My Learnings: #52
Protocols are rare, but when they emerge, they create winner-take-all scenarios—a concept I first heard from Jeff Booth, the insightful entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and Bitcoin advocate, though likely not his original idea. Bitcoin mirrors the English language: its vast adoption renders it immutable. Nonsense proposals are swiftly rejected by the masses. In small networks, rules can shift easily (convince a few, and change prevails), but with billions engaged, the protocol endures unaltered, fostering trust. Such dominant standards—English, Bitcoin, base-10 math—emerge as superior; rather than discard them, minor tweaks are applied to evolve with the times while the core remains preserved.
My Learnings: #51
Drawing from insights by Michael Saylor (CEO of MicroStrategy), Jason Lowery (author of Softwar), and other Bitcoin thought leaders—though not my original ideas—Bitcoin's core innovation lies in bridging cyberspace to the physical realm, subjecting digital assets to physics' laws while unleashing Moore's Law on the power grid, akin to its impact on computing.
This realization is transformative: unseen, Bitcoin reshapes the world amid our routines. While in mundane meetings, I'd ponder remote innovators harnessing stranded energy—like excess from dams—via miners to monetize it, fund progress, and democratize permissionless property rights for all humanity. This subtle, global evolution captivates endlessly.
My Learnings: #50
The phrase "amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics" resonates deeply as a timeless reminder of depth over dazzle in any pursuit—be it warfare, business, sports, or personal endeavors. Amateurs fixate on flashy maneuvers: the clever strategy, the bold move, or the quick win that grabs headlines. These tactics are seductive, visible, and often easier to grasp, but they falter without a robust foundation.
Professionals, however, delve into logistics—the unglamorous backbone of execution. This means mastering resource allocation, supply chains, timing, sustainability, and contingency planning. In military terms, it's not just the battle plan but ensuring troops are fed, equipped, and mobile; in business, it's scaling operations efficiently beyond a viral product idea; in life, it's building habits, networks, and reserves that endure setbacks.
Why true? History proves it: Napoleon's Russian campaign crumbled not from poor tactics but logistical failures in harsh winters; startups fail from cash flow mismanagement, not lack of innovation. True mastery lies in the mundane details that enable grand visions. To apply it, audit your "logistics"—health, finances, relationships—and watch tactics thrive.
My Learnings: #49
From a career in engineering and manufacturing, I've observed that while converting raw materials into products is grueling yet profoundly rewarding—driving national value and anchoring communities—it's overshadowed by easier paths to wealth. In a government-driven economy, proximity to the money printer yields massive advantages: recipients of fresh currency (via contracts or bailouts) buy assets before inflation erodes its value, inflating prices and enriching them passively. This Cantillon effect was stark in the 2008-2009 crisis, where TARP funds let banks scoop up depressed assets, which then soared, turning "do-nothing" strategies into genius moves and fat bonuses. Remember: those nearest the spigot thrive disproportionately. You can't change it, but understanding it empowers better decisions for yourself and your family.
My Learnings: #48
Energy forms a foundational layer of the universe—or at least a critical element—based on my observations, though I'm no physicist. This truth resurfaces in the AI arms race among global powers: early focus on advanced chips (CPUs, GPUs) and efficient training models has shifted to the real decider—who can generate the most electricity. Since life's origins, victors have been those projecting the most power to control resources. Today, nations aggressively building nuclear capacity hold the edge, outpacing those mired in debates over energy sources and impacts. Long lead times favor proactive builders, potentially crowning winners already. It's a timeless reminder: access to abundant, projectable energy is paramount, echoing patterns from primordial times to now.
My Learnings: #47
Jeff Booth, the insightful entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and Bitcoin advocate, poses a profound question: "Why is the base layer theft, and how does printing money solve anything?" Grappling with it unveils uncomfortable truths about our monetary system.
At its core, governments like the US target 2% inflation (often tolerating 3%), explicitly aiming to erode 2% of currency holders' purchasing power annually—a sanctioned form of theft. Why accept this? It stems from dilemmas like Triffin's: as issuer of the world's reserve currency, the US must print more to satisfy global demand, devaluing the dollar and subtly siphoning value from savers. Historically mild, this "hidden tax" has ballooned with mounting debt, entitlement programs, wars, and crises like COVID, exposing its pain and prompting scrutiny.
The second part is equally incisive: Printing money solves nothing sustainably. It may fund strategic asset grabs (swapping paper for resources), but ethically dubious and short-lived—as seen in waning demand for US Treasuries, with alternatives like gold gaining favor. To "solve" poverty? It merely inflates assets, enriching the wealthy while devaluing wages and savings, widening inequality. Always challenge calls for more fiat: true solutions demand addressing root causes, not perpetuating theft through debasement.
My Learnings: #46
Humans, at our core, can be modeled as energy, compute, and storage—drawing from an insight I believe originated with Jeff Booth, the entrepreneur, author, and Bitcoin advocate. We ingest calories as fuel (energy), process information and thoughts (compute), and retain experiences for future use (storage). This framework, while focused on the mind, overlooks our communication protocols (like language) and physical capabilities: occupying space, moving, and manipulating the environment with bodies and tools.
Far from dehumanizing, it's a fascinating lens revealing our parallels to machines and emerging AI. By incorporating these additional elements for communication, mobility, and physical manipulation, the model becomes more comprehensive, inviting reflection on a future where biological and digital intelligences converge harmoniously.
My Learnings: #45
Jeff Booth, the insightful entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and Bitcoin advocate, coined a striking analogy that resonates deeply: "You're yelling at your captors from an open jail cell."
It captures how we often complain bitterly about confining systems—like the inflationary monetary regime that debases our hard-earned money—while overlooking the unlocked door to freedom. Instead of futile frustration, opt out: adopt a Bitcoin standard, redirect your energy into a sound-money paradigm, and escape to a less aggravating existence.
This mindset applies broadly to life's traps—toxic jobs, draining relationships, or outdated habits. Pause, scan for the open exit, muster the courage, and step through; liberation awaits those who stop shouting and start walking.
My Learnings: #44
The chambered nautilus, dwelling in the ocean's abyssal depths under crushing pressures, offers a profound analogy for human life and growth. Its spiral shell, built chamber by chamber, encapsulates this: each segment sustains the creature in its youth, providing buoyancy and protection. As the nautilus matures, it seals off smaller chambers to construct larger ones ahead, yet these sealed relics endure, retaining gas to regulate ascent and descent through turbulent waters—much like our early experiences, forged in adversity, which we outgrow but never discard.
In life, childhood lessons and trials form our foundational chambers, supporting us through initial vulnerabilities. They yield to new insights and challenges, yet remain integral: references for wisdom, anchors for resilience, enabling us to navigate deeper pressures—be they emotional, professional, or existential. This evolution under duress mirrors human development; each year layers upon the last, shaping a resilient structure that propels us forward.
If true, this underscores the imperative to minimize grave missteps: a flawed chamber weakens the whole, compromising present stability and future buoyancy. Embrace growth mindfully, honoring past pressures as the scaffolding for a life of graceful, upward motion.
My Learnings: #43
In hindsight, solutions or missteps often seem glaringly obvious, leaving us feeling foolish, lazy, or cowardly. Yet, don't overlook the "fog of war"—the real-time uncertainty and chaos that obscures clarity during the journey, making navigation far harder than it appears afterward.
While self-reflection and constructive criticism are vital for growth, remember that retellings frequently downplay this fog's profound impact. Honor its role: it humanizes our experiences, tempers harsh self-judgment, and fosters empathy for others in the midst. Wisdom lies in acknowledging that what feels evident now was often veiled then.
My Learnings: #42
In many endeavors, you make the road by walking. While upfront planning holds value, excessive debate over uncontrollable variables often paralyzes action. Start with a clear goal and initial direction, then adapt as you go: obstacles will reveal unforeseen solutions and insights, shaping your path organically. In the end, you'll have a trailblazing route—one impossible to fully map in advance, yet enduring for yourself or others. Remember, you make the road by walking.
My Learnings: #41
No long-term strategy exists without a solid short-term one. This wisdom came from a top Corporate America leader I worked with—a master of succinct, pressure-forged insights delivered with humor and decades of experience.
He emphasized: Handle today's priorities impeccably, as uncertainty looms even next quarter, let alone years ahead. Long-term visions are vital, but without executing short-term tactics, you won't survive to pursue them. Neglect the immediate, and grand ambitions crumble.
This applies universally—to business, personal goals, health, or relationships. For instance, dreaming of retirement wealth means nothing without daily budgeting; aspiring to fitness requires consistent workouts today. Focus on near-term wins to build momentum, ensuring you endure to claim the horizon. Remember, there is no long-term without a short term.
My Learnings: #40
Michael Saylor, the brilliant CEO of MicroStrategy, once shared a compelling analogy about eliminating friction in systems and processes—one that resonates deeply with optimizing life and work. I've always admired his sharp intellect; his insights could captivate for hours.
Imagine throwing a baseball on Earth: even the strongest arm propels it only about 400 feet before gravity and air resistance drag it down. Now, picture the same ball in the frictionless vacuum of space, in orbit around Earth. With just a gentle push—even from a child—it could circle the planet indefinitely, propelled by minimal effort into perpetual motion.
This vivid metaphor illustrates the transformative power of removing barriers in our daily lives. Think of the "gravity" we face: endless commutes, redundant emails, pointless meetings, social media distractions, or bureaucratic hurdles. These hidden frictions sap our energy, limit our impact, and erode joy, often without us noticing until frustration builds.
To harness true efficiency, consciously audit your routines: observe what drains you, identify non-essential tasks, and ruthlessly eliminate or automate them. Streamline communication with tools like batching emails or setting boundaries; reclaim time by questioning "necessary" obligations. The result? Exponential progress and fulfillment with the same—or less—effort, much like that orbiting ball achieving vast distances from a tiny input.
Yet, be compassionate with yourself. Modern systems— from corporate structures to digital algorithms—are engineered to impose these constraints, making full escape challenging. Start small, celebrate wins, and watch how reducing friction unlocks not just productivity, but a richer, more liberated life.
My Learnings: #39
Efficiency is speed applied accurately with perfect technique, evident in top athletes who move cleanly without waste—simple, direct, precise actions manifested from superior brain paths.
This principle applies to business, school, and beyond: eliminate wasted movements, focus on high-impact actions, and execute them flawlessly for superior results.
It frees time for relaxation or new pursuits, compounding successes. Remember, physics and nature impose a cost on everything: minimize waste and consciously manage the energy you consume and expend.
My Learnings: #38
Truth without courage has limited value. While unique insights and deep understanding are foundational—revealing what's happening and the best next steps—they're ineffective without the bravery to speak up or act. Otherwise, you'll be stuck saying "I told you so," trapped as a victim in frustrating situations or systems.
Instead, step up: voice your opinions, defend them, and invite pressure-testing from others. This refines your ideas, uncovers flaws, or strengthens your convictions. Once firm in the truth, muster the courage to take action—this drives real change, whether personal or organizational.
It's uncomfortable, but essential for a successful, fulfilling life. Remember: truth alone isn't enough.
Not a film documentary but the Saylor series on Breedlove’s What is Money podcast is excellent. Worth watching on YouTube if you are interesting in something bitcoin related. Sharing incase it is helpful. Best of luck.
My Learnings: #37
Over fifteen plus years managing global pharmaceutical supply chains, I honed my scenario analysis skills, modeling risks that could disrupt the horizon. Early in my career, a seasoned leader—vibrant, not jaded—shared a nugget of wisdom: “The worst-case scenario always happens.” He’d witnessed promising drugs fail late in development, leaving factories idle; “sure-win” legal battles collapse unexpectedly; and rosy sales forecasts fizzle, stranding excess capacity. He wasn’t dismissing our work but highlighting a truth: outcomes aren’t symmetrically distributed around the base case—they skew heavily downward. My own experience bore this out. Optimistic surprises were rare (and we capitalized on them), but reality typically hugged the baseline or sank lower, with worst-case scenarios unfolding often. This lens applies beyond work—to life itself. It’s not about pessimism, but pragmatism. People around me dreamed of grand plans, only to lament “bad luck” when they faltered, not realizing their expectations defied probability. Life isn’t cursed; it’s just weighted toward the mundane or worse. Embracing this doesn’t dim your spirit—it sharpens your planning, spurs extra effort to tilt the odds, and softens the sting of setbacks. When rare wins arrive, they shine brighter against the odds.
My Learnings: #36
Inspiration strikes me from the unlikeliest corners, perhaps because I spend so much time lost in my own thoughts. I’ve never quite fit in with the crowd—solitude suits me, and I relish the freedom to muse uninterrupted. One figure who unexpectedly lights a spark in me, especially when facing adversity or suppression, is Tom Petty. A wiry musician, no taller than 5’9” and weighing perhaps 150 pounds, he hardly seemed imposing—yet his song “I Won’t Back Down” carries a defiant weight that belies his frame. Often hailed as an anthem of resilience, it’s a rallying cry for standing firm in your beliefs. The line “You can stand me up at the gates of Hell, but I won’t back down” is pure, unyielding defiance—a defiant stance to control, tyranny, or any force trying to break you. It’s no wonder Florida Gator football fans belt it out in unison when it blasts through stadium speakers, their voices merging into a roar of collective grit. Every now and then, something will remind me of this song and I will pull up a YouTube clip of that crowd singing along, and it never fails to lift me. I’ve long told myself, “The world breaks before you do,” and Petty’s words echo that conviction.
Then there’s another gem from his catalog—“Runnin’ Down a Dream.” The full lyrics don’t entirely resonate with me, but that one phrase does it for me. My life often feels like a relentless plow through mountains of work—providing for my family, my team, and everyone counting on me—but beneath it all, I carry a dream, a vivid vision of the life and legacy I’m chasing. “Runnin’ down a dream” paints a picture of fierce, focused effort, each step pulling me closer to that goal. What excites me most is where I stand now: I genuinely believe I’ll see that vision come to life before my time’s up. That certainty fuels me, turning the grind into a thrilling pursuit. Petty, with his lean build and outsized spirit, reminds us all that strength isn’t about size—it’s about resolve, about chasing what matters, and never letting the world drag you off course. Life is very difficult. Viewing it as a stubborn march forward towards your dreams in the face of resistance is a way I choose to look at it and that inspires me.
My Learnings: #35
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is nothing short of exhilarating. I find myself embracing the current technologies as often as possible, integrating them into my life with great success. What I’ve come to call my “digital assistant” or “digital professor” has proven invaluable, revealing countless applications that enhance both my productivity and understanding. Yet, amid this excitement, I’ve noticed a growing chorus of concern—particularly about the environmental impact of AI’s escalating power demands. Critics argue that the energy required to fuel the world’s AI ambitions could strain our planet’s resources, but I see these worries as largely overblown, perhaps even a deliberate attempt to hinder progress. Yes, the power needs are real, but history shows that humanity excels at solving such challenges. Take DeepSeek’s recent breakthrough as an example: by optimizing software and algorithms, they achieved superior AI performance with less computational power than traditional methods. This shift challenges the prevailing notion that the AI race is purely a contest of raw compute, CPU strength, and data volume. Instead, it puts human ingenuity back in the driver’s seat, proving that smart engineering can deliver better results with fewer resources.
This reminds me of my early days in biotech. Back then, people fretted over where we’d source the water for drug substance production or how we’d fund ever-expanding bioreactor capacity. In response, clever engineers developed higher-yielding processes that maximized existing infrastructure, producing significantly larger batches without additional inputs. The parallels to AI are striking—and they fuel my optimism that we’ll overcome the power demands some fear will harm the environment. But honestly, I find this whole environmental debate beside the point, even a costly distraction. The real stakes of the AI race dwarf these concerns. Whoever dominates AI will dominate the world—economically, militarily, governmentally, culturally, you name it. And there’s no guarantee that leader will wield that power for humanity’s benefit, let alone to improve your life as an individual.
This isn’t just a technological competition; it’s a matter of national defense and personal sovereignty. If our nation doesn’t seize the lead, we won’t have the luxury of worrying about the environment—we’ll be too busy grappling with the consequences of being outpaced. Picture a world where an adversary, unburdened by such concerns, surges ahead in AI, much like the nuclear race decades ago. Imagine if we’d hesitated to develop nuclear weapons out of fear for the environment while our rivals pressed on, eager to claim supremacy and dictate the world’s course. The same logic applies here. The country that establishes AI superiority will project unmatched power across every conceivable domain, cementing a position that could prove nearly impossible to challenge. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the freedom of humankind hinges on the most ethical, incorruptible players winning this race.
Slowing progress over environmental fears isn’t an option—not when the issue may not even be as dire as claimed. This is a military-grade priority, a fight for survival in the short term that determines whether we even have a long term to plan for. Without victory in the immediate future, concerns about sustainability become irrelevant; you don’t get to fret over the planet if you’re enslaved by the winner. AI isn’t just a tool or a trend—it’s the defining battleground for national security and human liberty. We must cut through the noise, focus with unrelenting clarity, and ensure we come out on top. Anything less risks ceding control of our future to those who won’t hesitate to shape it in their image.
My Learnings: #33
To manage successful meetings that govern any process or group, it’s critical—and non-negotiable—to begin by reviewing and resolving all action items from the prior meeting. Though people often resist this step, it’s a game-changer, fostering accountability and setting a productive tone. Here’s how it unfolds: as the meeting progresses, any unanswered questions, incomplete responses, or raised issues are swiftly noted as action items, each assigned to a specific person—no need for prolonged debate. Before the meeting ends, read through all newly captured action items aloud to ensure group alignment on what’s been assigned and to whom. Post-meeting, refine the exact wording of these items with the designated owners, then publish the finalized list. Each owner is then accountable for investigating, collaborating with relevant stakeholders, and preparing a response—whether a concise sentence or two for simple items or a detailed explanation for more complex ones—to present at the next meeting. These responses must be pre-aligned with stakeholders to avoid surprises and enable clean closure, minimizing rework.
For this process, avoid fancy technology—keep it low-tech and simple. A basic list of action items in any document, with clear owners and precise language, is far more valuable and efficient than any elaborate digital solution. This straightforward approach suits the foundational nature of the process, ensuring accessibility and focus without unnecessary complexity. The method demands discipline and can feel tedious, but its impact is profound. It ensures issues are thoroughly understood and addressed, while discouraging off-the-cuff remarks or half-baked ideas—people quickly learn that raising a point means owning the follow-through, so they stick to legitimate, well-informed contributions. This cuts through the noise, especially in large groups, sharpening focus and boosting organizational clarity. When opening the next meeting, prioritize reviewing these action items first, allowing only the assigned owner to speak to each one to prevent confusion from multiple voices. If an item isn’t resolved by the following meeting, one more cycle is acceptable, but beyond that, it’s likely a larger problem, not a simple action item. By consistently starting with action item reviews, capturing new ones during the meeting, and confirming them before parting, you’ll drive remarkable progress, deepen collective knowledge, and maintain alignment. This isn’t optional—it’s a foundational habit that delivers outsized results.