Do You Feel Qualified? 🪃

Short, practical drops on culture and technology. 🚀

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To the community 🙏

Good morning! ☀️

I have nothing of consequence this morning, other than to ask you a question: "Do you feel qualified?"

Tweet of the Day (TOD)! 🐦

How incredible is that? We can debate Web3 until the cows come home, but one thing is certain: this is the blowing up of the internet. How talent moves around cyberspace will be fascinating to witness. Regions with low tech literacy (regardless of current economic status) should all be on notice. In fact, maybe more so in developed economies because they will likely entrench. The opposite is Singapore, for example. 👀

Let's get into it. 🚀

Do you feel qualified?

I was recently asked by a mentor to return to my alma mater and teach business model evolution/innovation. I'm going to start the course by exploring the evolution of the internet, yes, in 3 distinct segments, and talk about how the business model itself changes as the internet does. The important of community, peer-to-peer payment rails, internet-native money, stuff like that.

I'll be frank: I'm not long University in it's traditional form but I'm excited to try and arm undergrads in my region with the tools to bring their best selves to the internet.

Ironically, both my parents asked me the exact same question (verbatim) when I told them.

I understood why. They come from a time where being 'qualified' is a physical credential. It's the piece of paper that says you are something. I love my parents. But that's nonsense. They were hoodwinked in to believing you sat in a lecture hall for x amount of hours and then you are that thing.

Now, in a technical discipline like nursing (my mother), that very well may be true! You put in x amount of training hours and you're now qualified to operate in a healthcare facility. That is actually why I AM long vocational schools and technical training. I have a huge level of admiration for those with a technical discipline (maybe I'm jealous!).

But, alas, that is not I. I am an entrepreneur. I build things on the internet. I work with other entrepreneurs. There is no such thing as being a qualified entrepreneur. You simply do.

If you are in the world building something you care about, you're qualified. In fact, you are far more qualified than the average academic based on my count (shh!).

What's the point? 📲

The era of the formal credential is coming to a close in non-technical disciplines. People only care about what you've done. What have you made? Who did you make it for?

When my undergrads ask me how to become qualified, this is the advice I'll give. Don't delete your credentials or awards from your resume, but don't lead with them. Show me what you've built. That's all your employers or customers will care about.

Start building. 🙏 🚀

Gratitude 🙏

I feel lucky to have you on the other end of this newsletter. If you haven't yet, join the community, and a bring a friend! Have a great week.👇

See you on the path.

- MG