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I Bet You’re Cheap

The Cost of Ignorance

My fight against the luddite machine is ongoing - but, hopefully, not neverending. After many years of intense, metaphorical combat, I've realized that my tolerance for the current physical/digital divide has worn thin. I seek satisfaction in hybrids, and yet I am kept from it through… a bunch of things which I guess boil down to a Way of Things that doesn’t really help to prop each other up. I see this evident all around me, as it runs rampant across demographics. I've witnessed countless individuals - amongst the bright, young minds in high-octane startups, as much as within the hallowed halls of legacy corporations - who are hopelessly lost when it comes to technology.

All too often, this issue is swept under the proverbial rug. There's a societal norm which tells us that it’s impolite to criticize others' lack of digital know-how. That it’s somehow rude to, politely, provide mere options when observing business activities outside of our own. We preach understanding and acceptance of differences, but this inability or distaste or whatever it is that is somehow heavily inculcated into our very being as International Operators hints at a form of technological determinism that I wholeheartedly resist.

A Self-Defeating Mindset

We seem to have convinced ourselves, or been convinced by some nebulous "other," that everyone is responsible for their own digital education, and, moreover, that old dogs cannot learn new tricks. This leads to a pervasive belief that if someone hasn't already mastered a particular skill or reached a specific goal, they're beyond help, and if someone’s beyond help, then don’t bother. And so we don’t!

What a bleak outlook on life! I cannot, and will not, subscribe to such a pessimistic perspective. I firmly believe - no, I know - that not everything is a lost cause. Sure, a bunch of stuff is, and I resolutely disengage from those instances, but there’s a whole lot of critical analysis that I put into determining lost-cause-edness. It’s a matter of circumstance, but with the right approach, it’s totally possible to help others acquire new skills, achieve new goals, and yes, improve their tech-savviness.

But you know what I see as being a big contributor to the current state of affairs? Being cheap. In all of my technological adventures, I've noticed a consistent pattern. When someone struggles with their business or personal tasks, it's rarely because they lack the ability to complete them. More often than not, the root of the problem is their reluctance to invest in the necessary tools, probably itself caused by a lack of confidence, which is due to at least the perception if not actual presence of insufficient training. They either forego paying for a product that could enable them to succeed, or they opt for the free version, which offers limited functionality, simply because they don’t believe in themselves.

Awwww… 🥲 isn’t good enough!

The False Economy of Freebies

There's a widespread misconception that free or cheap solutions are either better, or the only available option. After all, why pay for something when you can get it for free, right? Wrong. This mindset is detrimental. The scourge of our modern age is the Freemium model - without a doubt borne unto us by the nefarious Adobe - and that comes with a duplicitous design that convinces us we’re being productive enough without actually empowering us to our full potential. They literally sap you of your strength in order to squeeze money out of you. These constraints can hinder productivity and growth and, worse still, it communicates to me that you aren’t worth pursuing either financially or intellectually.

Investing in Success

Let's shift the narrative. Instead of focusing on the cost of a product or service, focus on its potential return. This can be a bitter pill to swallow for some, but like all things it ought to be selective. Getting a fully registered email account at a domain that you own for $6/month with access to the Google Suite? I usually argue that’s a good deal. Doing anything with Adobe? Painful, but sometimes worth it. GPT+ for $20/month? Definitely worth it. If a piece of software or a service can save you hours of work, improve your productivity, or increase your revenue, isn't it worth the investment? Knowing what your critical toolset is allows you to make critical decisions about financial resource allocation, be it to invest or not in X, Y or Z. This will have an upfront cost that may be higher than the free or cheaper version, but the long-term benefits will likely outweigh the initial expense.

Closing Thoughts

As we navigate this digital age, let's remember that embracing technology doesn't just mean using it; it means understanding its value. It means investing in the right tools and services, even if they come at a cost. Because being cheap, in this context, doesn't mean you're saving money. It means you're missing out on opportunities for growth and success.

Remember, the price of ignorance is far higher than the cost of education. So, let's invest in ourselves and our futures. After all, in this digital age, being tech-savvy isn't just an advantage—it's a necessity.

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Newsworthy

Kaala Music Featured in Kokoro Media

Amélie Geeraert of Kokoro Media covered some of my work with Japan’s many abandoned houses in the past, which I was, of course, grateful for, but let’s face it: that’s kind of within the acceptable range of weird business and is already an established narrative world-wide. So while I’ll reiterate my thanks to her for the wonderful article, it’s not as adventurous as it may seem at the outset.

You know what is? Underground extreme metal. And Amélie was on top of that, too, which is the first time ever a publication that isn’t already involved with underground/extreme music has even bothered inquiring much less actually conducting an extensive interview with me on the matter!

So what I’m really getting at is that Amélie has become my favorite reporter in Japan and you should absolutely read the article!

Digital Springs Whitepaper

I’ve been in the blockchain space since 2015. I’ve done alternative payment systems for independent artists, managed interoperability projects, analyzed potential adoption trajectories with NGOs, advised blockchain startups, minted NFT collections, pitched and been awarded (but then I turned down) web3 associations’ grants, and… I guess that’s enough for now.

So I’m pretty experienced, but only so vocal, and definitely cautious, about anything that involves crypto. And then I also do a bunch of other stuff in strange spaces, and over the years have developed a knack for fleshing out otherwise ludicrous ideas.

But since I try to be humble and also disappointed so many goddamn times in my professional career, I tend to be relatively protective of those wacky ideas and it usually takes a group of people to pull them out of me.

Which is one reason why this Web3/AI thinktank-ish group that I’ve put together over the last few months has been extremely energizing. I’ve finally got a place to meaningfully question accepted business practices, challenge authorities, and ask the ultimate question:

Can we acquire a traditional ryokan and turn it into an innovative nexus for advancing web3 and AI technologies, generating geothermal electricity, housing a music production studio for live broadcasts, mining PoW cryptocurrencies, and operating a decentralized organization that delivers dividends to members and the local community like the Alaskan oil model?

Turns out it seems pretty feasible and there’s a lot of interest. I even wrote a whitepaper describing it. Check it out below!

Speaking at Regen House for IVS Crypto 2023

Good timing to get that whitepaper out, too, because Gaiax took notice and invited me to speak at the upcoming IVS in Kyoto next week. It’ll be me, AkiyaDAO, and one other participant discussing the applications of crypto in real estate, amongst other things, which should be one helluva conversation.

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Well folks, we've arrived at the intersection famously dubbed as the 'paywall'. Above, you've been privy to a sneak peek into my world, a sort of public preview for all to enjoy. But what lies Below, my friends, are the nuggets of wisdom and unique perspectives that shape my journey — consider them the special sauce to my success.

Finding yourself intrigued but not yet a subscriber? No worries! This is your chance, your golden ticket to hop on board!