Motivation

Mark Twain once posed the question: “What are the two most important days in your life?” This question prompts us to consider our purpose. His answer was: “The day you were born and the day you find out why.” Seeking an answer to this question led me, during one of my many research journeys, to an insightful statement by Daniel Dennett: “Find something more important than yourself and dedicate your life to it.” I realized that once I discover this important endeavor, I would have answered my quest for a meaningful life.

The Industrial Revolution marked a significant turning point, with our standard of living doubling approximately every thirty years. However, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: this prosperity has been built on unsustainable foundations. We are consuming resources at a rate that far exceeds what we should, and our wealth is not derived from genuine productivity advancements but rather from the relentless printing of money.

To thrive as a species, we urgently need to redefine prosperity in a broader and more sustainable way. The precarious nature of our current situation is illustrated by numerous interlinked challenges: the endless demand for economic growth, the 2008 debt crisis, the rise of climate refugees, the stark inequality in work, income, and asset distribution (as highlighted by Thomas Piketty), the alarming depletion of our finite resources, the ravaging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the escalating threat of climate change, and stagnating productivity growth (as noted by Robert Gordon in the book: ‘The Rise and Fall of American Growth’) amid soaring costs in healthcare, education, and safety.

These pressing issues are not isolated; they are part of a larger “prosperity problem,” or more appropriately, “our unsustainable prosperity problem.” Yet, I hold a steadfast belief in our collective ability as humans to tackle this challenge head-on. Together, we can forge a path toward a more equitable, affordable, and ultimately sustainable prosperity for all.

Growth and development are not the same. Growth is the process of increasing in size, development is the process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced. We need less growth and more development

As an engineer, I am passionately committed to reducing waste and exploring innovative technologies that enhance organization and data management. My journey has led me to deeply understand the internet, blockchain, and, most recently, artificial intelligence.

This drive for advancement motivated me to establish the Weconomics Foundation. Weconomics is dedicated to fostering a transformative shift towards a more inclusive and sustainable prosperity. It is a vibrant network of pioneers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who collaborate both independently and collectively to strengthen the foundations of prosperity for all. At the heart of our mission is the integration and application of groundbreaking business and operational models, empowered by data technologies such as the Internet, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence.

As we navigate the ‘Roaring Twenties’ of the twenty-first century, we face an urgent need for a paradigm shift, courageous system leadership, and meaningful transformation. Let’s not end this period with a great depression like 100 years ago.

Embracing new organizational models is crucial for minimizing waste and maximizing the effectiveness of office workers. By improving their productivity, we create surplus (time) and we can empower them to play a vital role in organizing a sustainable future. The concept of the digital assembly line stands out as one of the most promising frameworks to drive this change.

One could assert that, much like the revolutionary impact of the physical assembly line on factories, the digital assembly line has the potential to drive extraordinary productivity growth in office environments.

My unwavering motivation stems from a profound concern for our future—the world that our children will inherit. I firmly believe in the transformative potential of steward-owned companies and actively champion the idea that our children are the true stakeholders of our enterprises. Together, we can create a legacy of prosperity that prioritizes sustainability and responsibility for generations to come.

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.” (Mahatma Gandhi)