Chemaclass - philosophy

Laissez Faire, Laissez Passer

2026-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Paris, around 1680. As the story goes, the finance minister of Louis XIV, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, gathers a group of merchants. He asks a simple question: what can the state do to help your business?

One of them, a merchant named Legendre, gives a famous answer. “Laissez-nous faire.” Leave us alone.

About seventy years later, the economist Vincent de Gournay turns that reply into a phrase: laissez faire, laissez passer. Let people act. Let goods pass.

The state offered to help. The market asked only to be left alone.

The knowledge nobody has #

Think about the bread you ate this morning. Nobody planned it for you. A farmer grew the wheat, a driver moved it, a miller ground it, a baker baked it. Most of them never met. None of them thought about your breakfast. Yet the bread was there.

Friedrich Hayek called this the knowledge problem. The information needed to run an economy sits in no single place. It’s spread across millions of heads, and most of it can’t be written down. No central office can collect it in time.

The price does that job instead. When wheat gets scarce, its price rises, and thousands of strangers adjust without being told to. No memo required.

Hayek’s essay in four lines:

The knowledge that runs an economy (who needs what, where, right now) lives scattered in millions of heads.
Most of it is local and short-lived. No office can collect it before it goes stale.
A price compresses all of it into one number anyone can act on.
So the question is not who should plan. It’s how to use knowledge no planner can hold. Prices already do.

Leonard Read made the point with a pencil. In I, Pencil, not one person on earth knows how to make a pencil from scratch: the wood, the graphite, the paint, the eraser. Yet pencils cost almost nothing and are everywhere. Nobody is in charge. That is the point.

Leonard Read tells the story from the pencil’s point of view. Cedar from Oregon and California, graphite from Sri Lanka, wax, glue, a brass ring. Loggers, miners, sailors, chemists: millions of people cooperated to make it, and not one of them knows the whole recipe.

Nobody ordered them to. Prices coordinated every step. Read’s point: if no mastermind can make a pencil, be suspicious of plans that need a mastermind for a whole economy.

Order doesn’t need a designer. It needs freedom and a price.

The seen and the unseen #

Every action has effects you can see and effects you can’t. Frédéric Bastiat built a whole way of thinking around that one idea.

A boy breaks a shop window. A bystander shrugs: well, at least the glazier, the man who fits the new glass, gets some work. True. That’s the part you see.

But the money the shopkeeper spent on glass might have bought new shoes. The shoemaker got no order. That’s the part you don’t see. The window is not new wealth. It’s wealth moved, and partly destroyed.

Bastiat’s rule: every act has one effect you see now and a chain of effects you don’t. The broken window opens the essay, then he runs the same test on taxes, subsidies, public works, and tariffs. The trick is always the same: count what the policy creates, ignore what it prevents. The bad economist stops at the first effect. The good one counts the whole chain.

Many interventions carry this trap. The benefit is loud and close. The cost is quiet and spread thin. Planners optimize what they can see and pay with what they can’t.

Good intentions are not the same as good arithmetic.

Freedom is not chaos #

Here is where both the fans and the critics of laissez faire get it wrong.

Laissez faire was never “no rules.” A free market rests on something underneath: property you actually own, and contracts that are actually enforced. Take those away and you don’t get freedom. You get the strongest person taking whatever they want.

The rule of law is the frame. Inside it, people are free to act. Without it, “free market” just means whoever brings the most force wins. A fight, not a market.

Hayek wrote a book, The Road to Serfdom, on where that other road leads. Freedom needs a structure. The structure isn’t the enemy of freedom. It’s what makes it possible.

A market without the rule of law is a game with no referee.

The one price they never freed #

Governments let go of most prices. They almost never let go of one: money.

Money is a price too. The price of everything else. When a government prints too much of it, your savings quietly buy less, and you never voted for that. A tax that doesn’t look like a tax.

This is why I got interested in money nobody can print. If free prices coordinate strangers better than any planner, why should the most important price, the price of money itself, be the exception?

They freed the price of bread. They kept the price of money.

The default is freedom #

Notice the burden of proof most of us carry. We assume freedom needs a reason, and control is the safe default. “Prove this should be allowed.”

Turn it around. Freedom is the baseline. Every rule, every ban, every intervention is what has to earn its place. Not because the market is perfect. It isn’t. Markets fail, people get hurt, and some problems need a shared answer. But whoever wants to override millions of free choices should be the one who explains why. Every time.

Colbert asked what the state could do to help. Three centuries later, the best answer is still the merchant’s.

Let people act. Let goods pass. The rest is the exception, not the rule.

Meditations

2026-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Marcus Aurelius ruled the most powerful empire on earth. Emperor of Rome. And every night he sat down and wrote notes to himself about how to be a better person. He never meant for anyone to read them. That’s exactly what makes the book so good. It’s not advice for you. It’s a man arguing with himself.

There’s no system here. No chapters, no plan. Just fragments, written across years in army camps and palaces. You can open it anywhere and find something useful. Less like a philosophy book. More like a notebook that survived 1,800 years by accident.

I came to this one as an audiobook, in Spanish, a few sections at a time. It’s the rare book that works better in fragments than in one sitting. A few minutes a day, one idea to sit with, then back to it tomorrow.

Control What You Can, Ignore the Rest #

This is the core of the whole book. Some things are up to you: your judgments, your effort, your reactions. Most things are not: other people, your reputation, the past, the outcome. Confuse the two and you suffer.

“External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now.”

Marcus ran wars, plagues, and people who turned on him. He couldn’t control any of it. What he could control was how he met it. That’s not a comforting idea. It’s a demanding one. It puts the work back on you.

The Obstacle Is the Way #

Most people treat problems as interruptions to the good life. Marcus treats them as the material of it. The thing blocking your path becomes the path.

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

A difficult colleague teaches patience. A setback teaches you to keep going. You don’t need easier circumstances. You need to use the ones you have. Every obstacle is practice for the virtue it demands.

Remember You Will Die #

Marcus comes back to death constantly. Not out of fear. As a tool. Knowing you’ll die soon makes it obvious which things matter and which don’t.

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

Old anger, status games, needing to be right: all of it shrinks when you remember the clock. Death isn’t the enemy of a good life here. It’s the editor. It cuts the noise.

Other People Are the Test #

Marcus dealt with liars, fakes, and fools every single day. His response wasn’t to withdraw. It was to expect it, and to keep doing his work anyway.

“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly.”

They act badly out of ignorance, not malice. You were made to work with them, like two hands or two rows of teeth. Getting angry at people for being people is wasted energy.

The Present Is the Only Thing You Own #

The past is gone. The future hasn’t arrived. The only moment you can act in is this one. Marcus keeps pulling himself back to it.

“Give yourself a gift: the present moment.”

You can’t lose what you don’t have, and you only ever have now. Worrying about the future and regretting the past both steal from the single thing that’s actually yours. Do the next right thing, here, today.

Key Takeaways #

Separate what you control from what you don’t. Your judgments are yours. The outcome isn’t.
Problems are the material, not the interruption. What blocks the way becomes the way.
Death clarifies. Remembering it cuts the noise and shows what matters.
People will be difficult. Do your work anyway. Don’t become what annoys you.
Only the present is yours. The past and future are borrowed worry.

Two thousand years later, none of it feels dated. The empire is gone. The problems are identical. That’s the strange comfort of this book: a man with absolute power discovered the same thing the rest of us do. The only thing you ever really run is yourself.

The Eternal Return

2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

Nietzsche proposed a thought experiment in The Gay Science. Imagine a demon visits you at night and says: this life you have lived, you will live again, infinite times, exactly the same. Every joy, every regret, every detail. Would you collapse, or would you celebrate?

He did not mean it literally. He meant it as a test. Can you live in a way that you would willingly relive?

Years passed before that idea found me again. Not as philosophy. As pattern.

Events That Rhyme #

A situation happens. Some time later, a different situation happens. Different people, different stakes, different city. Yet the shape feels familiar. Not the surface, not déjà vu, but something underneath. The same kind of pressure, the same kind of decision, the same kind of room you have to walk into.

It is not that the events are connected. They are not. Causality does not link them. Your brain links them, because exposure to enough life produces collisions of shape. The more you live, the more shapes accumulate. Eventually, the new one rhymes with the old one.

I have felt this many times. Changing companies, closing one chapter of work and starting another, with new people and new constraints, yet the same internal weather rising in me as I cross the threshold. Quieter moments too: a certain light in October, a certain silence in January, that returns each year and brings with it the same kind of thoughts, the same curiosities, the same questions I never quite finished asking.

The Trap of False Wisdom #

The easy conclusion is: I have seen this before, I know what to do. That conclusion is wrong.

The events are not the same. The lesson from the past one does not transfer cleanly. Acting as if it does is the most common way experienced people make experienced mistakes. They mistake recognition for understanding.

Familiarity of shape is not knowledge of solution.

What Repetition Actually Gives #

What repeats is not the situation. What repeats is you, inside the situation.

The same kind of pressure surfaces the same parts of you. The same kind of decision exposes the same instincts, the same fears, the same default moves. The first time, you are too inside it to see. The second time, you start to notice. The third time, you can name what is happening while it happens.

That is the gift. Not predictive wisdom about the world. Diagnostic awareness about yourself.

Exposure Is the Variable #

The people who get this benefit are not the smart ones. They are the exposed ones. The ones who took the difficult job, said yes to the hard conversation, sat with uncomfortable feedback, moved cities when it would have been easier to stay, accepted the project they were not ready for.

Patterns cannot rhyme if you only ever live one shape.

This is why staying open matters. Welcoming change is not personality, it is method. It is how you accumulate the raw material that, much later, lets you recognize yourself under pressure.

Ten Years Later #

Ten years ago I was writing a book of my thoughts. I wrote every few days, just to read it back the next morning and understand myself better. I am not that person anymore.

Every beginning carries the shape of an end. Accepting that lets you stop chasing finality and pay attention to the process itself.

Process over goal. The role you take matters less than the persona you build inside it. The impact you leave is not what you intended, it is the shape of the absence you create when you are gone.

What Is in Your Control #

The events themselves are mostly not in your control. What complications arrive, when, with what severity: not yours to decide.

What is yours: whether you stay long enough to see the shape. Whether you reflect afterward instead of moving on cleanly. Whether you let the next collision teach you something about yourself rather than insisting it teach you something about the world.

The world repeats nothing. You repeat almost everything.

The Real Eternal Return #

Nietzsche’s demon was not asking about reincarnation. He was asking whether you have lived a life worth being. The test is internal.

So ask yourself. If this exact life repeated forever, every detail unchanged, would the honest answer be joy or regret? You are the only one who can answer, and the hardest one to answer truthfully.

I love being alive. The fact it ends is what gives the time inside it weight. If I do not like who I am becoming, I still have time to change. That is the only useful thing recurrence ever offered. Not knowledge of the future. A mirror in the present.

We get one life. Make it one you would relive.

The Art of Being Happy

2026-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Schopenhauer is probably the most famous pessimist in philosophy. He believed suffering is the default state of existence and that desire only leads to more desire. So a book about happiness from this guy? Sounds like a contradiction. It’s not. It’s actually one of the most practical things he ever wrote.

These 50 rules were never published during his lifetime. They were put together from his manuscripts and notes after he died. Less like a lecture. More like honest advice.

Avoid Envy, Cultivate Gratitude #

Schopenhauer’s point is blunt: happiness depends more on what you avoid than on what you chase. Envy, comparison, and excessive ambition cause more pain than anything they promise to deliver.

“We seldom think of what we have, but always of what we lack.”

His advice? Focus on what you already have instead of obsessing over what others have. Sounds obvious, right? But Schopenhauer says most people do the exact opposite. Instinctively. And it makes them miserable.

Your Inner World Matters Most #

For Schopenhauer, what’s inside you matters way more than what’s around you. Money, status, reputation: all fragile. Your temperament? That stays with you.

He breaks the sources of happiness into three buckets:

What you are: health, character, intellect.
What you have: property, possessions.
What you represent: reputation, status.

The first bucket dominates the other two. A rich person with a bad temperament will still be miserable. A healthy person with a clear mind can be happy with very little.

Want Less, Suffer Less #

Here Schopenhauer sounds a lot like the Stoics and the Buddhists. The engine of dissatisfaction? Desire. The trick isn’t getting everything you want. It’s wanting less.

“Wealth is like sea-water: the more we drink, the thirstier we become.”

This isn’t asceticism for its own sake. It’s a practical strategy: reduce the surface area for disappointment. The less you need, the less that can go wrong.

Stop Living in the Future #

A recurring theme: the danger of living entirely for tomorrow. Planning and hoping pull you out of the present, which is the only place where happiness can actually be experienced.

Many people reach old age and realize they spent their whole lives preparing to live rather than actually living. Schopenhauer saw this happening all around him in the 19th century. It’s only gotten worse.

Key Takeaways #

Happiness is about subtraction, not addition. Reduce envy, excessive ambition, and dependency on others.
Your inner life wins. Health, character, and temperament determine happiness far more than money or status.
Desire multiplies itself. Wanting less is a more reliable path to contentment than getting more.
The present is all you have. Living for the future is a form of self-deception.
Solitude is a strength. Not everyone deserves your time and energy.

A short, sharp book. Schopenhauer’s pessimism doesn’t make him joyless. It makes him realistic. And from that realism comes advice you can actually use.

Notes from Underground

2026-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

The Underground Man is not someone you’d want to have a beer with. He’s bitter, contradictory, and painfully self-aware. He knows his flaws and still refuses to change. That’s the whole point.

The book is split into two parts. The first is a philosophical rant against reason, progress, and the idea that humans will always act in their own best interest. The second tells a story from the narrator’s past that shows just how far his self-sabotage goes.

On Free Will and Spite #

The narrator argues that people don’t just want what’s good for them. Sometimes they want chaos. Sometimes they want to suffer. Not because it makes sense, but because it proves they’re free.

“What man wants is simply independent choice, whatever that independence may cost and wherever it may lead.”

He rejects the utopian idea that a perfect society could be built on rational self-interest. Humans aren’t machines. They’ll destroy their own happiness just to prove they can.

The Wall and Inaction #

The Underground Man is paralyzed by over-thinking. He sees every angle, every consequence, every possible interpretation. So he does nothing. He calls himself more conscious than the “men of action” who simply act without questioning everything.

“I swear, gentlemen, that to be too conscious is an illness: a real thorough-going illness.”

There’s something uncomfortably relatable here. The trap of analysis paralysis. Knowing too much can become an excuse to do nothing at all.

The Liza Episode #

The second part shows the narrator meeting a young prostitute named Liza. He delivers a passionate speech about her future, about dignity and redemption. For a moment, he seems almost noble. Then she shows up at his door, and he crumbles. His cruelty returns. He can’t accept genuine human connection because it threatens his carefully constructed self-image.

This is Dostoevsky at his most uncomfortable. The gap between what we say and what we do. The way wounded pride can poison everything.

Key Takeaways #

Rationality doesn’t fully explain human behavior. People act against their own interests out of spite, boredom, or the need to feel free.
Excessive self-awareness can become a prison. At some point, you have to act despite uncertainty.
The desire for control and the fear of vulnerability can destroy meaningful relationships.
Suffering isn’t always something to be eliminated. Sometimes people cling to it as proof of their existence.

This book is not easy or pleasant. But it gets under your skin. It anticipates exstentialism by decades and challenges the comfortable belief that progress and reason will save us.

Broken Money

2026-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

A deep dive into monetary history through a technological lens. Lyn Alden traces how innovations shaped money across centuries, examining commodity-based systems, modern fiat currencies, and emerging alternatives like Bitcoin.

What Makes Money Work? #

Alden starts with the fundamentals: what actually makes something money? She breaks it down into key properties (durability, divisibility, portability, scarcity) and shows how different forms of money throughout history have excelled or failed at these.

The key insight? Money is a technology, and like all technologies, it evolves. What worked for ancient civilizations doesn’t necessarily work in a globally connected digital world.

The Fiat Experiment #

One of the most eye-opening sections covers how we ended up with our current fiat system. Alden documents the shift from gold-backed currencies to pure government-issued money, explaining why this experiment (only about 50 years old) has led to persistent inflation and monetary instability.

“Many currencies are rapidly diluted, which continually devalues the savings and wages of the billions of people who live and work within those jurisdictions.”

She backs this up with real-world examples from Nigeria, Egypt, Brazil, and other nations experiencing currency crises. For people in developed economies, these stories serve as a warning of what unchecked monetary expansion can lead to.

The Network Effects of Money #

Alden brings a unique perspective as an engineer turned financial analyst. She applies network theory to explain why certain forms of money win out over others. Money, like the internet, benefits from network effects: the more people use it, the more useful it becomes.

This framework helps explain both why the dollar dominates global trade and why Bitcoin has grown so quickly despite starting from zero.

Bitcoin as a Solution #

The book builds logically toward Bitcoin as a potential fix for broken monetary systems. But unlike many Bitcoin books, Alden doesn’t just cheerlead. She evaluates Bitcoin against gold and other cryptocurrencies, acknowledging trade-offs and limitations.

Her analysis is grounded in engineering principles: What are Bitcoin’s actual properties? How does it compare to historical forms of sound money? What problems does it solve, and what problems remain?

Final Thoughts #

“Broken Money” stands out because it doesn’t assume you already agree with the premise. Alden methodically builds the case that something is wrong with how money works today, traces the historical roots of these problems, and then evaluates potential solutions.

Whether you end up convinced by her conclusions or not, you’ll come away with a much deeper understanding of monetary systems and why they matter.

You use money every day. Learn how it actually works.

Bitcoin Fundamentals

2025-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

What would you do if your bank account was frozen tomorrow? No warning, no explanation, no access to your own money.

This isn’t hypothetical. In 2022, Canada froze bank accounts of people who donated to a protest. In 2015, Greeks could only withdraw €60 per day from ATMs. In Argentina, Turkey, and Lebanon, people watched their savings lose half their value in months.

Bitcoin exists because these things happen. Understanding it requires going back to basics: what is money, why does it matter, and how does Bitcoin fit into that picture.

No technical background required. Just curiosity.

A Brief History of Money #

Money is a social agreement. A piece of paper, a gold coin, or a number on a screen has value because we all agree it does. This agreement is what makes trade possible.

Throughout history, money has evolved:

Direct trade: Exchanging goods for goods. “I’ll give you my fish for your bread.”
Things used as money: Shells, salt, cattle. Valuable because they were useful or hard to find.
Precious metals: Gold and silver. Hard to find, long-lasting, easy to divide and carry.
Paper money backed by gold: Receipts representing gold stored in vaults.
Government money: Paper backed by nothing but a government’s promise. Why does it work? Because governments require you to pay taxes in their currency. This forces everyone to use it.

Money is a way to store and transfer value. The better it performs these functions, the better it serves as money.

What makes good money? These properties:

Hard to create: Cannot be easily made or faked
Long-lasting: Doesn’t break down over time
Divisible: Can be broken into smaller pieces
Easy to move: Simple to carry and send
Easy to verify: Simple to check if it’s real

Gold does well on most of these. Paper money is easy to move and divide but fails on being hard to create. Governments can print as much as they want. Bitcoin, as we’ll see, does well on all of them.

What is Bitcoin? #

Bitcoin is digital money that works without banks, governments, or any central authority. It was created in 2009 by someone (or some group) using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. No one knows who this person really is.

The first Bitcoin block (the Genesis Block) contains a hidden message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.” This headline from The Times newspaper referenced the 2008 financial crisis. It wasn’t random. It was a timestamp and a statement of purpose. Bitcoin was created as a response to bank bailouts and monetary manipulation.

Bitcoin builds on decades of work by cryptographers and privacy activists. If you’re curious about the people and ideas that led to Bitcoin, I wrote about The Cypherpunks and their vision for digital privacy.

At its core, Bitcoin is:

A protocol: A set of rules that computers follow to agree on who owns what
A network: Thousands of computers worldwide running the Bitcoin software
A currency: Units of account called bitcoins (BTC), divisible to 8 decimal places

There’s no company behind Bitcoin. No CEO, no headquarters, no customer support. It’s open-source software that anyone can run, inspect, or contribute to.

Sound Money #

Scarcity #

There will only ever be 21 million bitcoins. This is enforced by the protocol’s code, verified by every node on the network. No government, no committee, no emergency meeting can change this.

Compare this to government money. Central banks can (and do) create money whenever they want. The U.S. dollar has lost over 95% of its buying power since 1913. The Euro, the Pound, the Yen: all follow the same pattern of slowly losing value.

In a world of infinite money printing, a mathematically enforced hard cap is revolutionary.

Bitcoin is often called “digital gold” because it shares gold’s scarcity while being easier to store, divide, and transfer. You can send a billion dollars worth of Bitcoin anywhere in the world in minutes, for a few dollars in fees. Try doing that with gold bars.

Inflation Protection #

When governments print money, the value of existing money decreases. This is inflation. Your savings buy less over time, even while sitting untouched in your bank account.

Inflation is often called a “hidden tax” because it transfers wealth from savers to those who receive the new money first (usually governments and banks). I wrote more about this in Understanding Taxes.

Bitcoin’s supply schedule is fixed and predictable. New bitcoins are created through mining at a rate that halves roughly every four years. By around 2140, all 21 million will have been created. No surprises, no government decisions to print more.

Freedom & Sovereignty #

Self-custody #

With Bitcoin, you can hold your own money. Not a promise from a bank, not a balance on someone else’s books. Actual ownership, secured by cryptographic keys that only you control.

“Not your keys, not your coins.”

This phrase captures a fundamental truth. When you deposit money in a bank, you don’t own that money anymore. You own a claim against the bank. If the bank freezes your account, goes bankrupt, or decides you violated their terms of service, your access disappears.

With Bitcoin, there’s no freeze button. No account to close. No terms of service to violate. You become your own bank.

Permissionless & Borderless #

Bitcoin doesn’t care about borders, banking hours, or your credit score. You can send money to anyone with an internet connection, anywhere in the world, at any time.

Traditional banking:

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9-5 (maybe)
International transfers: 3-5 business days
Fees: Percentage of transfer + fixed fees
Requirements: ID, proof of address, account in good standing

Bitcoin:

Hours: 24/7/365
Global transfers: ~10 minutes to an hour
Fees: Based on data size, not amount sent
Requirements: A Bitcoin address (free, instant, no ID)

Censorship Resistance #

No central authority controls Bitcoin. No single entity can stop a transaction or reverse a payment. Once confirmed, it’s final.

This matters for people living under oppressive governments, facing political pressure, or simply wanting financial privacy. It matters for donations to controversial causes, for journalists protecting sources, for anyone who values financial freedom.

Financial freedom isn’t just about being rich. It’s about having control over your own money, regardless of who you are or where you live.

Real Stories #

These aren’t edge cases:

In December 2010, WikiLeaks published classified U.S. diplomatic cables. Within days, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Bank of America cut off all payment processing.

WikiLeaks lost 95% of its revenue overnight. In 2011, they started accepting Bitcoin. It was one of the first major use cases for the cryptocurrency. The financial blockade meant to silence them instead proved Bitcoin's value as censorship-resistant money.

Read full article →

In March 2013, Cyprus banks took 47.5% of all deposits over €100,000 to bail themselves out. No consent, no warning. Money in the bank was simply confiscated to save the banking system.

Bitcoin's price doubled in the weeks following. The Cyprus bail-in was a wake-up call: your bank balance is an IOU, and when banks fail, you're the one who pays.

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In June 2015, Greece closed its banks for three weeks. ATM withdrawals were capped at €60 per day. Citizens couldn't access their own money. The debt crisis showed Europeans that bank deposits aren't as safe as they assumed.

Bitcoin interest spiked in Greece during the crisis. It was an early warning: even in "stable" countries, your access to money can be switched off overnight.

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Between 2016 and 2019, inflation reached 53,000,000%. Salaries became worthless within days. People couldn't buy food, medicine, or basic goods. Those who converted savings to Bitcoin before the collapse preserved their wealth.

Those who trusted the banking system lost everything. Bitcoin became a lifeline. Not for speculation, but for survival.

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In 2019, Lebanese banks began freezing deposits. By 2020, people couldn't access their own savings. The lira lost 90% of its value. ATM withdrawals were capped at tiny amounts. It wasn't a temporary measure. Banks simply didn't have the money.

Those who had converted to Bitcoin before the collapse could still access their wealth. Those who trusted the banks discovered that "your money" wasn't really yours.

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During the 2019-2020 pro-democracy protests, Hong Kong activists faced financial surveillance. Banks could freeze accounts of known protesters. Donations through traditional channels could be traced.

Bitcoin offered a way to fund the movement without leaving a trail for authorities. Protesters used crypto to receive international support while protecting their identities. Financial privacy became a tool of resistance.

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After the disputed 2020 election, Belarus erupted in protests. The Lukashenko regime responded with violence and financial repression. Bank accounts of activists, journalists, and NGOs were frozen.

The KGB monitored all transfers. A solidarity fund called BYSOL raised over $2 million in Bitcoin and distributed it directly to protesters who lost jobs or faced persecution. The only payment method authorities couldn't control.

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The Central Bank banned crypto exchanges in February 2021 and ordered banks to close accounts of anyone dealing in cryptocurrency. The goal was to stop Bitcoin adoption. It backfired.

Peer-to-peer trading surged 27% in the months following the ban. Nigerians simply moved to decentralized platforms. The naira continued losing value while Bitcoin kept working. You can't ban math.

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The Turkish lira has lost over 80% of its value against the dollar since 2018. Every currency crisis triggers a spike in Bitcoin trading. In 2021, Turkey banned crypto payments, but trading volumes only increased.

The government can't stop people from protecting their savings. When the lira crashes, Bitcoin search trends surge. Turks aren't speculating. They're surviving.

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In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender. President Bukele's government installed Bitcoin ATMs nationwide, and even started mining BTC using geothermal energy from volcanoes. Critics predicted disaster.

Instead, tourism increased, remittance costs dropped, and the country gained global attention. A small nation became a Bitcoin laboratory.

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When the Taliban took control in August 2021, banks froze. International transfers stopped. Women, banned from working, lost access to income. But some Afghan women had learned about Bitcoin before the collapse.

They could receive payments from abroad, store value the regime couldn't seize, and maintain financial independence. In a country where women can't open bank accounts, Bitcoin became a tool of quiet resistance.

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When Russia invaded, traditional aid was too slow. Banks were overwhelmed, wire transfers took days. But within hours of posting Bitcoin addresses on Twitter, donations poured in from around the world. By March 2022, Ukraine received over $100 million in crypto.

Funds went directly to bulletproof vests, medical supplies, and communication equipment. No bureaucracy, no intermediaries, no delays.

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In February 2022, the government invoked the Emergencies Act to freeze bank accounts of people who donated to trucker protests. No court order needed. Over 200 accounts were frozen overnight. But Bitcoin donations kept flowing.

Organizers distributed 14+ BTC directly to protesters. The government couldn't touch those funds. In 2024, a court ruled the freezes unconstitutional. The lesson: custodial money can be weaponized.

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After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Western sanctions cut Russian banks from SWIFT. Suddenly, Russians abroad couldn't access their money. Many turned to crypto, not to evade sanctions, but to survive.

Meanwhile, Ukrainians used Bitcoin to receive donations and preserve savings. The same technology served people on both sides of a conflict, based on their individual needs. Bitcoin doesn't pick sides.

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Argentina suffered 211% inflation in 2023 under decades of big-government policies. Then Javier Milei took office. He halved ministries, cut 40,000 government jobs, and ended monetary financing. Result: inflation dropped to 117% in 2024, then 31% by end of 2025, the lowest in seven years. GDP grew 7.6% in Q2 2025, the strongest in two decades.

Poverty fell from 57% to 32%. Smaller government, sound money principles. Bitcoin adoption remains high, Argentines learned not to trust any currency they can't verify themselves.

Read full article →

Migrant workers send $700 billion home every year. Traditional services like Western Union take 6-10% in fees. For a worker sending $200, that's $20 gone. Money their family desperately needs.

Bitcoin and Lightning Network transfer value across borders for cents, settling in minutes instead of days. Companies like Bitso processed $8 billion in crypto remittances in 2023. Cheaper transfers mean more food on the table.

Read full article →

In January 2024, the SEC approved Bitcoin ETFs for the first time. Within months, institutional investment surged 400%. By end of 2024, professional investors held $27.4 billion in Bitcoin ETFs, over 26% of total AUM. BlackRock's IBIT alone reached $50 billion.

Bitcoin was no longer just for early adopters. Wall Street called it "year zero of institutional adoption." The asset that banks once dismissed now sits in pension funds.

Read full article →

When cash imports into Gaza were blocked in 2024, banking infrastructure collapsed. Traditional transfers charged 30%+ fees, if they worked at all. Bitcoin became a lifeline. One volunteer sent $123,000 in BTC that bought food, water, and built shelters for displaced families.

A taxi driver named Yusef received $48k in Bitcoin donations and built 100 tents. When banks fail, Bitcoin still works. No permission needed.

Read full article →

On March 6, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a "digital Fort Knox." The reserve holds ~200,000 BTC from seized assets, with a policy never to sell.

The U.S. had lost $17 billion selling seized bitcoin too early. Now it's holding. Pakistan announced its own reserve weeks later. Nations that once dismissed Bitcoin now compete to accumulate it.

Read full article →

María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for fighting Venezuela's dictatorship. Her campaign runs on Bitcoin because "bank wires get blocked, but bitcoin donations cannot be seized." With the bolívar down 98% in a decade and 8,000%+ inflation, Bitcoin became "a vital means of resistance."

She promised a democratic Venezuela would embrace Bitcoin in its national reserves. Freedom money for a freedom fighter.

Read full article →

Common Objections #

“It’s used for crime.” So is cash. The difference: Bitcoin leaves a permanent, traceable record. The blockchain is a forensic tool. Most criminals prefer dollars.
“It’s too volatile.” True in the short term. Zoom out: Bitcoin has been the best-performing asset of the last decade. Volatility decreases as adoption grows. Don’t invest money you need next month.
“It wastes energy.” Bitcoin mining uses electricity to secure a trillion-dollar network. Much of it comes from stranded energy (gas flares, excess hydro) that would otherwise be wasted. The real question: is financial sovereignty worth the energy cost? Air conditioning uses more.
“It’s too late to buy.” People said this at $100, $1,000, $10,000, and $100,000. If Bitcoin achieves even a fraction of gold’s market cap, there’s still room to grow.

Honest Caveats #

Bitcoin isn’t perfect. Things to be aware of:

Self-custody requires responsibility. Lose your seed phrase, lose your funds. No customer support.
Irreversibility. No chargebacks. Send to the wrong address? Gone.
Learning curve. Wallets, keys, fees, P2P trading. The more you learn, the more sovereignty you gain. KYC exchanges are easier but come with regulatory strings attached.
Privacy takes effort. The blockchain is transparent, not anonymous. True privacy requires learning how to use Bitcoin properly.
Scaling tradeoffs. Base layer is slow by design. Lightning adds speed but also complexity.

None of these are dealbreakers. They’re tradeoffs. The more you learn, the fewer limitations you face.

Bitcoin Today #

This isn’t just theory anymore.

Institutional adoption #

US Bitcoin ETFs approved in 2024, bringing billions in institutional money (source)
Strategy holds 660.000+ BTC as corporate treasury, inspiring others (source)
Major banks now offer Bitcoin custody and trading services to clients
Pension funds and asset managers are adding Bitcoin to portfolios

Global adoption #

Central African Republic adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2022 (source)
Switzerland allows tax payments in Bitcoin in Canton Zug since 2021 (source)
Emerging markets lead in grassroots adoption: Vietnam, Philippines, Nigeria

Real-world usage #

Square accepts Bitcoin payments since Nov. 2025 for 4M+ merchants (source)
Lightning Network (LN) processes millions of instant payments monthly (source)
Merchants worldwide accept Bitcoin, from small shops to major retailers (source)

You can dismiss it, or you can understand it.

Getting Started #

Bitcoin is money that no one controls and everyone can verify. It’s scarce in a world of infinite money printing. It’s permissionless in a world of financial gatekeepers. It’s programmable in ways we’re only beginning to explore.

Understanding Bitcoin doesn’t require believing it will change the world. It requires understanding what money is, how it evolved, and why these properties matter. From there, you can form your own conclusions.

Want to try? #

The best way to understand Bitcoin is to use it:

Start small: Buy a small amount on a trusted Bitcoin-only platform like:
- 21bitcoin or Relai: Simple apps for automatic Bitcoin savings
- HodlHodl: Peer-to-peer trading, non-custodial
Move it to your own wallet: Download a mobile wallet and transfer your Bitcoin there. Feel what self-custody means. Some wallets like BlueWallet, Nunchuk.
Send a transaction: Send some sats to a friend. Watch it confirm in ~10 minutes. Get curious looking at your transaction in the mempool.
Try Lightning: Send an instant, near-free payment. This is the future of everyday transactions. Some LN wallets like Alby Go, Muun.

You don’t have to go all in. Start small and keep learning, one step at a time.

Further reading

Bitcoin 101 by Cosme - Another beginner-friendly introduction
How to Buy Bitcoin Securely by Cosme - Step-by-step guide

What Success Means to Me

2025-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

For the longest time, I thought success was about hitting certain milestones. Getting that promotion. Earning a specific salary. Building something that people would recognize.

But I’ve realized that’s not what gets me out of bed in the morning.

The real measure #

Success, for me, is straightforward now: waking up knowing that what I do makes the people around me, and myself, happier.

It took me a while to get here. This definition might not feel simple to everyone, and that’s okay. But for me, it clarified everything.

No complex formula. No checklist of achievements.

Success is about those small moments when you help a colleague solve a tricky problem, when you share something that makes someone smile, or when you finish the day feeling like you actually added some good to the world.

This applies whether you’re leading a team or just showing up as yourself. As I wrote about great leadership, real leadership starts with your own life and behavior. It’s fundamentally about making the people around you better, not just achieving targets.

Why happiness matters #

I used to think that focusing on happiness was somehow trivial. Like it wasn’t “serious” enough as a goal. But I’ve learned that making people happy, genuinely happy, is one of the hardest and most rewarding things you can do.

What does this mean in practice? #

Being present when someone needs you
Creating things that solve real problems
Choosing kindness over being right
Finding joy in what you do, even on tough days

When you focus on making others happier, you usually end up happier yourself. It’s not zero-sum. It compounds.

This connects deeply with understanding people and how they think. When you truly understand that everyone processes the world differently, you become better at creating genuine happiness, not just what you think should make them happy.

The daily practice #

How does this look in daily life? #

For me, it’s about checking in with myself regularly: “Did what I do today make things better?” Not perfect. Not revolutionary. Just better.

Sometimes that’s writing code that helps a team work more smoothly. Sometimes it’s taking time to really listen to someone. Sometimes it’s just being patient when everything feels chaotic.

It’s not always easy. Some days you miss the mark. But having this simple definition of success makes decisions clearer. When you’re wondering whether to take on a project, accept an opportunity, or say no to something, you can ask yourself: “Will this make me and the people around me happier?”

Consistency over perfectionism #

Here’s something I’ve learned the hard way: success is built through consistency, not perfection.

Perfectionism will paralyze you. It whispers that nothing is good enough, that you should wait until conditions are ideal, that one mistake invalidates everything. It’s a trap.

What actually works? Showing up. Day after day. Building small habits that compound over time.

As James Clear explains in Atomic Habits, real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be consistent.

Don’t try to make a habit perfect, just repeat it.

This means:

Writing a few lines of code every day beats waiting for the perfect architecture
Having a short, genuine conversation beats waiting for the perfect moment
Making small improvements consistently beats waiting for the big breakthrough

The goal isn’t to never fail. It’s to build habits that align with making yourself and others happier, and to keep showing up even when you stumble.

This is where the process itself becomes the goal. It’s not about reaching some final destination of “being successful”, it’s about building daily habits and practices that align with what actually matters to you.

Success is personal #

Your definition of success will probably be different from mine, and that’s not just okay, it’s necessary.

“Have I always been like this?” The answer is no. I certainly wasn’t. Our understanding of what matters evolves as we grow. That’s part of the journey.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about what you’re working toward, try this: figure out what truly makes you and the people you care about happier. Not what you think should make you happy. Not what looks impressive from the outside.

Just what actually works for you.

And be ready to embrace the change when your definition shifts, because it will. What success means to you today might look different tomorrow. That’s not failure. That’s growth.

At the end of the day, if you wake up knowing that what you do brings more happiness into the world, including your own, you’re probably doing something right.

That feels like success to me.

Thanks to my friend Toni, for bringing up this question and inspiring this reflection.

Principles of Economics

2025-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

If you’ve ever scratched your head at the economy, wondered why prices keep rising, or questioned why money seems to lose value over time, Principles of Economics by Saifedean Ammous might blow your mind.

It’s not your typical dry economics book. Instead, it’s a bold, no-nonsense guide to understanding how the world really works, through the lens of Austrian economics. Here’s what stood out to me.

1. Economics = Human Action #

Ammous starts with something super simple but powerful: economics is just people making choices. Every time we choose to do one thing over another, that’s economics in action.

Forget all the charts and equations you might’ve seen in school. Real economics begins with you trying to make life better, one decision at a time.

2. Time Preference = How Much You Value the Future #

This idea was a game-changer: your time preference is how much you value stuff now vs. later.

If you spend everything today, you’ve got a high time preference.
If you save and plan for tomorrow, you’ve got a low time preference.

Low time preference leads to building cool things. Like businesses, families, skyscrapers, or even civilizations. High time preference? That’s fast food, impulse buying, and short-term thinking.

3. Good Money = Strong Society #

The quality of a society’s money affects everything. If your money constantly loses value (hello, inflation), people stop saving and start living for today.

He argues that government-controlled “fiat” money is the problem, and we need a return to “hard money” (like gold or Bitcoin) that holds its value over time. Good money helps people plan, save, and grow wealth across generations.

4. Producing Stuff Takes Time, and That Matters #

Making things isn’t instant. It takes time, tools, and planning. Ammous explains how advanced economies only exist because people invest in long-term production: factories, machines, supply chains.

That’s only possible when people trust their money and their future. So again, low time preference is key.

5. Entrepreneurs, Not Governments, Drive Progress #

If there’s a hero in this book, it’s the entrepreneur: the person who takes risks, builds businesses, and creates value.

Ammous has zero love for central planners, regulations, or government bailouts. He’s all about free markets and letting smart people solve problems without interference. When prices are honest and money is sound, people figure things out on their own.

6. Inflation and Central Planning? Big Red Flags #

Ammous doesn’t pull punches. He’s very critical of how governments manage money and the economy.

He sees inflation as a sneaky form of theft and believes that constant meddling (like printing money or setting interest rates) only makes things worse. He even calls out entire fields like climate economics and ESG as being more about politics than real economics.

7. Bitcoin: The Grand Finale #

While this book isn’t just about Bitcoin, it clearly leads there. After explaining why our current money system is broken, Ammous points to Bitcoin as the best solution we’ve seen in over a century.

It’s digital, limited, and no one can mess with it. Bitcoin is the return of sound money, and a chance to fix a lot of what’s wrong today.

Final Thoughts: A Crash Course in Real Economics #

“Principles of Economics” is like an economics red pill. It’s straightforward, bold, and sometimes brutal. But if you’re tired of the usual financial nonsense, this book will hit you like a breath of fresh air.

You’ll walk away with a new lens to see the world: why prices rise, why saving matters, and why the kind of money we use shapes everything.

Austrian Economics vs Keynesian Economics #

The Road to Serfdom

2025-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

First published in 1944, The Road to Serfdom is still making waves today. Friedrich Hayek, an Austrian economist, wrote it during World War II to warn against something he saw as really dangerous: central economic planning.

His message? Even well-meaning government control over the economy can quietly take away our freedom, and possibly lead us toward dictatorship.

1. The danger of central planning #

Hayek’s main point is simple: when the government tries to control the economy, it ends up controlling people’s lives too. Once the state decides who gets what, it also ends up deciding who can do what.

Even if it starts out with good intentions, it eventually leads to force, because people have different goals, and planners can’t make everyone happy.

“Controlling the economy means controlling everything people want to do. (Chapter 7)”

2. The illusion of “good” socialism #

Some folks believe in democratic socialism, mixing freedom with shared planning. Hayek wasn’t buying it.

He says you can’t really separate socialism from authoritarianism, because planning on behalf of “the group” means ignoring individual choices. Over time, the people running the system need to silence anyone who disagrees. That opens the door to the worst kinds of leaders.

“The worst get on top. (Chapter 10)”

3. Rule of law vs. Rule by discretion #

In a free society, rules should apply to everyone, be known ahead of time, and stay consistent, like traffic laws.

But planning needs flexible rules. Bureaucrats need to make calls on the fly, and that gives them a ton of power. Hayek thinks that’s a problem. The more discretion officials have, the less protection individuals have.

“Nothing distinguishes more clearly conditions in a free country from those in a country under arbitrary government than the observance in the former of the great principles known as the Rule of Law. (Chapter 6)”

4. Markets work because no one’s actually in charge #

Hayek believed that no planner, no matter how smart, can replace what the market does on its own.

Why? Because markets use price signals to share info. Millions of people making choices send signals (through prices) about what’s needed and what’s not. Trying to manage all that from the top? Super inefficient, and it usually fails.

“The more the state ‘plans’ the more difficult planning becomes for the individual. (Chapter 5)”

5. Incremental loss of freedom #

Hayek wasn’t warning about overnight dictatorships. He was more concerned about the slow loss of freedom that comes from small steps: price controls here, nationalized industries there.

Each step might feel harmless, but it adds up. And once people depend too much on the state, it’s hard to say no to the next “solution” from above.

“The danger of tyranny inevitably arises from the methods of collectivism. (Chapter 10)”

Final thoughts: Is Hayek still relevant? #

Totally. While the world has changed, the tension between freedom and control is still very real. Hayek’s ideas remind us that freedom doesn’t usually vanish overnight: it fades when we’re not paying attention.

Sure, some government help is needed. But Hayek’s warning? Too much control, even with good intentions, can lead us somewhere we don’t want to go.

Digital Minimalism

2025-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

In an era dominated by constant connectivity, the concept of digital minimalism emerges as a refreshing antidote. Coined by Cal Newport, this philosophy isn’t about rejecting technology but rather about using it with greater intention and care. By implementing digital minimalism, individuals can reclaim focus, reduce anxiety, and cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships.

The Core Principles of Digital Minimalism #

Newport’s approach to digital minimalism is built on three fundamental ideas:

Clutter is Costly: Unnecessary digital distractions fragment our attention and drain our mental energy. By decluttering our digital lives, we regain control over our focus and time.
Optimization is Essential: Rather than mindlessly accepting every new app or platform, digital minimalists carefully curate their technology use to align with their values and goals.
Intentionality is Key: Digital minimalists don’t just cut back on screen time; they deliberately choose how and when to engage with technology to maximize its benefits while minimizing its drawbacks.

The 30-Day Digital Declutter #

One of Newport’s most actionable strategies is the 30-day digital declutter. The idea is simple:

Take a 30-day break from all non-essential digital tools.
During this period, explore alternative offline activities that bring fulfillment.
After 30 days, reintroduce only the digital tools that add value to your life.

This method serves as a reset, allowing individuals to assess which technologies truly enhance their lives rather than simply consuming their time.

The Benefits of Digital Minimalism #

Those who embrace digital minimalism often report:

Improved Focus: With fewer distractions, deep work and meaningful projects become easier to accomplish.
Reduced Anxiety: Less exposure to social media and endless notifications results in a calmer, more present mindset.
Richer Relationships: By prioritizing face-to-face interactions, digital minimalists cultivate stronger and more meaningful personal connections.
Increased Productivity: Fewer digital distractions translate into higher efficiency and greater creative output.

Practical Steps to Get Started #

If you’re ready to experiment with digital minimalism, here are some simple steps to begin:

Audit Your Digital Life: Identify which apps, platforms, and devices are consuming the most time without offering meaningful benefits.
Set Screen Time Limits: Use built-in tools on your phone or computer to cap the amount of time spent on certain apps.
Establish Tech-Free Zones: Designate areas like the bedroom or dining table as screen-free spaces.
Prioritize Analog Activities: Replace digital distractions with books, hobbies, and in-person interactions.
Schedule “Offline” Hours: Set intentional times during the day when you completely disconnect from digital devices.

Final Thoughts #

Digital minimalism is not about rejecting technology altogether. It’s about using it in a way that enhances rather than diminishes our quality of life. By taking a more mindful approach to our digital habits, we can reclaim our time, improve our well-being, and refocus on what truly matters.

Video Summary #

Cal Newport interviewed by Lex Fridman #

Criptoria

2025-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

Cryptoria is a story about the evolutionary process that gave birth to computers, networks, cybersecurity and digital money.

From Greece to Bitcoin, Cryptoria narrates a selection of milestones that occurred before and after Alan Turing. The book showcases a broad collection of people, organizations, concepts and inventions that evidence the deep historical and cultural relationship between mathematics, cryptography, computer science and the struggle for individual sovereignty.

Cryptoria is addressed to all people convinced that, beyond inherited or imposed ways, there are other forms of social and economic organization that can and should be explored.

Content #

Part I: Before Turing #

1. The Beginning of the End #

The Boys Who Loved Puzzles
- Alan Turing
- Irving John Good
The Men Who Loved Their Genes
- Galton’s Chimera
- The Lugenesis Mutation
The Power of Science Fiction
- Hugo Gernsback
- Amaizing Stories
The Descent of Saint Jude

2. In Search of Truth #

As We Know It
Organon
The Mosaic Effect of Science

3. Numbers Shall Set You Free #

Sovereign Mathematics
- Formal Language
- Set Theory
- Modular Arithmetic
- Congruence
- Gauss
- Gauss, Fermat and Euler
- Boolean Algebra
- Truth Tables
Axiomatize or Die
Unsolved Problems
- Principia Mathematica
- Bologna 1928
- The Revelation of Gödel
The Turing Machine
- Computable Numbers
- Computing Machine
- Conclusions 1936

4. The Mathematics of Secrecy #

A Brief History of Numbers
Tool of War
Linked by Signals
The Persuasion Factory
Bletchley Park
Ratio Club
Metallic Intelligence
Eternal Alan

Part II: After Turing #

5. Modern Computing #

Bell Labs
Claude Shannon
- Glad You Came
- Information Theory
The UNIX Era
- New Languages
- New Clock
The First Microprocessor
Horst Feistel
- Lucifer
- DES
ARPANET
First Companies
Computational Complexity

6. The Dawn of Strong Cryptography #

Forbidden Cryptography
- One Law to Ban Them All
Key Cryptography public
Diffie-Hellman-Merkle
- Martin Hellman
- Whitfield Diffie
- Whit meets Martin
- Diffie investigates with Hellman
- Multi-user cryptographic techniques
- Ralph Merkle
- Merkle 1974
- Merkle puzzles
- Ralph meets Whit and Martin
- New directions in cryptography
The RSA team
- Ron, Adi and Len
- The RSA system
Key distribution centers (KDC)
Distributed networks
Merkle tree

7. Making legion #

Internet universe
USENET
CPSR
David Chaum
- Crypto Conferences
- CRYPTO ’82
Zero knowledge proof
Free software
- GNU Project
- Free Software Foundation

8. Road to libertarian #

Digital signatures
- Taher Elgamal
- Claus Schnorr
Curves elliptical
David vs. Big Brother
Cryptoanarchy
Extropians

9. Soldiers of Privacy #

EFF
- John Perry Barlow
- Joohn Gilmore
- Mitch Kapor
- Electronic Frontier
- Cyberspace Independence
EPIC
PGP
- Phil Zimmermann
- Hal Finney
- Dances with Wolves
- OpenPGP
Cypherpunks
- Cyphernomicon
- Cypherpunk Manifesto
Clipper Chip

10. Digital Money #

Tatsuakki Okamoto
Proof of Dwork
Digicash
Hal 1993
Magic Money Digicash
Smart Contracts
The Palace Mint
Hashcash
B-money
Bit Gold
RPOW

11. The Age of Satoshi #

Satoshi Nakamoto
Whitepaper
Binaries
First TX
Bitcoin

Related links

Book website: www.prometeabtc.com/criptoria

Understanding Taxes

2025-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Taxes are unavoidable. Whether it’s your paycheck, morning coffee, or the house you just bought, taxes are everywhere. If you’ve ever wondered where your money goes after payday or why buying property comes with extra fees, this post is for you. I’ll keep it simple without diving into complicated legal stuff.

Tax journey 101
Types of Taxes
How do they work?
Why do we pay taxes?
A new perspective

Tax journey 101 #

When you earn:
- Personal Income Tax: Deducted from your salary.
- Social Security Contributions: For healthcare, pensions, and unemployment.
- Self-Employment Tax: Covers taxes and social security for freelancers.
When you spend:
- Value-Added Tax (VAT): Adds 10%-25% to most goods and services.
- Excise Tax: Extra charges on fuel, alcohol, tobacco, and luxury items.
When you own:
- Property Tax: Paid annually on owned real estate.
- Wealth Tax: Charged on substantial assets in some countries.
- Road Tax: Annual fee for owning or operating a vehicle.
When you transfer or inherit:
- Transfer Tax: Applied to purchases like second-hand properties.
- Inheritance/Gift Tax: Payable on inherited assets or large gifts.
When you sell:
- Capital Gains Tax: On the profit when selling property, stocks, or investments.
- Land Value Increase Tax: On the increase in land value during ownership.
When you use services:
- Local Fees: For waste collection, car registration, or building permits.
- Tourism/Travel Tax: For lodging or certain tourist-related services.
When you win the lottery:
- Lottery Tax: A substantial portion of your winnings goes to the government.

Types of taxes #

Consider taxes as a three-course meal: direct, indirect, and special.

Direct taxes: What you earn and own #

These taxes are based on your income, assets, or gains:

Income Tax: This is the big one. It’s progressive, meaning the more you earn, the higher your pay rate. Income Tax applies to salaries, freelancing income, rental earnings, and investment gains.
Corporate tax: This tax is paid on businesses’ profits. Rates vary by country, but a general rate of 20-30% is common.
Wealth Tax: Some countries tax high-net-worth individuals on their total assets, like properties or savings. Rates and exemptions depend on where you live.
Inheritance and Gift Tax: When you inherit assets or receive a significant gift, you must pay taxes. The rate often depends on your relationship with the giver.

Indirect taxes: What you spend #

These taxes are baked into the price of goods and services:

Value-Added Tax (VAT): A tax on almost everything you buy. Standard rates range from 10-25% in most countries, though essential goods like food and medicine often have reduced rates.
Excise taxes: Special taxes on products like alcohol, tobacco, and fuel. They’re designed to raise revenue while discouraging consumption.

Property and local taxes: Owning stuff costs money #

If you own, rent, or sell property, these taxes come into play:

Property Tax: Paid annually based on the value of your home or land.
Transfer Tax: When buying a 2nd-hand property, you might pay a % of its price.
Capital Gains Tax: When selling a property or other assets for a profit.

Other Taxes and fees: The little extras #

These include fees for registering vehicles, paying for waste collection, and obtaining permits. They might seem minor, but they add up over time.

How do they work? #

Taxes are usually a mix of national, regional, and local responsibilities:

National taxes have standardized rates, like income tax or VAT.
Regional taxes vary depending on where you live, like wealth or inheritance taxes.
Local taxes are specific to your city or town, like property or waste fees.

Taxes are often deducted directly from employees’ paychecks. Freelancers and business owners, on the other hand, need to calculate and pay their taxes regularly.

Why do we pay taxes? #

Taxes are meant to pay for public services like roads, healthcare, schools, and pensions to make life better for everyone. But the system’s complexity and how the money is spent often make it feel unfair.

Are Taxes fair? #

This depends on two big questions: Who should pay? How much is fair?

The case for taxes #

Taxes fund essential services we all use, like hospitals and schools.
Progressive taxes, where higher earners pay more, help reduce inequality and create stronger communities.

The case against taxes #

Some taxes, like wealth or inheritance taxes, feel unfair. They take money that’s already been earned.
Worse, when governments waste tax money on corruption or bad decisions, people feel like they’re paying for nothing.

It feels unfair when governments waste the money. If services don’t improve or funds are mismanaged, it’s frustrating to see your money disappear without benefit.

Taxes would seem much fairer if people trusted their money was being spent wisely. Without trust, paying taxes feels like throwing money into a black hole.

A new perspective #

Taxes are supposed to fund critical public services, but the biggest problem with taxes (and big governments) is that they often lead to inefficiency and corruption. The more power a government has, the more likely it is to misuse it. That’s why governments should be (for me) small, focused, and efficient, providing essential services without overcomplicating things or overreaching into people’s lives.

Here is where Bitcoin offers an interesting alternative. Bitcoin is decentralized, which means no one controls it: not governments, banks, or anyone. This removes the risk of corruption or mismanagement by powerful institutions. Every Bitcoin transaction is recorded on a public ledger that anyone can verify, so it’s transparent and resistant to manipulation.

While most countries want to tax Bitcoin transactions, using Bitcoin gives people more control over their money. Unlike traditional currencies that governments can print endlessly (causing inflation and lowering the value of savings), Bitcoin has a limited supply, so its value can’t be diluted similarly. It’s also borderless, meaning you can send and receive money without relying on banks or other intermediaries that might take a cut or add delays.

Why government money works #

Have you ever wondered why paper money has value when it’s not backed by gold or anything physical? The answer is taxes. Governments require you to pay taxes in their currency. This creates forced demand: everyone needs euros, dollars, or yen to pay the government. It’s a circular system. The government creates the money, then requires you to earn it, then takes a portion back through taxes. This is why government money is sometimes called “fiat” (from Latin, meaning “let it be done”). It works because the government says so, and backs that up with the tax system.

Inflation: The hidden tax #

Inflation is often called a “hidden tax,” and for good reason. When governments print money endlessly to fund their spending, the value of the existing money drops. This means your hard-earned savings can buy less over time.

While politicians benefit in the short term by having more money to spend without directly raising taxes, ordinary people pay the price through higher living costs. Inflation is theft, as it quietly takes value away from everyone’s money to cover the government’s poor financial decisions.

With its fixed supply of 21 million coins, Bitcoin cannot be inflated in this way. Its scarcity ensures that no one, including politicians, manipulates its value. For people frustrated by rising prices and shrinking savings, Bitcoin offers a way to protect their wealth from the damaging effects of inflation. It’s a system designed to reward savers, not punish them.

Final thoughts #

Bitcoin doesn’t eliminate taxes or public services but challenges how we think about money and power. It gives people more control over their wealth and shows how financial systems work without needing large, often corrupt institutions. It’s a step toward a world where individuals have more freedom and governments focus on being small, efficient, and fair.

The Cypherpunks

2024-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

In the early ’90s, with the internet on the rise, a group called the Cypherpunks emerged to defend digital privacy. They pushed for encryption and privacy, shaping our digital world with their vision.

Who were the Cypherpunks? #

The term “Cypherpunk” combines “cipher” (a reference to encryption) with “punk”, reflecting the group’s rebellious and anti-establishment spirit.

Far from being a formal organization, the Cypherpunks were a diverse assembly of visionaries, technologists, and activists bonded by shared principles. The movement started in 1992 when Eric Hughes, Timothy May, and John Gilmore founded the cypherpunks mailing list. Some key figures:

Eric Hughes who wrote “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto,” laying out the philosophical foundation for the movement.
Timothy C. May authored “The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto,” which imagined a society where cryptography could foster a new anarchistic order.
John Gilmore, a co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), was pivotal in early internet privacy advocacy.
Julian Assange, later known for WikiLeaks, participated in these discussions.
Phil Zimmermann revolutionized email privacy with his creation of PGP.
Jude Milhon (St. Jude), a hacker and writer, coined the term “cypherpunk” together with Eric Hughes.
Nick Szabo contributed significantly to digital contracts and currencies, conceptualizing “bit gold” before Bitcoin.
Hal Finney, an early Bitcoin developer, worked on cryptographic software including PGP, influencing the privacy tech landscape.
Adam Back introduced Hashcash, which later inspired Bitcoin’s proof-of-work, while actively engaging in cypherpunk dialogues on privacy.
Wei Dai proposed “b-money,” an early idea for anonymous digital cash systems, which influenced Bitcoin’s development.
Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn, with his work on Zcash, brought advanced privacy to cryptocurrencies, having roots in cypherpunk discussions.
David Chaum, often called the “godfather of cypherpunks”, pioneered digital cash with DigiCash (1989). His work on electronic privacy predates and inspired the movement.
Bram Cohen developed BitTorrent, showcasing the cypherpunk ethos of decentralization in file sharing.

Their work built on foundational cryptographic research by Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman, who invented public-key cryptography in 1976, making secure communication between strangers possible.

They gathered online on the cypherpunks mailing list, which at its peak had around 2000 subscribers exchanging 30+ messages per day. Their motto: “Cypherpunks write code.” They didn’t just talk about privacy. They built it.

Philosophy and goals #

The core philosophy of the Cypherpunks was centered around privacy, freedom of speech, and the potential of cryptography to protect these rights. Their main tenets included:

Privacy as a fundamental right: They believed that privacy was essential for personal freedom and that digital communication should be private.
Decentralization: Suspicious of centralized control over information, they pushed for decentralized systems where individuals could control their own data.
Cryptography as a tool: They saw encryption not just as a means of securing data but as a political tool against surveillance and oppressive regimes.

Their goals were #

To create and promote tools for encryption, anonymity, and digital cash.
To educate the public on the importance of cryptography.
To resist governmental and corporate efforts to control or monitor digital communications.

Impact nowadays #

Development of key technologies #

Cypherpunks built tools, not just theories:

PGP (1991): Email encryption for everyone
Tor (2002): Anonymous browsing through onion routing
BitTorrent (2001): Decentralized file sharing
Bitcoin (2009): Digital money without banks
Signal Protocol: The encryption behind Signal, WhatsApp, and other messengers

When you send an encrypted message today, you’re using cypherpunk technology.

Cultural shift #

They changed how society views privacy. Before them, encryption was mostly for governments or experts. Today, it’s a standard part of tools like messaging apps and web browsers. By promoting encryption and anonymity, they made privacy a priority and encouraged people to take control of their data.

Legal and policy influence: The Crypto Wars #

The 1990s saw a real battle between cypherpunks and governments, known as the “Crypto Wars.” The US classified strong encryption as a weapon and banned its export. When Phil Zimmermann released PGP, he was investigated for “exporting munitions” because the software spread globally via the internet.

The cypherpunks fought back creatively. They printed PGP source code in books, since books were protected speech. They wore t-shirts with encryption code. Eventually, they won. Export restrictions were relaxed in 2000. Today’s encrypted messaging exists because of that fight.

Challenges and Criticisms #

The Cypherpunks face these main criticisms:

Accessibility: Their tools are too complex for many people, so only tech-savvy individuals can use them, leaving others behind.
Misuse Risk: There’s concern that their encryption tech could be used by bad actors. While Cypherpunks believe privacy is a right for all, this view conflicts with security concerns from authorities who fear these tools could hide illegal acts.

This shows the ongoing struggle between promoting privacy and maintaining safety in the digital world.

Precursors to Bitcoin #

Bitcoin is the most well-known outcome of the cypherpunk philosophy, embodying their values of decentralization, privacy, and independence from government control over money. Created by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was first shared with the world through the cypherpunks’ mailing list in 2008.

However, it is the result of many trials of other technologies also created within this group of people. It uses ideas like proof-of-work from Hashcash, and concepts from b-money and bit gold, all reflecting the cypherpunks’ dream of a currency not controlled by any single entity.

DigiCash (eCash) #

Developed by David Chaum in the late 1980s and implemented in 1990, DigiCash was one of the earliest attempts at an electronic payment system. It used cryptography to ensure privacy in transactions but struggled with adoption and eventually failed due to issues like centralization and the double-spending problem.

B-Money #

Proposed by Wei Dai in 1998, B-Money was a conceptual framework for anonymous, distributed electronic cash. It aimed to solve issues like double-spending without a central authority but was never implemented. Its ideas influenced Bitcoin’s design.

Bit Gold #

Also conceptualized in 1998 by Nick Szabo, Bit Gold proposed a currency with properties similar to gold, using cryptographic proof-of-work. Like B-Money, it was never fully realized but contributed to Bitcoin’s development, particularly its proof-of-work system.

Hashcash #

Introduced by Adam Back in 1997, Hashcash was not a currency but a system to counter email spam using proof-of-work. This concept was later adopted by Bitcoin for mining.

These earlier projects and ideas, while not successful in creating a functional digital currency, were critical in laying the theoretical groundwork for Bitcoin. They tackled issues like double-spending, privacy, and decentralization, which were key problems Bitcoin aimed to solve.

Cypherpunk legacy #

Bitcoin has revolutionized our understanding of money, privacy, and security:

Decentralized Control: Bitcoin isn’t run by any bank or government, which fits perfectly with the cypherpunk’s skepticism of centralized power.
Privacy: While not completely anonymous, Bitcoin transactions use pseudonyms, offering some protection from financial oversight.
Immutable Transactions: Once a transaction is on the blockchain, it’s nearly unchangeable, fostering trust in digital dealings.

Bitcoin has brought cypherpunk ideals to life, sparking global discussions on financial privacy, money’s nature, and cryptography’s transformative power. With developments like the Lightning Network for faster, private transactions and Taproot for enhanced transaction privacy, Bitcoin continues to evolve.

What the cypherpunks left behind #

The cypherpunks proved that a small group of people who write code can change the world. Every encrypted message you send, every Bitcoin transaction, every anonymous browse: their legacy.

Privacy isn’t dead. They made sure of that.

Related links

Learn more: What is PGP encryption? A 3-minute tutorial for beginners
Wikipedia Article: wikipedia.org/Cypherpunk

Man's Search for Meaning

2024-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

In “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Frankl not only shares his harrowing experiences from the Holocaust but also presents a profound philosophy on the human condition. This book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, exploring how even in the darkest of times, individuals can find purpose and meaning.

Frankl’s insights into the psychology of survival and his development of logotherapy offer a unique lens through which we can view our own lives. As we delve into the depths of his narrative, we are invited to reflect on our personal search for meaning, challenging us to consider how we find purpose amidst life’s trials and tribulations.

Part 1: Experiences in a Concentration Camp #

Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist, recounts his experiences in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau, during World War II.

He describes the psychological stages prisoners went through: shock upon arrival, apathy where they became emotionally numb to survive, and finally, the phase of disillusionment or bitterness if they were liberated.

Frankl emphasizes that even in the most horrific conditions, finding a purpose or meaning can provide the strength to survive. He notes that those who had something to live for, like a loved one or a personal project, were more likely to endure.

Part 2: Logotherapy in a Nutshell #

This section introduces Frankl’s psychotherapeutic method, which he developed based on his experiences. Logotherapy focuses on the meaning of human existence as well as on man’s search for such a meaning.

Unlike Freud’s “will to pleasure” or Adler’s “will to power,” Frankl proposes the “will to meaning” as the primary motivational force in humans.

Three Paths to Meaning:

Achievement: Doing a deed or creating work.
Experience: Experiencing something or encountering someone (love).
Attitude: The attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.

Even in extreme situations, Frankl asserts that one can choose one’s attitude towards the situation, which can be a significant source of meaning.

He discusses this concept as the feeling of meaninglessness in modern society, leading to various psychological issues. Logotherapy aims to guide individuals to find personal meaning.

Key Takeaways #

Meaning of Life #

Frankl argues there is no one universal meaning to life; rather, meaning is unique to each individual and can shift over time.

Suffering and Meaning #

Not all suffering must be devoid of meaning; it can be a path to finding or reaffirming meaning.

Responsibility #

Each person has the responsibility to find their own meaning, which also entails the freedom to choose one’s path.

Frankl’s book is not just a memoir but a testament to human resilience and the power of the human spirit to transcend even the worst circumstances through the discovery of meaning.

Quotes #

“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.”

“We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life, daily and hourly.”

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms, to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

“Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness.”

Personal notes #

My favorite aspect of the book is its portrayal of life as an ongoing shift in perspectives, both from within oneself and in relation to the external world. It’s like adjusting a camera lens, zooming in or out based on context, recognizing that we are simultaneously individual entities and part of a larger collective.

This approach helps you gain a broader perspective, allowing awareness of both your limitations and your significance within any given scenario. Consequently, life doesn’t inherently possess meaning; rather, it’s the meaning we choose to attribute to it that shapes our existence.

Animated book summary #

Prisoner's Dilemma

2024-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

The Prisoner’s Dilemma is a hypothetical game set up showing a situation where people won’t want to work together even when it’s beneficial to do so.

It’s just a long way of saying people don’t like to be taken advantage of. It’s often game theory 101.

The Prisoner’s Dilemma illustrates the complexities of strategic decision-making, where individuals must choose between cooperation and betrayal, often revealing insights into human behavior and the consequences of self-interest versus collective benefit.

Premise #

Source: Wikipedia

Two members of a criminal gang are arrested and imprisoned. Each prisoner is in solitary confinement with no means of speaking to or exchanging messages with the other. The police admit they don’t have enough evidence to convict the pair on the principal charge.

They plan to sentence both to a year in prison on a lesser charge. Simultaneously, the police offer each prisoner a bargain. If he testifies against his partner, he will go free while the partner will get three years in prison on the main charge. Oh, yes, there is a catch …

If both prisoners testify against each other, both will be sentenced to two years in jail. The prisoners are given a little time to think this over, but in no case may either learn what the other has decided until he has irrevocably made his decision.

Each is informed that the other prisoner is being offered the very same deal. Each prisoner is concerned only with his own welfare, with minimizing his own prison sentence.

This leads to four different possible outcomes for prisoners A and B:

If A and B both remain silent,
- they will each serve one year in prison.
If A testifies against B but B remains silent,
- A will be set free while B serves three years in prison.
If A remains silent but B testifies against A,
- A will serve three years in prison and B will be set free.
If A and B testify against each other,
- they will each serve two years.

The Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma #

It is just like the regular game except you play it multiple times with an opponent and add up the scores. But it can change the strategy and has more real world applications as it resembles a relationship.

This is closely related to trust, human behavior, and social constructs in relationships that impact us both individually and collectively.

In the Prisoner’s Dilemma, the best strategy is to start with cooperation, but then mimic the other player’s previous action in the following rounds, rewarding cooperation and punishing betrayal.

Don’t trust, verify.

The Genesis Book

2024-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Bitcoin did not appear out of nowhere. For decades prior to Satoshi Nakamoto’s invention, a diverse group of computer scientists, privacy activists, and heterodox economists tried to create a digital form of money that could operate independently of government control. The Genesis Book tells the story of the people and projects that inspired the invention of the world’s first successful peer-to-peer electronic cash system.

Contents #

Part I: Foundations #

Spontaneous Order
Free and Open Source
Neutral Money
Cryptography
Denationalization of Money
eCash (and Trustless Time-stamps)
The Extropians

Part II: Cypherpunks #

The Cypherpunk Movement
Cypherpunk Currency
Hashcash
Bit Gold
B-money (and BitTorrent)
RPOW

Part III: Bitcoin #

Twenty-First Century Fiat
The White Paper
The Release

The central bank declared the insurer “too big to fail,” and, along with the US Treasury, bailed it out with an injection of $68 billion (plus another $112 billion in guarantees).

If Friedrich Hayek’s analysis of monetary economics early in this career was correct, Bitcoin could help fix the economy. As an unbacked currency that operated without a central bank, bitcoin was an entirely homogeneous form of money. Anyone could control their own coins, and there were no reserve ratios to worry about. And, since bitcoin existed on the internet, it was borderless as well. Anyone with an internet connection, anywhere in the world, could download the software and start sending and receiving transactions to anyone else. This combination (a homogeneous, borderless type of money with a fixed supply) is what Hayek once described as neutral money.

Bitcoin would also facilitate international trade in a much more straightforward manner, where only the buyer and seller and (the prices of) their respective products are affected, not the price levels across their entire countries.

In Bitcoin, no one is in charge… and everyone is in charge.

Invincible

2023-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

The quality of your life depends on the quality of your mind. Unfortunately, we spend little time improving our thoughts, and it is rarely taught at school. As a result, we go through life without really understanding how to use our mind.

We have in our head the most sophisticated object in the world, but we barely know how it works. Most people are unable to direct their mental strength toward the goals they truly desire. They get distracted and frustrated. They can’t resist temptation or persevere in the face of adversity. In the end, they quit.

Luckily, our mind can be trained, and this book will show you how. It combines stoic philosophy with modern psychology, and provides the tools to help you visualize with clarity, act with determination and resist with discipline.

“We suffer not from the events in our lives, but from our judgement about them.” Epictetus.

Any external change requires an internal change first. If you want to transform your body, you must start from within. A weak mind will never create a strong body.

This book will help you use your mind to improve your body, but it actually goes much further. It is not a simple guide to optimize your daily habits, but rather it aims to guide your own philosophy of life. The tools you will develop will help you with anything you want to achieve. Life is always simpler with clarity, determination and discipline.

The philosophy of Stoicism #

The Alchemist

2023-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

The Alchemist is a classic novel in which a boy named Santiago embarks on a journey seeking treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream about it. On the way meets mentors, falls in love, and most importantly, learns the true importance of who he is and how to improve himself and focus on what really matters in life.

Video Summary #

The Book Of Satoshi

2023-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Have you, like the rest of the world, speculated as to the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, anonymous creator of Bitcoin?

The world’s first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin went online in 2009 and has since revolutionized our concepts of currency and money. Not supported by any government or central bank, completely electronic, Bitcoin is a virtual currency based on advanced cryptographic systems.

Like the currency he created, the identity of Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto is virtual, existing only online. The Nakamoto persona, which may represent an individual or a group, exists only in the online publications that introduced and explained Bitcoin during its earliest days. Here, collected and professionally published for the first time are the essential writings that detail Bitcoin’s creation.

The Book of Satoshi provides a convenient way to parse through what Bitcoin’s creator wrote over the span of the two years that constituted his “public life” before he disappeared from the Internet . . . at least under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

Beginning on November 1st 2009 with the publication of the seminal paper describing Bitcoin, this public life ends at about the time PC World speculated as to a possible link between Bitcoin and WikiLeaks, the infamous website that publishes leaked classified materials. Was there a connection? You be the judge.

Nakamoto’s true identity may never be known. Therefore the writings reproduced here are probably all the world will ever hear from him concerning Bitcoin’s creation, workings, and theoretical basis. Want to learn more about Bitcoin? Go directly to the source-the writings of the creator himself, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Never Ending Loop

2023-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

It is hard sometimes to get to bed with the mind blank because, more often than not, I think about my next reading, learning, talk, or what I will write this or next month.

It is funny to remind that eight years ago, I stayed up for hours until all kinds of thoughts got out on paper, so I used to write one or more of them every week. Sometimes innocent thoughts came to my brain and didn’t let me sleep properly. Sometimes deep and full of worry that reflected how I struggled with certain situations that I was living in or remembering from my past youth.

I kept writing for three years; I wrote a lot, another format than I usually do today; a deep and personal book about my thoughts and feelings with the primary motivation of reading them later and doing some retrospectives to help me understand myself better. Nowadays, I like to mix my passion around software quality and people puzzles to achieve true excellence in my profession, always aiming for an honest and healthy egoism of helping others that could help me later. The better the people around me are, the better they will help others and me.

Back then, I used to write about my current and past feelings, always with a touch of illusion wanting to express myself differently for my future self. I remember clearly, in the beginning, I wanted the main readers to be my siblings, my family, to know how I was doing so far away from all of them, after migrating to another country, far away from my family. However, as the months passed by, the main reader changed to be no one but myself.

I spent hours on each thought, page, chapter… Drafting the initial idea and then reading it out loud once, twice, again, and again the day afterward. Helping this way to discover that part of myself that tried to reflect what was going on inside.

I can see some similarities nowadays. However, I no longer see the need to write about those deep old past thoughts because they healed. Instead, I can reflect and see how they did and how.

Writing is one of my favorite ways to express myself, especially when I cannot sleep. It reminds me of those years, and I think greatly about the incredible evolution since then.

Original photos from my trip to Tuscany, Italy, last month.

Fahrenheit 451

2023-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the books, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her “television family.”

But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

Summary #

Another great summary: https://youtu.be/_agaWPlVG8Q

Learned Helplessness

2023-06-08T00:00:00+00:00

Learned helplessness is the behavior exhibited by a subject after enduring repeated aversive stimuli beyond their control.

It was initially thought to be caused by the subject’s acceptance of their powerlessness by discontinuing attempts to escape or avoid the aversive stimulus.

Experiments #

A classroom with different assessments #

Charisse Nixon, Ph.D Developmental Psychologist at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and Director of Research and Evaluation for The Ophelia Project discusses the phenomenon of learned helplessness.

Original: Docking shocks and harnesses #

In 1967, the American psychologist Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania researched docking shocks and harnesses.

In Part 1 of this study, three groups of dogs were placed in harnesses. Group 1 dogs were put in a harness for some time and released later. Groups 2 and 3 consisted of “yoked pairs.” Dogs in Group 2 were given electric shocks randomly, which the dog could end by pressing a lever. Each dog in Group 3 was paired with a Group 2 dog; whenever a Group 2 dog got a shock, its paired dog in Group 3 got a shock of the same intensity and duration, but its lever did not stop the shock. To a dog in Group 3, it seemed that the shock ended randomly because their paired dog in Group 2 was causing it to stop. Thus, for Group 3 dogs, the shock was “inescapable.”

In Part 2 of the experiment, the same three groups of dogs were tested in a shuttle-box apparatus (a chamber containing two rectangular compartments divided by a barrier a few inches high). The dogs could escape shocks on one side of the box by jumping over a low partition to the other. The dogs in Groups 1 and 2 quickly learned this task and escaped the shock. Most of the Group 3 dogs, which had previously “learned” that nothing they did affected the shocks, lay down passively and whined when shocked.

Even though this experiment was demonstrated with different types of animals, it also applies to people. This is visible in children when they integrate early failure to ask for help, frustration, giving up, poor motivation, and procrastination. And these points carry on as people age.

Because, if you “cannot do anything”, why would you even try it?

All this leads to anxiety and depression, and people think nothing can be done about their current situations and feelings.

Learned optimism #

The antidote to learned helplessness is learned optimism. These people are higher achievers, have better overall health, and have lower levels of depression.

How do you practice it? #

Permanence: bad events or failures are not permanent. So, you can recover faster than people stuck in these situations. However, good things or events happen for a good reason that you’ve worked on.
Pervasiveness: do not generalize failure. Failing in one area in your life should not affect other areas.
Personalization: bad events are external to blame, outside yourself, as you did all you could have done.

Isolate the problem and don’t extrapolate it to other areas. Stop generalizing failure.

English #

Español #

Have You Always Been Like This?

2023-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

I’ve got this question recently, a couple of times, and this is a great topic to share.

“Have you always been like this? Constantly reading books, writing blog posts, public speaker in conferences and meet-ups, learning in your private time, etc…?”

The short answer is: no, and let me tell you how I ended up in this situation.

I used to be introvert #

I used to be an introvert, but with work and effort, I managed to master some public speaking skills.

Sharing knowledge is hard because first, you need to have it.

I used to dislike reading; I always preferred other sources of getting information and learning new things. Of all of them, reading was the most boring one.

Reading is hard, because it needs your entire attention.

However, I have always enjoyed writing since I was a kid. For personal circumstances, writing was a way to express and reflect on me, doing regular retrospectives about the ideas in my head.

Writing to the rescue #

Combining “sharing knowledge” and “reading” from and to myself.

Writing was (and still is) a way to sort out my thoughts, especially during hard times; writing was a way to escape from the world. It helped me to understand myself better the day after. And it worked.

Knowing your limitations can help you understand your reality and fight against it. Life is hard enough to accept whatever “is there,” even if you are dissatisfied with it, especially if you have a reason for that.

I learned that I don’t want to waste my time in a life I will regret when I die. For that reason, I started seeking opportunities to grow at everything I do all the time.

Will I always be like this? #

“Are you all the time 100% learning and being productive?”

You cannot be 100% productive all the time. That’s impossible because of our human nature. Life is about constant “ups and downs,” which is also part of its beauty. It’s your responsibility to understand yourself; I mean, truly understand your emotions and your persona.

These are questions that can help you keep the focus while building yourself. When asking these types of questions, try looking from a rational and external point of view. Leave out emotions and personal feelings.

Who are “you”?
What differentiate “you” from other people?
What differentiate “today’s you” from “you a year ago”?
What about your “you” in 1 year?

Within your context and possibilities, you are what you choose to be. And that’s what differentiates you from your past and your future. The actions you do, the way you communicate and interact with others, the decisions you choose, etc…, differentiate you. That’s what differentiates you from yourself at another point in time.

This is why I enjoy reading (or listening to a book) per month. This is why I enjoy learning anytime, all the time. This is why I like to share what I know with others. This is who I choose to be.

A few years ago, I wrote about the process itself as the goal, which says basically: “Repetition is the key. Make it easier to do what you want to do. Make it harder to do what you want to stop doing. Enjoy the process: that’s the goal.”

How much time do I have? #

I like to prove myself wrong and challenge the status quo. I even decided to investigate, for example, how I could be one speaker in an international conference last year. The hardest step is always the first; once you’re there, it’s more fun than you initially thought. I might write a dedicated post about this “public speaking” topic. For now, you can check some tips I wrote about improving your public speaking talks.

Regarding reading, I need around 4 to 6 hours (on average) to finish a book. A typical working day can be divided into 3 slots of 8h; 8 sleep, 8 work, 8 leisure (or other obligations). I don’t work on the weekend, so those days are 16h each of leisure/obligations. So, assuming I work 5 days per week, this means 5 days x 8 hours (working days) + 2 days x 16 hours (weekend) = 72 hours of leisure/obligations time within a week!

Time is not the problem #

Within a month, I have 72 hours x 4 weeks = 288 hours of leisure/obligations time to spare with my girlfriend, talking to my family, playing music, partying or chilling with friends, going to the gym, walking in a park, traveling to other cities…, but also going to the supermarket, doing the dishes, preparing the evening meals, clean the apartment, commuting to work…, all of this requires time as well.

The problem isn’t time but the priorities I define. Within a month, I can really do a lot of things. The issue I usually encounter is not having a clear goal about what I want to reach in the middle-long goal for myself.

There might be others, but The power of habits and Atomic habits were the books I read so far about habits that impacted me the most, and I think they might help you if you are struggling with habits that you would like to change anyhow. It all starts by understanding yourself within your context.

I don’t expect things to change from one day to another. I enjoy experimenting, combining habits, and trying different approaches to improve and get the best out of them over time. Losing fear of failure and seeking constant and continuous improvement is a life-changing mentality.

What keeps me moving is the time I have left and the idea of thinking, “what would I like to have changed?” And in such a case, “Why didn’t I?”

21 Lessons

2023-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

Gigi portrays Bitcoin as more than just money; it’s a deep dive into economics, philosophy, and culture. Like Alice in Wonderland, exploring Bitcoin is full of surprises, teaching about money, inflation, and the idea of decentralization. It redefines what ‘good money’ is, shows its cultural impact, and stresses that learning about Bitcoin is a personal journey that keeps evolving.

Key takeaways #

Philosophical and Conceptual Insights #

Bitcoin teaches more than traditional education, offering insights into economics and philosophy. Engaging with Bitcoin feels like falling down a rabbit hole, full of learning and surprises.

Economic and Monetary Lessons #

Bitcoin brings back the idea of ‘sound money’, teaching about inflation and banking systems. Issuing new money reduces the value of existing money, unlike Bitcoin which has a fixed supply.

Technical and Cultural Aspects #

Bitcoin’s core ideas include scarcity, security, and consensus, but the book isn’t a technical manual. Bitcoin reflects a shift towards decentralization, influenced by movements like cypherpunk.

Personal and Educational Journey #

Each person might learn different lessons from Bitcoin, encouraging personal exploration. Bitcoin’s lessons evolve, requiring ongoing study.

“21 Lessons” focuses on why Bitcoin matters philosophically, economically, and culturally, rather than how to use it.

You can buy the book or read it for free on their own website: https://21lessons.com/preface

Adapt or die

2023-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

Told through the story of one bold company (People First IT), Adapt or Die takes readers through the unparalleled business system known as The Algorithm of Success that has the potential to inspire, ignite, and affect change for all aspects of an organization.

Each chapter reveals more of the winning formula that all small and midsize businesses absolutely must have to succeed. Through real examples, research, and practical tools, Adapt or Die unpacks exactly how to create innovation, solve people puzzles, and win in business.

“Leadership is about helping people adapt and leading through change so the business and its people can thrive.”

Why businesses fail? #

Businesses fail because they…

are unable or unwilling to have courageous conversations
focus on money too much or too soon instead of on people
can provide the value themselves but can’t make it scale
fail to focus on people as their primary responsibility
focus on people, but don’t have the necessary skills to make a difference
listen to respond instead of listening to hear
think that because their idea is unique and specific, so are their issues
live in the business and fail to spend time on the business
expect thing to happen without truly leading through change
fail to fall in love with the truth and fight the truth instead

How to help growing your teamwork #

“As a business scales, the primary focus of the owner and the leadership must shift from focusing on customers to focusing on employees.”

By having courageous conversions about the full spectrum of skills required to go to the next level, focusing on improving the personal and professional career experience for that person and the people around them.

These are the main points that everyone could develop:

Good communications
Focus & achieve goals & results
Everyone contributes
Offer each other support
Good leadership
Clear and good organization
Constructive conflict drives innovation

“People is not usually the root problem. The taxonomy is 3Ps: product, process, or people. And “people” is the final step because leaders need to look at product and process first. In other words, “people first” when it comes to values, but “people last” when it comes to blame.“

The Algorithm of Success #

As you can see in the diagram, all of this comes under leadership. If leadership is about helping others adapt to change, then it must be core to our organizations.

Product #

Promises
Solve a problem or need
Cash release triggers
The way we create value
Pain or Pleasure
Innovation
Connections: Logical, emotional and competitive

Strategy #

Target customer profile (Who)
Value Creation Strategy (VCS)
Core Values
Shared vision
Value loop
Key processes

The Growth Engine #

Unique selling proposition
Targeted marketing
Sales channels
Sales steps
Measuring the Growth Engine
Funnel & opportunity management
Return on Sales

The Financial Model #

Revenue management
Cost of goods sold (COGS)
Sales and marketing costs
General administration
EBITDA, ITDA, NOI
Categorization
Reporting

People #

Alignment
People elevators
Problem solving
People banks
Leadership code of conduct
Career plans
One-on-one’s
Income managements

Operations #

Identify the core operations
Responsibilities
Cadence management
Meetings
GSD (Get Shit Done)

Process #

Promises Kept
Downstream / Upstream
Accountability
Repeatable
Efficiencies

You can find the book in https://www.adaptordie.com/the-book/.

The infinite game

2023-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

How do we win a game that has no end? Finite games, like football or chess, have known players, fixed rules and a clear endpoint. The winners and losers are easily identified. Infinite games, games with no finish line, like business or politics, or life itself, have players who come and go. The rules of an infinite game are changeable while infinite games have no defined endpoint. There are no winners or losers: only ahead and behind.

Infinite-minded leaders understand that “best” is not a permanent state. Instead, they strive to be “better”. “Better” suggests a journey of constant improvement and makes us feel like we are being invited to contribute our talents and energies to make progress in that journey.

The question is, how do we play to succeed in the game we’re in? In this book, Simon Sinek offers a framework for leading with an infinite mindset:

Just Cause
Courageous leadership
Trusting teams
Worthy rival

#1 You have to have a Just Cause #

A Just Cause is the answer of Why your organization exists?

A cause so just that people will be willing to sacrifice themselves to see the advancement of that cause. Eg: working more hours, giving your best ideas, or rejecting another job offer and staying here because you believe in what you are doing.

In order to be happy, we need a sense of purpose or meaning; businesses are no different. When we look at developing a Just Cause, there are a few things that we need to articulate. Firstly, we must stand for something that’s inclusive, and exists primarily for the benefit of others.

In short, a Just Cause is a vision of a compelling future, making people want to be part of building this future, although they may never see it completed.

#2 You have to have courageous leadership #

Courageous leaders are the ones that are willing to sacrifice the sort term in order to advance the long term.

Leadership is the acceptance of the responsibility to create an environment in which people can work on their natural best.

The senior most people in an organisation are not responsible for the result. They are responsible for the people that are responsible for the result.

#3 You have to have trusting teams #

A trusting team is an environment in which people feel safe to raise their hand and say “I made a mistake. I don’t feel qualify to do the job you asked me to do, and I need more training. I need help. I am scared.” Without any fear of humiliation or punishment, whatsoever.

If you don’t have trusting teams, you have a group of people that work together lying and faking, and you’re forcing them to. It’s not their fault. You’re creating an environment in which people will not share mistakes because they think it will make them in trouble. Which means eventually things will compound and break.

It’s the responsibility of the leader to get the environment right. Get the environment right, you’ll get trusted teams. Get the environment wrong, you are forcing people to protect themselves from you.

#4 You have to have a worthy rival #

Although the only true competitor in an infinite game is yourself, what competition does is help to reveal your weaknesses.

The goal is not to be number one in the infinite game, because there is no such thing. It’s about building a strong foundation. It’s about looking long term.

Money is a result, not a purpose.

There is no such thing as the one “right” organization. There are only organizations, each of which has distinct strengths, distinct limitations, and specific applications. An organization is not absolute. It is a tool for making people productive in working together.

Leaders who embrace an infinite mindset build stronger, more innovative, more inspiring organizations. Ultimately, they are the ones who lead us into the future.

Momo

2022-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Momo is a fairytale that shows the fight between good and evil in our contemporary society, focusing on the lack of time to care for other people.

This book is about the concept of time and how it is used in modern societies.

The Essential Drucker

2022-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

A twenty-six selections on management in the organization, management and the individual, and management and society.

It covers the basic principles of management and its problems, challenges, and opportunities, giving managers, executives, and professionals the tools to perform the tasks that the economy and society of tomorrow will demand of them.

4 Essential Principles Of Management #

Management is about humans
Management should define an organization’s values, objective, goals & mission
Management must enable the organization and members to grow and develop
Results only exist outside the organization

The Starfish and the Spider

2022-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

If you cut off a spider’s head, it dies; if you cut off a starfish’s leg it grows a new one, and that leg can grow into an entirely new starfish. Traditional top-down organizations are like spiders, but now starfish organizations are changing the face of business and the world.

What’s the hidden power behind the success of Wikipedia, craigslist, and Skype? What do eBay and General Electric have in common with the abolitionist and women’s rights movements? What fundamental choice put General Motors and Toyota on vastly different paths?

Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom have discovered some unexpected answers, gripping stories, and a tapestry of unlikely connections. The Starfish and the Spider explores what happens when starfish take on spiders and reveals how established companies and institutions, from IBM to Intuit to the U.S. government, are also learning how to incorporate starfish principles to achieve success.

In this talk, Rod Beckstrom, does a great overview of the main ideas of his book:

Bitcoin: Blockchain y su investigación

2022-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

This book was published in 2017, so most of the technology shown is already history. And that’s precisely what I really like from the book itself, the “historical part” and the origin of the blockchain.

How is created Bitcoin address? How does it work the creation of the private & public keys and how are they known as wallets? And many other interesting questions.

Back then, we got some websites and services that were using Bitcoin as a payment method, and there was a beauty trend.

The first half of the book is the best part, and I would say it’s still relevant due to the origin of this tech.
The second half, on the other hand, I would say is “more optional” and for curious people. There are no learnings from this part, besides the trend that you can see we already had back in 2016/2017. Today in 2022 the tech (and projects using blockchain) has evolved a lot.

I would really like to read a new book with an updated investigation 5 years after the first edition.

The book is available only in Spanish: 0xWord

The Psychology of Money

2022-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

Having more money will make you happier ONLY if that means you’ll have more control over your time.

“I did not intend to get rich. I just wanted to get independent.” Charlie Munger.

Money Misunderstandings #

Compounding #

Start investing with whatever you can afford, and stay invested.
Leverage the power of compounding.

Volatility #

It’s not possible to get high returns without volatility.
It’s the emotional price you need to pay if you want good annual returns.
Embrace volatility. Volatility is a fee, not a fine.

Tail investments #

It’s hard to predict what will be the “next big thing”, therefore it’s important to diversify.
A tail investment is single investment that massively outperform all others, and made up for several bad investments.
Make many diversified investments to benefit from a few tail investments.

Quotes #

“There is no reason to risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.”

“Long tails (the farthest ends of a distribution of outcomes) have tremendous influence in finance, where a small number of events can account for the majority of outcomes.”

“The ability to do what you want, when you want, with who you want, for as long as you want, is priceless. It is the highest dividend money pays.”

“Like everything else worthwhile, successful investing demands a price. But its currency is not dollars and cents. It’s volatility, fear, doubt, uncertainty, and regret, all of which are easy to overlook until you’re dealing with them in real time.”

“Few things matter more with money than understanding your own time horizon and not being persuaded by the actions and behaviors of people playing different games than you are.”

Video Summary #

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

2022-01-08T00:00:00+00:00

A fable in novella form about a seagull who is trying to learn about life and flight, and a homily about self-perfection.

Plot #

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with daily squabbles over food. Seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself and learns everything he can about flying. His increasing unwillingness to conform finally results in his expulsion from the flock. Now an outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities while leading a peaceful and happy life.

One day Jonathan meets two gulls who take him to a “higher plane of existence” in which there is no heaven, but a better world found through perfection of knowledge. There he meets another seagull who loves to fly. He discovers that his sheer tenacity and desire to learn make him “pretty well a one-in-a-million bird.” In this new place, Jonathan befriends the wisest gull, Chiang, who takes him beyond his previous self-education, and teaches him how to move instantaneously to anywhere else in the universe. The secret, Chiang says, is to “begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”

But, unsatisfied with his new life, Jonathan returns to Earth to find others like himself to tell them what he’d learned and to spread his love for flight. His mission is successful, and Jonathan gathers around himself a flock of other gulls who have been outlawed for not conforming. The first of his students, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, ultimately becomes a teacher in his own right, and Jonathan leaves to teach other flocks.

This novella has been translated into over thirty languages.

Audiobook #

Start with Why

2021-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Start with Why asks (and answers) the questions: why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?

The ability to inspire those around you and to achieve remarkable things starts with WHY. Those who start with WHY never manipulate, they inspire.

People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers had little in common, but they all started with WHY. They realized that people won’t truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it.

The ability to inspire those around you and to achieve remarkable things starts with WHY.
Any organization can explain what it does; some can explain how they do it; but very few can clearly articulate why.
Your WHY is your purpose, cause or belief.
Every inspiring leader and organization, regardless of size or industry, starts with WHY.
When your WHY goes fuzzy, it becomes much more difficult to maintain the growth, loyalty, and inspiration that helped drive your original success.

People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.

Great leaders are able to inspire people to act. And those who are able to inspire give people a sense of purpose or belonging that has little to do with any external incentive or benefit to be gained.

Video Summary #

The Bitcoin Standard

2021-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

The Bitcoin Standard analyzes the historical context to the rise of Bitcoin, the economic properties that have allowed it to grow quickly, and its likely economic, political, and social implications.

While Bitcoin is a new invention of the digital age, the problem it purports to solve is as old as human society itself: transferring value across time and space. Ammous takes the reader on an engaging journey through the history of technologies performing the functions of money, from primitive systems of trading limestones and seashells, to metals, coins, the gold standard, and modern government debt.

With this background in place, the book moves on to explain the operation of Bitcoin in a functional and intuitive way. Bitcoin is a decentralized, distributed piece of software that converts electricity and processing power into indisputably accurate records, thus allowing its users to utilize the Internet to perform the traditional functions of money without having to rely on, or trust, any authorities or infrastructure in the physical world.

The final chapter of the book explores some of the most common questions surrounding Bitcoin:

Is Bitcoin mining a waste of energy?
Is Bitcoin for criminals?
Who controls Bitcoin, and can they change it if they please?
How can Bitcoin be killed?

The Bitcoin Standard is the essential resource for a clear understanding of the rise of the Internet’s decentralized, apolitical, free-market alternative to national central banks.

Video Summary #

Extra: Lex Fridman Podcast with the author of this book

The Catcher in the Rye

2021-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

It was originally intended for adults but is often read by adolescents for its themes of angst, alienation, and as a critique on superficiality in society.

The novel is a deeper reflection of Salinger’s own youth, his complicated relationship with growing up and the generational trauma affected by World War II.

Undeniably autobiographical, Salinger drew on his personal experiences fighting in the war and his New York creating the character of Holden Caulfield.

The novel’s protagonist has become an icon for teenage rebellion. The novel also deals with complex issues of innocence, identity, belonging, loss, connection, sex, and depression.

From chapter 22:

“You don’t like anything that’s happening.” It made me even more depressed when she said that.

“Yes I do. Yes I do. Sure I do. Don’t say that. Why the hell do you say that?”

“Because you don’t. You don’t like any schools. You don’t like a million things. You don’t.”

“I do! That’s where you’re wrong, that’s exactly where you’re wrong! Why the hell do you have to say that?” I said. Boy, was she depressing me.

“Because you don’t,” she said. “Name one thing.”

“One thing? One thing I like?” I said. “Okay.”

The trouble was, I couldn’t concentrate too hot. Sometimes it’s hard to concentrate.

Summary #

Lord of the Flies

2021-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, even a vision of the apocalypse. It has established itself as a true classic.

The book focuses on a group of British boys stranded on an uninhabited island, and their disastrous attempt to govern themselves.

Themes include the tension between groupthink and individuality, between rational and emotional reactions, and between morality and immorality.

The first chapters start slowly, but they are necessary to build up the context of the story, which scales pretty quickly later on.

Embrace the Change

2021-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

The book Who moved my cheese? presents a tale inside the main story that consists of 4 characters: two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two little persons, Hem and Haw.

Published in 1998, and I just read it at the beginning of 2021. Better late than never. Actually, thanks to my brother Jesús, who recommended it to me.

They live in a Maze (that represents one’s environment) and in order to survive they need to go out of their comfort zone and look for cheese (which represents happiness and success).

The tale starts when both groups end up at “Cheese Station C”, full of cheese. The humans established routines while the mice kept their instincts active.

One day the mice arrive at the “Cheese Station C” and find no cheese left. So they go out to find more cheese somewhere else. On the contrary, when Hem and Haw see that there is no cheese left, they start complaining. Hem, angry and annoyed, demands “Who moved my cheese?!”. Both humans counted on the cheese supply being endless and constant, so they weren’t prepared for the unexpected. The main difference here is how Haw and Hem react to this situation.

Hem denies moving away from the “Cheese Station C”, so he keeps going there every day expecting to find cheese without success, being weaker, and with continuous fear of doing something different. Haw, on the other hand, decides to laugh at the situation, turns down his fear, and goes out looking for more cheese.

… I will leave the rest of the tale to you.

The tale is a beautiful metaphor of the different attitudes that people adopt as part of their identity in life when they have to confront any change.

Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come.

This book is full of lessons that apply to everyone no matter who they are or when they read it. I fully recommend it.

My favorite lessons of the book #

Change happens. They keep moving the cheese.
Anticipate change. Get ready for the cheese to move.
Monitor change. Smell the cheese often so you know when it’s getting old.
Adapt to change quickly. The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese.
Change. Move with the cheese.
Enjoy change. Enjoy the taste of new cheese
Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again. They keep moving the cheese.

“Everyone knows that not all change is good or even necessary. But in a world that is constantly changing, it is to our advantage to learn how to adapt and enjoy something better. It is not what is in the story of “Who moved my cheese?” but how you interpret it and apply it to your own situation that gives it the value.“ - Ken Blanchard.

“Life moves on and so should we” - Spencer Johnson

Animal Farm

2020-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Mr Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges.

The Process Itself Is the Goal

2020-09-08T00:00:00+00:00

No goal should be an achievement on its own, but the process itself that helps us to go in the direction of these goals.

Goals, in business and in life in general, should be conceived as directions, where their real intention is to help us accomplish more in the way we planned or want.

If we get rewarded only for results and not for processes, we will become pretty miserable.

Society doesn’t reward the journey, but the results, and that’s exactly part of the problem when you are too focused on how society acts on you. Of course, it’s important to listen to society, but it’s more important to listen to ourselves in order to improve constantly. Continuous improvement doesn’t apply to software only but to everything in life.

How do I keep myself focused? #

This is a totally subjective topic that might be different from person to person. That said, I think it might be useful to share my thoughts with you, so I’ll do it.

Self-reflection #

I used to write my thoughts in a “diary” for some years. Back then, in 2015, when I moved to Germany, I didn’t know many people here, and the environment was completely new. I decided to write my thoughts to myself in order to read them the day after and do some retrospection about it. Finally, after around 3 years, in December 2017, I published a book named “Ojos en un recuerdo”. That book is the compilation of those thoughts. No story behind it. They are as they came. You can see the evolution of the topics and about what and how they were written.

The exercise of self-reflection itself was more important than the book! The goal here wasn’t writing a book at all. The goal was the self-projection to understand what was going on inside myself. Publishing those thoughts in a book was an accident. A beautiful accident, though. This habit of thinking about my actions and decisions (what do I do and why) helped me to develop who I am nowadays.

Sports #

Exercise helps my mind to disconnect from the tech area. It keeps my body active using some energy in a different environment. But most importantly, it helps to get fully tired before going to bed. I feel myself resting much better if I’ve done some sport during the day: contact sports, fitness studio, or simply running.

The specific sport itself is an irrelevant detail as far as you feel comfortable. The act of doing sport is the key here.

Books #

I try to read tech throughout the day and non-tech during the night. For example, some days before going to work or after working time I might read a tech book. And some days before going to sleep I like to read a non-tech one. This way, I feed my brain with knowledge and I also provide it with non-tech space, so it can rest from code and enjoy other “universes” as well. Some suggestions that helped me to understand how we behave, why we do what we do, and therefore build some habits that I didn’t know how to:

The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear.
Scrum: Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, by Jeff Sutherland.

Personal tricks #

I wish I would have read much more. Nowadays, with the number of distractions that we have, keeping yourself focused is pretty hard. Some tricks that help me a lot when I want to focus:

I keep my personal phone always in silence and vibration mode.
I used to spend hours on social media; a lot of time wasted. Not anymore. I reduced the social media noise to the minimum by removing the apps that prevent me from being as productive as I want. Some of them from my phone, others the account itself.
I used to play video games. Not anymore. Instead, I go to GitHub to work on my pet projects, contribute to an open-source project, or simply read a book.
When I go for a run, I enjoy it twice by listening to a 45-min podcast that I want to listen to since the very morning. The reward of listening to the podcast is linked with the act of going out and running. I conscientiously created that habit.

It’s not about removing your old habits but replacing them with new ones.

How to improve your habits #

Habits emerge without our consent. To save energy, the brain creates a habit loop that looks for a trigger to cue a behavior.

Willpower can be learned. It needs exercise, like a muscle.
Small successes are the building blocks of bigger wins.
Focus less on goals and more on systems and processes.
To change habits, change how you identify yourself.
To build good habits, the environment is more important than being motivated.
To break a bad habit, reduce exposure to the cues that cause it.
Bundle an action you want to do with an action you need to do.
Don’t try to make a habit perfect, just repeat it.
Reduce friction for good habits and increase friction for bad habits.
Like in Scrum, removing waste is fundamental to get better.

Repetition is the key. Make it easier to do what you want to do. Make it harder to do what you want to stop doing. Enjoy the process: that’s the goal.

Interesting links #

The metamorphosis

2020-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

The Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung, also sometimes translated as The Transformation) is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It has been cited as one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century and is studied in colleges and universities across the Western world. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed (metamorphosed) into a large, monstrous insect-like creature. The cause of Samsa’s transformation is never revealed, and Kafka never did give an explanation. The rest of Kafka’s novella deals with Gregor’s attempts to adjust to his new condition as he deals with being burdensome to his parents and sister, who are repulsed by the horrible, verminous creature Gregor has become.

1984

2020-05-13T00:00:00+00:00

One of Britain’s most popular novels, George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is set in a society terrorised by a totalitarian ideology propagated by The Party.

Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101. . .

Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell’s terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime. The novel also coined many new words and phrases which regular appear in popular culture, such as ‘Big Brother’, ‘thoughtcrime’, ‘doublethink’ and ‘Newspeak’.

The Art of War

2018-08-10T00:00:00+00:00

The text is composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. It is commonly thought of as a definitive work on military strategy and tactics.

It has been the most famous and influential of China’s Seven Military Classics, and “for the last two thousand years it remained the most important military treatise in Asia, where even the common people knew it by name.”

It has had an influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond.

Quotes #

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.
If he is superior in strength, evade him.
Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.
The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.
There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.
Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.
In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.
An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.
You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.
Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.
Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.
It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.
The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.
Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.
If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.
The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.