Essays
The 8 C's
Knowing what to teach our kids is not an easy one as technology advances making the school system obsolete as well as lining up much of the traditional jobs to be disrupted.It’s something I think a lot about especially as I have kids and work in the tech space seeing all first hand.I came across the 4 C’s some years back and it got me thinking...
God is a Capitalist
Clearly, this is a bold and likely even provocative statement.This is not the point per se, and it’s not meant to offend anyone - not you and definitely not God. It’s meant to help understand God’s creation and how it relates directly to our world of today.To get this understanding and connection, we must evaluate what God represents and provides with what capitalism represents and provides as well as see how these are connected.
Responsibility and Role Model
When I look around I see most kids with their heads into their mobile phones. I see how poor physical shape many are in. I also see how low discipline they have, whining and complaining for small things. It’s almost painful to watch how weak many of especially the boys are. They lack drive and willingness to stand up against adversity and even just against simple setbacks. They just want to “game” and watch short videos on one of the several online platforms...
Team Sports and Transformers
Teamwork is fascinating in all its aspects.
A dance of excellence.
As the individual.
As the group.
It can be extremely hard.
But infinitely rewarding.
It propelled humans to the top of the food chain, and beyond.
It is the true super power of super powers.
© A dad and two sons. All rights reserved.
The 8 C's
Knowing what to teach our kids is not an easy one as technology advances making the school system obsolete as well as lining up much of the traditional jobs to be disrupted. It’s something I think a lot about especially as I have kids and work in the tech space seeing all first hand.I came across the 4 C’s some years back and it got me thinking as they aim to equip kids with 4 universal core skills essential to virtually anything humans do or could do.Critical thinking - the ability to think independently and qualify information coming your way if it is of value or even true/right. Thinking is really the start, so the ability to have a resilient thinking and not just accept what is given and especially not simply because it’s an authority is key.Creativity - the ability to have novel ideas and thoughts to create and put things together in any domain. To design and build like in engineering as well as in art.Communication - the ability to articulate your ideas, designs or creations to others in order to get others excited and join your efforts or buy them. One of the most powerful skills humans possess.Collaboration - the ability to scale yourself and one of the aspects of humans that made us conquer the world and become the dominant species. Collaboration means drawing unique skills from multiple humans, which allow us to do incredible things.These are as you see common traits, but at the same time quite remarkable when combined. Imagine every kid would get trained from an early age on these to become masters. That would result in a very high degree or productivity harnessing individuals that collaborate globally to achieve things.That would of course sound amazing and something worth striving for, wouldn’t it?While that’s great and combined is a truly powerful instrument, I think they lack something essential.In my view, they lack an essence that would drive “good”.“Good” doesn’t just happen on its own. We need something to incentivize and optimize for it.WHAT is it doing and especially WHY?Essentially, do the right thing resulting in a better future.That I think is more important to include and this got me thinking and I concluded there needs to be some other aspects that govern the “good”.To also fit the “C”, I came up with these additional 4 C’s:Curiosity - the source of everything is the quest for truth. That is to say, to want to learn and understand how things are and how universe works on all levels. This is a driver in us already as humans as we explore universe through the lens of science in especially STEM to grow our collective understanding of “truth”. The side effect of this is that everyone benefits as we get to understand more and thus also have access to more advanced technologies and knowhow.Compassion - a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering, coupled with an active and empathetic engagement with another's distress and an authentic desire to help alleviate their suffering. This is also central to religions as it’s a deep connection between us humans.Confidence - a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. It’s about being comfortable with the possibility of failure and still deciding to move forward simply because it’s the best option considering what’s available.Courage - a mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. It is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation with action. It is forward movement and putting everything else into reality.Including these additional 4 I believe will spring all from curiosity and compassion for courageously doing good in this world not matter circumstance or domain. Individuals, groups and even societies will flourish on all levels and what they create would be highly optimal and aligned with exploring universe and truth.The result would be a diverse and thriving human civilization drawing on each individuals’ uniqueness knit together with a high degree of collaboration around a shared quest for truth doing good.Teach your kids.
God is a Capitalist
Clearly, this is a bold and likely even provocative statement.This is not the point per se, and it’s not meant to offend anyone - not you and definitely not God. It’s meant to help understand God’s creation and how it relates directly to our world of today.To get this understanding and connection, we must evaluate what God represents and provides with what capitalism represents and provides as well as see how these are connected.Let’s do exactly that and bear in mind this is for this purpose parking many important related topics to simply see with full clarity this specific aspect discussed in this essay.____God is the creator of everything, which includes life, nature and evolution where we humans live together with many other living beings - just as the creator intended and arranged for. I assume we can agree on that as a high-level understanding at least, and we can park the specifics for another time.God established evolution as a competition in nature, designed so that life can survive. Not survive as in “barely make it”, but for it to develop and thrive in a long-term manner and be resilient. A core programming for life to not die. This competition is everywhere in nature and drives life forward into better and better as all species compete for resources and their own survival. It's a competition of excellence, competence and dominance on all levels: between individuals, between groups, between species and between life and everything else in the universe.What this means is that nature and biological life is optimized to be at its best, at all times, as the weakest immediately thereafter get consumed by others who are stronger.This is brutal.It’s a mayhem of conflict meanwhile it’s a collective dance for life’s ultimate survival for the long-term.It’s arranged as an evolution, where a species evolves to become stronger and for a while can use that advantage until the prey and others have evolved too to better shield themselves from this. It’s a slow dance in order for all participants to evolve and become better where everyone is needed to make it work.Therefore, all species must strive to become better and select the best to reproduce or they will be killed by evolution. They will thus lose the ability to part-take and be out-competed by others. Killed by other participants in the game of evolution. This is intrinsic to this game and it’s established by the creator to make sure life is resilient and survives through an endless process of evolution into better, stronger and more capable.Without this, life would die.Hence, if a species doesn't focus on excellence and competence, it dies.It was in a sense declared too weak to be relevant for life itself.It was taken out for life itself to survive.The weakest is taken out making the rest stronger.Very simple.Very effective.All this is reflected in the hierarchy in nature where humans are at the top with all other species underneath.We didn’t start at the top, though. We figured out how to get there, having spent most of our entire history as a species somewhere in the middle of the hierarchy. We eventually could out-compete all other species using our unique adaptability and scalable collaboration skills. With curiosity and visions of what could be in the future, we organize ourselves and draw from available skills and resources to realize extraordinary things that eventually elevated us to the top.We, Homo Sapiens, out-competed all other species in the game of evolution and today we completely dominate everyone else. There is no comparison anymore in this game.But, there’s now another game: the game of civilization.Human civilization was created kind of like a byproduct of winning the game of evolution. This man made civilization, which is our home today, maybe more than nature, in a sense. It is the environment where the most extraordinary inventions and creations have happened and still happen today in an increasingly rapid manner. None of that could have been possible without extraordinary individuals and extraordinary collaboration on scale. In other words, extraordinary competence on all levels.Therefore, we must understand how crucial it is to have competitions and incentives on all levels of civilization to continuously compete and strive for competence across all categories we have as humans: doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, moms, dads, leaders, and so on. In all categories is this crucial to further us as a species and bring stability on all levels.Think about it, you, like everyone else, want the best teacher possible for your children as you also want the best surgeon for your heart operation or car mechanic, or anything else for that matter. Nobody wants a lousy or unreliable service if they can choose and wish.This is key to understand human civilization: it’s about competence across categories and competence is a competence hierarchy with the best in each category at the top.That is good for everyone and everyone can take part in this in any category they wish.Ultimately, nature with evolution must extend into our created civilization for the same reasons as God had in creating nature and establishing evolution. Anything else than that leads to destruction because we disalign ourselves with nature, evolution and thus also even God.The wise humans of the ages have known this for a long time. This is reflected in all religions and ancient texts.So, what is that extension from nature and evolution into the man made civilization then you may ask?It’s free market capitalism.Capitalism is an economic system focusing on private individuals and companies having the control, rather than government or state, so that anyone can compete in a free market of goods, products and services. This essentially opens up for anyone to have the opportunity to provide value and then be rewarded by others who decide if they value the efforts. This reward is money in exchange for that value someone produced.This is a competition.A competition where the best goods, products and services get the most reward.If someone wants and can do it better, they have the opportunity to do so and get rewarded.Everyone gets rewarded because goods, products and services get better and better this way.This competition drives innovation, engineering and production of goods, products and services we all use allowing anyone to do a better job if they wish and can.This is a virtuous cycle of increasing value creation.A fair system at the core as it’s allowing anyone to do anything, which doesn’t mean anyone can or even should be able to do anything. Instead, each of us must find where we fit in to provide value to others. We must also do the work demanded by that place or we will not be rewarded because we do not add value.All this drives progress, and, most importantly, prosperity and quality of life for everyone.Capitalism is therefore an open competition for all to potentially strive to become the best, most competent and thus the most dominant player in whatever category one decides to compete in: dentist, trader, lawyer, logistics company, software company, musician, hairdresser or anything else that humans do to provide value to others.Consumers (buyers) are the most powerful because they ultimately decide with their money which goods, products or services get rewarded.Ultimately, this push for better fuelled by innovation and creativity makes humans better, stronger and more competent as a species.Humans develop, become more competent and prosper.We become resilient and survive for the long-term.Exactly what evolution does.Capitalism simply puts the most important incentive in place for the most important reason so that everyone can participate and do their best to be rewarded and help humanity survive and prosper.But, it’s unfair and capitalism leads to corruption!Like in nature, not everyone is the same, that would be a reckless design, instead one wants complementary skills, randomness and diversity. This is not unfair, it is necessary to find the best, strongest and most competent for the benefit and survival of the collective.Capitalism is not corruption or something unfair - it's the human nature that is flawed in that respect. We are corruptible. Because of that insight, wise people before us, put in place measures to mitigate this. Nothing perfect as we can see, but nonetheless, measures are there from religions to philosophies and what we have today: Rule by law (which by the way is subordinate to God and the proxies we have in the form of ethics and moral).God and nature enforces the rules in nature.Humans call it physics.We don't do a good job enforcing the rules in our civilization and most of the "leaders" lead by bad examples.We mostly have people in power positions without responsibility or accountability.We forgot or simply stopped caring to enforce rules in our capitalist, democratic and prosperous civilization.This is a breeding-ground for corruption and low standards.That's why people like you and I must at least do all we can with what we control to lead by an honorable example. To be role models to especially children. To not be corrupted, focusing on becoming resilient. To withstand evil and instead represent what’s good and protect what makes things work and what aligns humans with God, nature and evolution for life to survive for the long-term.That’s ultimately what it’s about.The biggest and most important thing in life.In nature.In human civilization.Capitalism is our best idea thus far to extend the core principles of God's evolution game into our created global civilization and keep the incentives for survival through collaboration and competition to be the most competent.With all this in mind, one can conclude that we have a game of life driven by evolution and a game of civilization driven by capitalism and free markets.Both are open for all to participate, but nothing is free. You have to do the work for individual and collective success.God created nature and evolution for life to survive and capitalism integrates the same rules of survival and prospering.In that sense, we can say with a smile, that God is a capitalist.(Or if that’s too much for you, simply conclude that capitalism and evolution are games that make humans continuously develop and thrive by focusing on competence to dominate.)
Responsibility and Role Model
When I look around I see most kids with their heads into their mobile phones. I see how poor physical shape many are in. I also see how low discipline they have, whining and complaining for small things. It’s almost painful to watch how weak many of especially the boys are. They lack drive and willingness to stand up against adversity and even just against simple setbacks. They just want to “game” and watch short videos on one of the several online platforms. These the ones that should grow up and rule the world as good leaders.It’s tragic and they have no idea.I hear many parents complaining about, shaming and blaming their kids in all kinds of ways. Many parents even blurt it out in my direction as a general complaint, a frustration about their kids being lazy and just gaming. They say they don’t know what to do. I understand fully and it’s all true even. However, in doing so they remove themselves from taking full ownership and responsibility of the situation and finding a path towards a solution. They give themselves the free-card that they tried, but the kids failed. These are the ones that should serve as mentors and guides for the kids to grow up as resilient and strong adults serving the greater good.It’s tragic and they have no idea.The whole situation is very clear and so is the trajectory. We’re since a while going in a very bad direction and fast.Let’s consider some key questions.What kind of future will this create where the men are physically and mentally weak?What kind of real world monsters can these men fight?None - many of them struggle to be men. They’re lost.What happens to a human when the white blood cells (part of our immune system to fight infections) weakens?What happens both to the human body and a civilization when you weaken the defences a lot?Destruction.This is where we’re heading at the moment and it’s utterly painful to watch it all like a runaway train. This is not what I want to contribute to. In fact, I want to put all my force against it.So, what exactly is the problem here that I’m looking at?The core problem is not taking responsibility of one’s life. Specifically, the lack of self-discipline to do something useful. Something meaningful and worthy of your time and effort. Something that furthers you, humanity and the greater good.It sounds exactly as glorious as it is.One must not think one’s time and what one does isn’t that important or that all this is just nonsense talk or amplifying something that isn’t that big a deal.A timeless and universal principle applies here: make sure to actively maintain and nurture something so you don’t let a problem manifest let alone grow into a serious issue. We all forgot that. Clearly.“What can I do”, I ask myself?Well, part of the problem is also that my sons don’t know by themselves how to solve the problem, because they need guidance and someone to help them get a solid start and foundation in life.Some say and live by ideas that kids have all inside them already and adults just destroy them, so their view is to do nothing and just “let them be”. Well, I know deeply that this is utter nonsense and leads to very bad things. It’s not that simple. Clearly, we do do many bad things to kids - no doubt. However, not doing anything is equally reckless and bad. They key here clearly is again to understand what to do and what not to do.I’m not here to live their life, to shield them from the world or to make decisions for them when they’re adults. I’m here as their dad to help them get onto a great platform of capabilities so they can live their life and strong and honorable men. My job, while they grow up, is to be their guide to help them get to that place. After that, they are on their own and I con only wish I did my best so that they got the best possible foundation to further that for themselves as well as others.I know I have a lot of responsibility until they are there, until they are adults. That journey is a journey from me having 100% direct responsibility for them to having no responsibility directly for them as they gradually gain more and more understanding of life and what they must do to represent good.To be strong, to be wise, to be loving and to be brave.This is what it is to be a man.For this to be, I, must be as strong and capable as I possibly can: mentally and physically with wisdom and courage to do and represent good in this world.I, must do what I can to help them. It’s my responsibility. I must show the way, I must lead by example and be their role model by taking the responsibility of my life and have the discipline not to fail myself or them. I must every day represent my best, improve and by doing so, show them the best role model they can get so they know what it’s about.All this is especially important when it’s a challenging situation. I know that very well. The harder the situation, the better I must be to not slip and fail. This is what life asks of us and what we must train for every day, even and especially on the small and everyday things. Otherwise, how can we think we are ready for the big and hard challenges. We are not.This is what I must show my sons and help them onto.I’m also going to make it fun for me and for them, because it can be. This is not about pain, suffering and sacrifice only. It’s about deep meaning and purpose. A playful game of life where we can even laugh when it’s tough or not going our way. We laugh in the face of adversity and failure as we stand up and try again, now with more strength as we learned what didn\t work. We won’t turn away from doing what we must to succeed and defeat the monster.This is really what it’s about and what to get as foundation in life. It’s resilience. It’s love. It’s strength to be good no matter what.Now, let’s imagine a world where most people take on life’s challenges head on and do what they can to do good. For the greater good for everyone. Everyone does their part and not whine, wait for others to do it or break from the weight of nothing. We all do our best for the greater good. Imagine that world.That’s the world I want for my sons and I want them to be part of building it.
Team Sports and Transformers
Teamwork is fascinating in all its aspects.A dance of excellence.As the individual.As the group.It can be extremely hard.But infinitely rewarding.It propelled humans to the top of the food chain, and beyond.It is the true super power of super powers.It is creating something greater than the parts.It is one of the most essential skills to be good at.Let’s understand this through the lens of team sports and transformers._________I see team sports as the sandbox for real life teamwork. It’s the place to have fun and practice many core aspects of having the right attitude and skills for life. I need to learn how to optimally integrate me as the individual into the group in a way where each individual adds to something valuable and complementary to what the others add. This total is indeed what then becomes greater than the sum of the individual parts. It’s all about how well the parts play together in unison to accomplish something great, not achievable alone or in any other form. It’s beautiful.To achieve this, all the players must excel and be their best. On top of that they must find each other to then excel as a team and be the best the team can be.That’s incredible hard.Still, it’s so much simpler than life itself and playing the ultimate game of life and human civilization.This is what makes any team sport extremely useful if aligned in this way focusing on what is essential in being successful in both games.This is exactly what transformers do. They are individually equipped with great powers, each having something special and useful. They fight evil as a team and in some situations, they assemble and form a large transformer, which is even stronger and more capable then any of the individuals or even the group. This is the highest of mastery and excellence.In nature I see the same exact patterns with smaller parts forming bigger ones in many layers to exactly become stronger and more capable entities leveraging the smaller parts’ capabilities into something exponentially better.I think about myself in the middle of all this as part of life.I need to understand what kind of transformer I am, what my super power is and how I integrate this into a larger entity through team work with others.What is crucial to also realize is that both good and evil do the same.Same in team sports, just less serious, but there’s always the adversary. The villain, and I want to play the good hero. I must understand what is good for that or I’m the villain fighting the good hero. I know this from transformers too where Optimus Prime is the good hero, the good transformers’ leader and he’s part of that bigger transformer Omega Prime. They fight for good against evil.I must do all I can to be the good hero and be stronger and better at all of this or evil will win.Same in team sports - I must be the good hero and practice individually as well as with my team to excel and be stronger than the opponents. Otherwise we lose.This is how I teach my sons about individually taking things serious as you understand team sports and what you do matters. Team sports is just practice ground for real life both the professional side, but also philosophically speaking about life at large.Take responsibility and train to become strong, capable, wise and brave. This means you master yourself and your powers. Most importantly, you represent good. You don’t lie, cheat and do anything to win. That’s what the evil side does.Play to win, but win in a high level way earning the victory.Become part of a great team that do great things for the greater good in this world.
© A dad and two sons. All rights reserved.