to who's going to win the Super Bowl.
I know the chances are low, but I still think it's going to be the Cowboys ...
It's always exciting for me to watch the Cowboys make the playoffs. Meanwhile, yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers ended the Cowboys season in the first round of the playoffs.
Only one team can win the Super Bowl. I know that. Yet, most seasons, somehow, I expect the Cowboys to have a real chance. That form of hope and wishful thinking comes with being a fan.
Whether you like football or not, one thing we can probably agree about is that geriatric white dudes shouldn't rap. At least ... that's what my kids tell me when I try.
Unfortunately, Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, didn't get the memo.
As we enter the new year, it feels appropriate to focus a little on our mortality. What better time for an existential crisis?
Below is an infographic that shows events in the life of a typical American. However, you can personalize it to display how long you likely have to live by filling in your education level, sex, country of birth, and when you were born. Seeing where you are ... versus how many dots are left can be jarring.
The average life expectancy for men in the U.S. is 76.
How many amazing vacations do you have left? How many jaw-dropping moments? How many fantastic meals? How many Super Bowls?
What about time with your parents or older relatives? It's easy to forget to call or to miss an important event because "life happens". But, if you realize you may have already used 95% of your in-person time with that person ... doesn't it become more special?
In my TEDx talk, I mentioned "living like you only have a year left" – and how much more "life" we got out of the last part of my dad's life.
That is an example, but I want to take it one step further.
To start, think of some of the activities you do, places you go, experiences you have that are special and make you feel like your best self.
Hitting flow-state and creating something new and exciting;
Taking an amazing vacation and experiencing something completely new;
Having a moment with someone you love that makes you stop and say - Wow!
Making a difference in someone's day or giving back to your community;
Experiencing peace and relaxation;
Feeling pure joy.
It's easy to get lost and take for granted these moments when they happen, but when you think about how much time you have left, they take a whole new meaning.
How can you maximize the time you have left? Fill it with the best experiences, activities, and people you can.
To start, think about different time frames:
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a year?
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a month?
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a week?
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a day?
Make those lists ... it is a simple way to get a better return on the time value of your life.
Seriously, try it.
Let me know how it worked for you – and what you chose.
Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading - May 1st, 2022
Here are some of the posts that caught my eye. Hope you find something interesting.
Lighter Links:
Trading Links:
Posted at 08:50 PM in Books, Business, Current Affairs, Food and Drink, Games, Healthy Lifestyle, Ideas, Just for Fun, Market Commentary, Personal Development, Science, Sports, Trading, Trading Tools, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0)
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