“Words can be twisted into any shape. Promises can be made to lull the heart and seduce the soul. In the final analysis, words mean nothing. They are labels we give things in an effort to wrap our puny little brains around their underlying natures, when ninety-nine percent of the time the totality of the reality is an entirely different beast. The wisest man is the silent one. Examine his actions. Judge him by them.” ― Karen Marie Moning
The current socio-political climate has me thinking about the consequences of labeling things, creating boxes, and simplifying ideas into news-ready headlines.
With more news sources than ever and less attention span, you see ideas packaged into attention-grabbing parts. The focus isn't on education or the issues, but on getting the click, making your stay on their page longer, and sending you to a new article utterly unrelated to why you clicked on the page.
Complex issues are simplified – not even into their most basic forms – but instead into their most divisive forms ... because there's no money in the middle.
The amplified voices are those on the fringe of the average constituents' beliefs – precisely because those are the ones who are often the most outspoken.
Issues that should be bipartisan have been made "us" versus "them," "liberal" versus "conservative," or "right" versus "wrong." The algorithms of most of these sites create echo chambers that increase radicalization and decrease news comprehension. Identity politics have gotten so strong that you see families breaking apart and friend groups disintegrating ... because people can't imagine sharing a room with someone they don't share the same values as.
In psychology, heuristics are mental models that help you make decisions easier. They're a starting point to save mental bandwidth, allowing you to spend more brain cycles on the important stuff.
That's a great use of "boxes" and "simplification"… but it shouldn't preclude deeper thought on important issues.
In an ideal world, we would all have the bandwidth to view each case of an issue as a whole issue within itself. Most things are nuanced, and the "correct" answer changes as you change your vantage point.
I recognize that's not realistic.
Instead, I encourage you to remember to continue to think and learn ... even about things you already know. Confirmation Bias is one of the more common forms of cognitive bias. Here is an infographic that lists 50 common cognitive biases. Click to explore further.
Important issues deserve more research. New insights happen between the boundaries of what we know and don't. Knowledge comes from truly understanding the border between what you are certain and uncertain about.
I challenge you to look beyond the headlines, slogans, and talking points you like most. Look for dissenting opinions and understand what's driving their dissent. Are they really blind or dumb (or are their value systems just weighted differently)?
Not everything needs to be boxed. Not everything needs to be simple. You should explore things and people outside of your comfort zone and look to see things from their point of view ... not your own.
Applying This Lesson
“I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
I love learning a lesson in one space and applying it to other spaces. It's one of the cool things about AI. An algorithm can learn rules in the construction space that may help in the medicine or trading space. Everything's a lesson if you let it be.
In that vein, the lesson on labeling also applies to yourself and your business. Don't get me wrong - naming things is powerful. It can help make the intangible tangible. However, don't let the label (or your perception of the label) stop you from achieving something greater.
Many things are true because we believe them to be, but when we let go of past beliefs, the impossible becomes possible, and the invisible becomes visible.
We are our choices ... and you can make choices today that change who you are (and what you or your business is capable of) tomorrow.
Last week, I shared a post about the rise of ChatGPT. To summarize ... new AI tools (like ChatGPT) are cool, but they can be a distraction if you're not focused on your actual business goals. Likewise, those tools seem smart, but they are not smart enough to replace you.
Below is a video containing an edited version of my contributions about using AI in business at a recent Genius Network meeting.
With something as powerful and game-changing as AI, smart people find a way to take advantage of it (rather than finding ways to avoid or ignore it).
If you keep your head in the dirt, you'll get left behind like Blockbuster, Kodak, or RadioShack.
With that said, one of the key things I've noticed about new tech is that there's massive churn. You've seen it with the blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The companies, products, and modalities that pioneer the industry aren't always the ones who make it. I think it's because they focus on technology instead of solving their customers' real problems.
Pioneers often end up with arrows in their backs and blood on their shoes. Too often, this causes them to give up before they achieve real and lasting success.
You don't have to rush, even if it feels like you're falling behind. To use a surfing metaphor, you shouldn't ignore the coming waves, but you can certainly take the time to wax your board, get in the ocean, and choose which wave you want to ride.
You can catch the little waves and take advantage of ChatGPT or Midjourney, but as a final reminder, if everyone is doing it, it's not a competitive advantage ... it's the playing field.
Technology is on the mind of most people I have talked to recently. Even with Big Tech letting go of droves of employees, the innovation happening in the world is impressive.
VisualCapitalist put out a list of 11 trends to look out for this year. Check it out.
As always, no list gets it entirely correct. Lists like this are made to spark interest and influence the direction of tech development. However, I've been impressed with what visualcapitalist has gotten right in the past.
A lot of the trends on the list make sense. India has been a massive investment space in tech over the last few years, and it's about time for more results to show. Healthcare is a massive investment space, and we're seeing a lot of innovation go to the medical space before migrating to other industries ... on top of health monitoring, other specifics like menopausal care could see more investment, especially with an increase in women-led and women-focused companies.
As well, Fintech has been hit hard since 2020. Many of the bulwarks of the industry have been sliced down as a result of covid-19, market turmoil, the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and more. These years haven't been without learnings. New market conditions require new approaches, but the past 2+ years have been a great opportunity for adaptation and advancement. After winter comes spring.
What trends do you think are missing, and what trends do you think won't come to fruition?
The speed of adoption is unrivaled, and it’s a sign of bigger things to come.
Unfortunately, not all news around ChatGPT has been positive. Microsoft released a version of Bing powered by ChatGPT, and it has been a mess. Bing’s chatbot has threatened its users, it claimed to be watching its developers through their cameras, and much more.
Despite that, ChatGPT and many other new tools are being used to great effect. For example, this episode of a Conan talk show was generated entirely by AI - the words, the voices, the video - all using AI. Click to watch how it turned out.
I was part of a panel on ChatGPT and the state of AI last week. As you might guess, a large part of the conversation focused on how businesses could use these new and innovative tools. It’s no secret that the list of potential applications is extensive. For example, I now use ChatGPT and Type.AI to help edit articles.
While they provide both context and content for the articles, their text tends to be "fluffier" than I prefer. It can be reminiscent of someone trying to sound smarter than they actually are. Instead of taking something complex and making it simple, it takes one good idea and hides it in some circuitous logic and language. After I clean it up, I'm usually happier with the article as a result.
However, I think about valuing AI’s uses in a similar way that I value discounts. When you come across a deal in a store that makes you think, “Wow, I need this”... It’s not really saving you money if you weren’t planning to purchase the item in the first place. It’s an additional cost.
If you’re tempted to start using new tools just because they’re exciting, realize that they are likely to be a distraction that could end up hurting your productivity.
Tools like ChatGPT can be used to great effect if they assist you in doing things you need (or want) to be done. In that case, they can help you create a bigger future with what becomes possible.
When used correctly, automation and innovation can help improve efficiency, effectiveness, and the certainty that you achieve desired outcomes. Meanwhile, they don’t charge you an hourly wage, they won’t get sassy when you tell them all the things they messed up, and they’re ready to work at all hours of the day.
Here are three concepts to consider.
AI can help you create a bigger future … but you have to know where you want to go (because activity isn’t progress if it isn’t taking you toward your destination).
If you’re afraid of Artificial Intelligence, you’re not listening. AI will inevitably become more powerful and widely used. Look to how it can help you get what you want rather than focusing on how to avoid the peril or feeling bad that other people use it better or more than you do.
If in doubt, begin. The 25-year journey starts with a single step.
The Doomsday Clock was created by a group of atomic scientists in 1947 to warn the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons. The clock is a metaphor, with midnight representing the catastrophic destruction of the world. The closer the clock is to midnight, the closer humanity is to a global catastrophe.
Nuclear war is still a significant risk, but not the only one. A list of the biggest existential risks to humanity includes:
Nuclear War: The threat of nuclear weapons and the possibility of a global nuclear war continue to pose a significant risk to humanity.
Climate Change: Climate change is a growing threat to humanity and the planet, causing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity.
Pandemics: The rapid spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, highlights the vulnerability of the human species to pandemics.
Artificial Intelligence: The development of advanced AI systems has the potential to pose existential risks if not properly regulated and controlled.
Biotechnology: The rapid advancement in biotechnology, including genetic engineering and synthetic biology, has the potential to bring about new risks to humanity.
Natural Disasters: Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions can cause widespread destruction and loss of life.
Some would argue that our exploration of space is another potential threat. So, these are just a few examples, and the list is not exhaustive. Addressing these risks requires a global effort and cooperation between nations, organizations, and individuals.
The Doomsday Clock was initially set at 7 minutes to midnight in 1947. In the 76 years since it launched, the hands have been adjusted 25 times. The most recent change, in 2023, moved the clock from 100 seconds to midnight to 90 seconds. This was a small but significant shift.
Flowing Data put together a chart to show the clock's movement since inception.
The Doomsday Clock provides a long-term perspective on the dangers facing humanity. Despite the seemingly small number of seconds remaining to midnight, it serves as a reminder of the urgency to act. We can move towards a brighter future by acknowledging the potential consequences of our actions (or inactions). Advancements in fields such as medicine, technology, and human potential offer hope and the potential to overcome even the most pressing challenges. With collaboration from the brightest minds across the world and private industry, we have the ability to solve even the world's most significant problems.
I'm proud of our team. We have a shared sense of Mission, Values, and Purpose.
Also, we understand that robots aren't coming for our jobs. We're creating the robots, the AI, and the automation – and it's exciting!
With that said, as tech becomes more capable, some will focus on the promise ... while others will focus on the peril.
We're seeing lots of hyperbolic promise and peril in the news cycle recently because of ChatGPT. Trends in technology news appear to come in cycles, with different names and topics but similar patterns. This is because, despite the constant evolution of technology and the world, human nature remains relatively unchanged.
While browsing a library of our old content, I came across an old news story from a local news channel that discussed finding tech talent and featured Capitalogix. Here's the article. You can watch the video below.
It's not enough to invest in the right ideas or technologies. You have to invest in the right people as well.
"Standing still is moving backward ... so you don't only need new technology, you need a new level of data scientists – a new level of professional that can think about what's possible, rather than how to do what we want to do right now."
Even though we've got an incredible edge now, I recognize that edges decay faster than ever. The trick is to stay ahead.
The future is bright, and the best way to predict the future is to create it.
Last week I started getting “Happy Work Anniversary!” messages on LinkedIn ... and I was a bit confused because people kept mentioning 23 years.
Twenty-three years ... That can’t be right? Can it?
For context, here’s what I looked like around that time.
My eldest son (who’s now married with a baby) was in middle school. I was just out of the events I described in my TEDx talk.
However, depending on your definition, the 23rd anniversary can be true or false. Legally, the Capitalogix that exists today is distinct from the initial iteration. Additionally, the company has expanded, its direction has shifted, and what was once a one-person operation has grown into a team of over 20 individuals focused on advancing and commercializing the field of Artificial Intelligence.
It reminds me of the Ship of Theseus (also known as Theseus’ Paradox), which is a philosophical thought experiment that poses the question of whether an object that has had all of its parts replaced is still considered to be the same object. It raises issues of identity, continuity, and change over time. The concept can be applied to physical objects, living organisms, and even organizations or businesses. It challenges our understanding of what it means for something to be fundamentally the same, and if an object can remain unchanged despite undergoing significant changes over time.
The name “Capitalogix” did originate in the year 2000 ... and a surprising amount of the original North Star “purpose” still exists. Honestly, I’m surprised by how much holds up despite 20+ years of passing ... but almost all of it has needed some course correction to adjust to changing tides.
Regardless, it’s staggering to think about how long I’ve worked in A.I. (since 1991, when it was hard to spell A.I.) and how far we’ve come.
If I had known how difficult it was at the beginning, I probably never would have pursued it. However, knowing how difficult it is, and how challenging it is to make meaningful progress, I feel better that I did because I realize that it’s not just a competitive advantage, it’s a sustainable competitive advantage. It’s easy for people to focus on a capability, it’s another to make it industrial-grade, robust, reliable, and able to work in difficult conditions. They say that things that don’t kill you make you stronger, it’s true for people, but it’s also true for technologies.
As we celebrate Chinese New Year, it also feels like a new beginning for Capitalogix as we chase after new possibilities and probabilities.
We didn’t come this far — just to come this far! Onwards!
Last week, I talked about the time value of time - and the benefit of quality peer groups.
On Friday, one of those peer groups spent hours talking about the promise and peril of generative AI. While some people remained skeptical or in fear of what tools like ChatGPT made possible.
One of the members shared an AI tool directory that I thought was worth sharing as well. It's called Futurepedia.io
My contribution to the discussion was brief, but it amounts to this ... Nothing you're hearing about AI should scare you. It should scream opportunity. You don't have to rush. AI is at the beginning of a long upwards sloping cycle of impact and capability. However, AI isn't duct tape, and for most, it's not a business ... it's a tool to help you create a bigger future that wasn't possible before. Much like "internet" companies came and went in the late 1990s ... yet almost every company uses the internet in ways that were unimaginable at the beginning of the cycle.
People often get stuck searching for 'something' (often a singular goal or result). But, in their myopia, they miss the possibility of 'or something better.'
In my business, I'm rarely happy to settle for less than I'm aiming for ... but I am willing to happily take the 'or something better'. Nonetheless, it is hard to see (let alone be open to) other targets or possibilities when you myopically focus on achieving the lesser (but specific) goal or target you initially chose to focus upon.
So, here is a thought to ponder ...
What is opportunity, and when does it knock? It never knocks. You can wait a whole lifetime, listening, hoping, and you will hear no knocking. None at all. You are opportunity, and you must knock on the door leading to your destiny. You prepare yourself to recognize opportunity, to pursue and seize opportunity as you develop the strength of your personality, and build a self-image with which you are able to live -- with your self-respect alive and growing. ~ Maxwell Maltz
Imagine what you believe this tipping point indicates is possible personally and professionally.
I have always believed that you can predict a lot about your future based on the quality of the people you spend the present with.
That is why I think participation in quality peer groups is critical.
Over the years, I joined several business-leader peer groups like Strategic Coach, Abundance 360, and Genius Network. These groups are a great way to meet people and learn things ... and they also provide you with access to the benefits of feedback from a group of trusted advisors, perspectives you might otherwise get from a counselor, and a flow of ideas and opportunities that wouldn't have crossed your mind or your desk. They allow participants to see, hear, and discuss things they don't usually think about, talk about, or even notice.
Peer groups are also great at bringing blind spots to your attention and connecting you to trends transforming industries and the world.
In these meetings, you often find a "nugget" in the discussion. Sometimes it stems from what is happening in the world. Sometimes it alerts you to potentially valuable relationships, opportunities, or gadgets. And sometimes, the nugget comes from discussing a common problem or constraint (like the pandemic) with your peers.
This week, several of these groups prompted me to think about time (e.g., not wanting to sell time for money, wanting to live past 100, the "strangeness" of time during the past year, etc.).
Time is funny. Sometimes it seems to fly by ... other times, it seems to stand still. Dan Sullivan uses the example of 10 minutes with a dying loved one compared to holding your hand on a stove for 10 minutes. One seems excruciatingly short, and the other seems excruciatingly long.
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 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?
For contrast:
Would you rather spend that time dwelling on a mistake?
What about being angry at something out of your control?
What about doing work that drains you mentally and emotionally?
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 just an example, but clearly, it is worth taking the concept 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 these moments for granted 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!
What's In The Box? The Consequences of Labeling
The current socio-political climate has me thinking about the consequences of labeling things, creating boxes, and simplifying ideas into news-ready headlines.
With more news sources than ever and less attention span, you see ideas packaged into attention-grabbing parts. The focus isn't on education or the issues, but on getting the click, making your stay on their page longer, and sending you to a new article utterly unrelated to why you clicked on the page.
Complex issues are simplified – not even into their most basic forms – but instead into their most divisive forms ... because there's no money in the middle.
via Quote Investigator
The amplified voices are those on the fringe of the average constituents' beliefs – precisely because those are the ones who are often the most outspoken.
Issues that should be bipartisan have been made "us" versus "them," "liberal" versus "conservative," or "right" versus "wrong." The algorithms of most of these sites create echo chambers that increase radicalization and decrease news comprehension. Identity politics have gotten so strong that you see families breaking apart and friend groups disintegrating ... because people can't imagine sharing a room with someone they don't share the same values as.
via BrainyQuotes.
In psychology, heuristics are mental models that help you make decisions easier. They're a starting point to save mental bandwidth, allowing you to spend more brain cycles on the important stuff.
That's a great use of "boxes" and "simplification"… but it shouldn't preclude deeper thought on important issues.
In an ideal world, we would all have the bandwidth to view each case of an issue as a whole issue within itself. Most things are nuanced, and the "correct" answer changes as you change your vantage point.
I recognize that's not realistic.
Instead, I encourage you to remember to continue to think and learn ... even about things you already know. Confirmation Bias is one of the more common forms of cognitive bias. Here is an infographic that lists 50 common cognitive biases. Click to explore further.
via VisualCapitalist
Important issues deserve more research. New insights happen between the boundaries of what we know and don't. Knowledge comes from truly understanding the border between what you are certain and uncertain about.
I challenge you to look beyond the headlines, slogans, and talking points you like most. Look for dissenting opinions and understand what's driving their dissent. Are they really blind or dumb (or are their value systems just weighted differently)?
Not everything needs to be boxed. Not everything needs to be simple. You should explore things and people outside of your comfort zone and look to see things from their point of view ... not your own.
Applying This Lesson
I love learning a lesson in one space and applying it to other spaces. It's one of the cool things about AI. An algorithm can learn rules in the construction space that may help in the medicine or trading space. Everything's a lesson if you let it be.
In that vein, the lesson on labeling also applies to yourself and your business. Don't get me wrong - naming things is powerful. It can help make the intangible tangible. However, don't let the label (or your perception of the label) stop you from achieving something greater.
Many things are true because we believe them to be, but when we let go of past beliefs, the impossible becomes possible, and the invisible becomes visible.
We are our choices ... and you can make choices today that change who you are (and what you or your business is capable of) tomorrow.
Hope that helps – Onwards!
Posted at 08:23 PM in Books, Business, Current Affairs, Healthy Lifestyle, Ideas, Market Commentary, Personal Development, Religion, Science, Trading, Trading Tools, Writing | Permalink | Comments (0)
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