The Best of Times

I do think we live in The Best of Times and the current frustration, anger and insecurity is just fear leaving the system. Might sound too philosophical. But think about it: if you are one of the few that didn’t believe in homeownership-at-any-price, credit card debt, over-consumption and corporatism then things are pretty jolly at them moment. We are heading into a deflation cycle that will put price pressure on everything. Owning real assets will suck and being in cash will rock. Everything will get cheaper and that’s a good thing.

Lower prices is great for the younger, entrepreneurial  and risk-taking generation. Cool ideas will be cheaper to bring to market. Real need, restrictions and scarcity will drive innovation. “Necessity is the mother of invention” - remember. This is what Joseph Schumpeter called “creative destruction”.

What built the country is crumbling, being outsourced or just not good enough anymore. And that’s a darn good thing as in it’s wake there will be better, smarter and cheaper solutions to solve our problems. It happened in the 1870s, in the 1930s, the 1970s and it’s happening now - big time.

But as humans we have a hard time to let go of what we know or once knew and embrace the future, the insecurity and change. We know what we have but not what we might get.  We also suck at history in favor of mythology. The funny thing  is that this is nothing new; it’s the natural evolution of humanity. Ebb and flow, growth and contractions, ups and downs. 

It only sucks if you are over-leveraged at the wrong times as so many people were in the end of the last growth cycle. This is the real market economy, the real capitalism at it’s best. It’s the new normal. The problem is that we are falling in love with growth and detesting the contraction when we should do the opposite. Like every smart, young entrepreneur is doing right now. The surface might look crappy and the short time view miserable but the water is nice and the future brighter than ever. Embrace it and you’ll realize the we really live in the best of times.

Stochastic Research

I spend a few hours per week just doing random research. It starts with an interesting article, blog post or social network recommendation. It could really be anything. What then follows is hard to explain. It’s randomness mixed with intent, surprise me and interest. It’s like taking a road never travelled. Or pealing a tropical fruit for the first time. I helps me discover new things to learn, evolve and grow.

Rediscovering On The Road

We packed the car for a long weekend road trip to Santa Monica and Venice Beach. 800-miles round trip.

We quickly realized how fun summer road trips are. Especially if you get to go to places like Venice Beach.

Discovered a bunch of fun stores on Abbot Kinney a few blocks from the beach.

What more can you ask for than walking along a beautiful beach as the sun is setting.

Back home but already planning next trip. I’m thinking Joshua Tree.

Interestingness

Today I shall cross over from one territory to another just to be able to look back at the end of the day and say: hmm, interesting. Learning something new doesn’t just add knowledge and ignites ideas but gives a new perspective to the already known. At least what we think we already know.

#18 - Walking

Walking is a philosophical book about the healing powers of nature by Henry David Thoreau. It’s old with quirky language but the message rings true today. A quick delightful read.

Note that it’s a free Kindle download.

#17 - The Human Zoo

The Human Zoo is a wonderful perspective on the urban animal by the now 86-year old world renowned zoologist and thought-leader Desmond Morris. I’ve previously read The Human Animal and Amazing Baby and loved both. Really loved like this guy rocks hard.

If you believe that our world was created by a mythological God living in the clouds then this is as ”evil” as it gets. But if you believe in evolution, biology and science then you’ll embrace this book with both arms and get amazing insights into the human species.